Americans for Obama (2008) Supporters

OFA ===> History in the Making.

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:39:36 EST

Statement of President Barack Obama on House Passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act By Christopher Hass - Nov 8th, 2009 at 12:19 am EST Also listed in: Organizing for Health Care Blog Shortly after the House of Representatives concluded tonight's vote on health insurance reform, President Obama released the following statement:

Tonight, in an historic vote, the House of Representatives passed a bill that would finally make real the promise of quality, affordable health care for the American people.

The Affordable Health Care for America Act is a piece of legislation that will provide stability and security for Americans who have insurance; quality affordable options for those who don’t; and bring down the cost of health care for families, businesses, and the government while strengthening the financial health of Medicare. And it is legislation that is fully paid for and will reduce our long-term federal deficit.

Thanks to the hard work of the House, we are just two steps away from achieving health insurance reform in America. Now the United States Senate must follow suit and pass its version of the legislation. I am absolutely confident it will, and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamaforamerica/gGMmWn

I like that Susan Rice!!

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 20:14:03 EDT

Did you see Susan Rice smacked Wolf blitzer down?

I don't have a link...she may be small in statue but she packs a mean verbal punch.

She's the giant and wolf is the grasshopper.

She is doing a Wonderful Job.

She Blitzed him.(lol).

Bill Peddler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 02:45:14 EDT

Please tell me why Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) is peddling a bill with no public option? and why does he want to triangulate, circumvent and STOP the President's strong desire for the American People to have a strong Public Option Plan installed into the final bill?

HOW TO SECTION:Posting photos in photo forum threads

Sun, 24 May 2009 09:10:33 EDT

Many new photography forum participants don’t know how to post, or embed, an image within a forum message. The process is quite simple and the method is the same for most forums. The image must first be uploaded to a server such as at an online photo hosting site.

To post an image, use its full URL

Click for larger version

Go to the image at a hosting service, right click it and open the Properties menus.

Next, highlight the full address (URL), copy the URL and then paste it into the subject area in a forum post. For the image to appear, you MUST include the .jpg extension.

Generally, you should get the URL from the image itself, not the address bar of a browser.

For example, below is the full URL to a thumbnail photo in the Digicamhelp Photo Galleries. One space has been added after the http: so you can see the how the text is supposed to appear (you wouldn’t normally add a space).

http: //www.digicamhelp.com/gallery/thumbs/256-graceful-goose.jpg

When the correct URL is posted in a thread, the image will appear.

This method is the most commonly used in photography forums, but not all forums use it. Some require code placed around the URL for the image such as: [img] URL [/image]

http://www.digicamhelp.com/processing-photos/photo-hosting/posting-photos/

Christopher Haas

Sun, 17 May 2009 16:47:29 EDT

Chris, please give us a Organizing for America Personal Fundraising "page".

Is it Okay for us to still use The Holiday Fundraising and the Main Personal Fundraising Campaign for '08 pages for fundraising drives?

s.o.s. we need new FR pages to help us raise finances for the PBO Mega-Party!!!!!!!

C'Mon!!!!!

Let's Do This!!!!!

We Really, Really, Really Need a New Fundraising Page!!!!!!

Main Causes of the Great Depression

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:09:32 EDT

The Great Depression was the worst economic slump ever in U.S. history, and one which spread to virtually all of the industrialized world. The depression began in late 1929 and lasted for about a decade. Many factors played a role in bringing about the depression; however, the main cause for the Great Depression was the combination of the greatly unequal distribution of wealth throughout the 1920's, and the extensive stock market speculation that took place during the latter part that same decade. The maldistribution of wealth in the 1920's existed on many levels. Money was distributed disparately between the rich and the middle-class, between industry and agriculture within the United States, and between the U.S. and Europe. This imbalance of wealth created an unstable economy. The excessive speculation in the late 1920's kept the stock market artificially high, but eventually lead to large market crashes. These market crashes, combined with the maldistribution of wealth, caused the American economy to capsize.

The federal government also contributed to the growing gap between the rich and middle-class. Calvin Coolidge's administration (and the conservative-controlled government) favored business, and as a result the wealthy who invested in these businesses. An example of legislation to this purpose is the Revenue Act of 1926, signed by President Coolidge on February 26, 1926, which reduced federal income and inheritance taxes dramatically. Andrew Mellon, Coolidge's Secretary of the Treasury, was the main force behind these and other tax cuts throughout the 1920's. In effect, he was able to lower federal taxes such that a man with a million-dollar annual income had his federal taxes reduced from $600,000 to $200,000. Even the Supreme Court played a role in expanding the gap between the socioeconomic classes. In the 1923 case Adkins v. Children's Hospital, the Supreme Court ruled minimum-wage legislation unconstitutional.

The large and growing disparity of wealth between the well-to-do and the middle-income citizens made the U.S. economy unstable. For an economy to function properly, total demand must equal total supply. In an economy with such disparate distribution of income it is not assured that demand will always equal supply. Essentially what happened in the 1920's was that there was an oversupply of goods. It was not that the surplus products of industrialized society were not wanted, but rather that those whose needs were not satiated could not afford more, whereas the wealthy were satiated by spending only a small portion of their income. A 1932 article in Current History articulates the problems of this maldistribution of wealth:

We still pray to be given each day our daily bread. Yet there is too much bread, too much wheat and corn, meat and oil and almost every other commodity required by man for his subsistence and material happiness. We are not able to purchase the abundance that modern methods of agriculture, mining and manufacturing make available in such bountiful quantities.

Through such a period of imbalance, the U.S. came to rely upon two things in order for the economy to remain on an even keel: credit sales, and luxury spending and investment from the rich.

http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Senate/6854/greatdep.html

Jindal's State Must Pay $336 Million to Fix Levees

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:34:16 EST

BATON ROUGE, La. -- The Jindal administration is estimating that Louisiana will have to spend $336 million to buy land that the Army Corps of Engineers needs to build levees and floodgates on to protect the New Orleans area.

On Wednesday, Garret Graves, the chairman of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, said the Jindal administration wants the Louisiana Legislature to use $200 million this year from the state surplus to buy land with.Graves said the state will need to buy $336 million in land by 2010.As part of the state's share of levee costs, the state has agreed to buy land sitting next to levees and floodgates the corps is working on.

http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=9870124

GOP House Whip's Wife 'Didn't Know' Her Banking Firm Benefited from Bailout

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:37:21 EST

It is, of course, a mere coincidence that the firm for which the spouse of the House Republican whip works has scarfed up a couple of hundred million bucks in the banking bailout. Really. (I can understand why you might wonder, considering Rep. Cantor's role model seems to be the disgraced Tom DeLay.)

[Editor's note: Props to Media General for following up on an embarrassing story about their own board member. After all, she's an attorney, a CPA and an investment banker. You might expect her to be better informed about these things!]

Through a spokesman, Eric Cantor declined to comment. Rob Collins, the congressman’s deputy chief of staff, called the government investment in the parent company of his wife’s bank “a freak coincidence” and said the congressman did nothing to facilitate it.

The $267.2 million given to New York Private Bank and Trust is almost nine times the median amount received by companies participating in the program, a Media General News Service analysis of Treasury records found.

In the American Banker article, New York Private Bank and Trust chairman and CEO Howard P. Milstein said he changed the bank’s tax structure to make it eligible for the bailout.

The bank was not short on cash, but Milstein told American Banker, “We are in a season when you can’t have too much capital.” Link http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/gop-house-whips-wife-didnt-know-her-b

Barack Obama IS Our New President !!!!!!!

Sat, 20 Dec 2008 06:06:10 EST

Barack Obama has not slammed nor dissed against anyone and the fact that these people are trying to make a name for themselves in the midst of this economic misery is just terrible.

They will not give him a break because they want a 60's civil rights leader instead of a 2009 President.

They need to run for President themselves and then they can implement their own agenda.

P.S. And All that I can say is Praise the Lord and Pass the Potatoes.

October

obamasupporter2008 — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 06:59:43 EDT

12 days left until election day. I hope as many vote as possible, but chances are that won't happen. If Barack Obama is to win this election, we'll all have to get out and vote, but apparently it is a bad thing for average Americans like myself and others to have an educated opinion nowadays. Well I have just one thing to say; Whaen your sitting in your living room saying"Wow, that was a mistake electing John McCain as president" and you've lost your job and your house because you couldn't afford the mortgage, don't come crying to me.

October

obamasupporter2008 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:46:01 EDT

Well, we're getting closer and closer to election day; I still haven't really seen much of a change in the way people treat politics. Everyone keeps factoring in one thing; Religion. You have to realize that the Founding Fathers didn't want religion to be a part of politics and the government. When they sat down and wrote not only the Declaration of Independence, but the Constitution as well, they came to an agreement; this was not a Christian country they were creating, but a country of many religions, from Christianity to Hindu to Judaism to Muslim. Yet, every election in the past one-hundred years has been based on the religion of the candidate and not the issues plaguing the country, our country's motto is E Pluribus Unum, not E Unum Pluribus. That's all I have to say this month, So I shall talk again next month.

The Art Of Linking: Courtsey of Our Own College Student Lace King.

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 16:56:14 EDT

If you have ever had a problem with Linking?

Please check out the Lace King Solution below.

By Lace ~ ✴"Lacy Lace"✴ ~ Accepted to ❤Adams State College❣ 5 minutes ago (Updated 5 minutes ago) hehehe I know what you mean. If you add a bunch of links, only one will work.

Here's what you do: add brackets around all of the links--

without brackets:

Link
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/pri mers/html/article.php/3478171
Link
http://www.htmlgoodies.com/pri mers/html/article.php/3478171
with brackets:

[ Link ]
[ Link ]
[ Link ]
[ Link ]

Just be sure to add a space before each bracket.

Contact Congress About the Trillion Dollar Bailout - Stop the Panick

Marianne Bergenholtz Delegate — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:11:33 EDT

An Open Letter to Congress:

Why does anyone think that giving a failed industry a trillion dollars is a good idea? Where is the guarantee that things will be different?

If this makes sense to you, please forward to your Congressman and Senators, and submit to Senator Obama's office.

Let's try a trickle up theory for a change. Let consumers decide, with their own dollars - which companies should survive.

Consider what would happen to the economy if Congress

1) Immediately enacts usury laws that lowers the maximum on interest rates and prohibits fees on all credit cards and other loans.

2) Enacts an emergency one time re-establishment of credit to foreclosed homeowners who are otherwise creditworthy, to purchase fair-market-appraised homes again through a special fund during the next two years, eliminating speculators and investors.

3) Repeals the recent bankruptcy laws that favor corporate rights and re-establishes citizens' rights to plead cases individually.

These steps will free consumers from unfair consumer and predatory practices choking the economy, and control the bank and mortgage industries, allowing free market environment that is balanced and pro-goods (manufacturing) instead of (money) services, creating more jobs that boost the economy, creating the upward spiral needed.

‘Obsession,’ the Radical Right’s War on Islam

funkfresh01 — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 22:31:26 EDT

By Ahmed Rehab

Word count: 830

[Ahmed Rehab is strategic communications director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil liberties group. He may be contacted at arehab@cair.com]

You have to wonder about a film that could muster no better an endorsement to adorn its poster than that of CNN’s resident right-wing extremist Glenn Beck. "Obsession is without exaggeration one of the most important films of our time," says Beck. (Who would accuse Glenn Beck of exaggerating?)

The film Beck is lauding, “Obsession: Islam’s Radical War against the West,” is a 2005 work of anti-Muslim propaganda that has recently been widely distributed via an unprecedented campaign.

Going on 20 Months....

John — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:21:55 EDT

Wow,... its really hard to believe that this campaign has been going on for just about 20 months now. That as you all know is just shy of 2 years. All the hard work, and all the sacrifice, all the hot days canvassing, and the parties, and the frienships we have made over these 20 months, all comes down to one thing... November 4th.

I have sat down and actually thought about it... and come to this conclusion, "What am I going to do when it is all over?" haha I am sure everyone else has had the same thought, when all the confetti comes to a halt, there are two things I have hope for. One that Barack Obama is elected President of the United States, and two, that we as a nation have come to love one another, and care for one another in these two years we have been working ever so diligently together.

I think this campaign is about more than just canvassing, and polls, and politics. It has a deeper meaning in and of itself. The message of Hope and Change, not just in our country, but of each of us individually has some how shaped and molded my future into something greater than just myself. That when Barack Obama raises his hand, and is sworn in on Jan. 20th, that I can sit here and firmly say, if it wasn't for me, then this wouldn't be happening. That if it wasn't for you, and for me, and for all of us, this dream may not have been realized, and that when I am old and gray I can tell my grandchildren that this was the moment in the history of the world when we as a people really came together. When we stopped the fighting and the bickering and really came together to help the common good of all mankind, and that I am so lucky to be a proud part of it. No matter how small my effect, I can say as firmly as my feet are planted on the ground, that I did something here today in this place. That I stood up, and spoke out, and told this government of ours, "ENOUGH!" That I wasn't going to stand by while my brothers and sisters cried the night away with empty stomachs, and pockets full of lent. That those seniors with no medicine, and the farmers with no hand to help would not wake up another day without those things under my watch. We as a PEOPLE have finally accomplished what the founding fathers intended us to do. That is UNITE, and WORK HARD FOR THE COMMON GOOD OF MAN. That is what we have done here today... That is what we have done here today.

Thank you all so very much,

for everything that you have done, and for helping me help us,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart,

Johnny Mclaurin

South Carolina For Barack Obama

Beyond Your Wildest

MI 2020 -T Man — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 21:36:33 EDT

11.3 Trillion dollar national debt....President Elect will assume an almost criminal first term in office....this is a classic mess....the current conditions we live in are as if this nation had been governed by mad scientists....completely insane

Re: Re: Re: Re: Spread the Word! Ohio Saves America!

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:41:01 EDT

Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 11:46 PM -07:00To: One Million MySpace Friends for Obama/Biden'08! [OneMillionMySpaceFriendsforObama08@groups.barackobama.com]Subject: [OneMillionMySpaceFriendsforObama08] Re: Re: Re: Re: Spread the Word! Ohio Saves America!
American election history shows that negative ads work and the polling is showing a cnadidate that is a worse clone for the unpopular GWB is making more headway than expected. We are doing ourselves and Obama/Biden a favor by supporting 527s and orgs that are willing to put up a real fight against McSame. The campaign has gone silent on 527s and it is our duty to take it to the competition with all that we have. McSame will crash this country just like the 5 planes he crashed.
BethGroup Moderator and Founder

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Saturday, September 13, 2008 3:26 PM -07:00To: One Million MySpace Friends for Obama/Biden'08! [OneMillionMySpaceFriendsforObama08@groups.barackobama.com]Subject: [OneMillionMySpaceFriendsforObama08] Re: Re: Re: Spread the Word! Ohio Saves America!
Have you seen the poll in Time where Americans by an 84-16 margin believe McCain's going? more negative than BHO?

---- Original Message ----
To: One Million MySpace Friends for Obama/Biden'08! <OneMillionMySpaceFriendsforObama08@groups.barackobama.com>Sent: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 9:45 pmSubject: [OneMillionMySpaceFriendsforObama08] Re: Re: Spread the Word! Ohio Saves America!

The campaign is going to focus on positive messages and trying to stay on the issues, while fighting back when attacked. There are other groups (pro-choice groups, pro-gun control groups, anti-war groups, civil rights groups, etc) that are willing to go negative on McCain, and the campaign is now "unoficially" OK with us supporting those groups. This is the final stretch, we need to do everything we can!
?
-B

On Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 12:05 AM, <bybfan@aol.com> wrote:
Go through the campaign before giving money to other places just for your protection. Bev

-----Original Message-----
To: One Million MySpace Friends for Obama/Biden'08! <OneMillionMySpaceFriendsforObama08@groups.barackobama.com>Sent: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:13 pmSubject: [OneMillionMySpaceFriendsforObama08] Spread the Word! Ohio Saves America!

Ohio has 20 electoral votes. It is a VERY important battleground state. Help Obama win Ohio by running ads in Ohio with the link below. Please share this message!
?
www.ohiosavesamerica.com
?
-B

September

obamasupporter2008 — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:28:49 EDT

My first blog; This country is just going to continue down the same path as it has with Bush and Cheney, if people don't learn to read between the lines and actually analyze the current political situation and stop saying things like "Oh I only vote republican,' or 'I only vote Democratic." You should shouldn't make your decision based solely on political party, but who you think would best suit the position of President of the United States of America; and do what is best for the country.

Email entitled "Windows Firewall Update" is a Hacker, Virus, or Worm

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 22:06:55 EDT

Do not use the links in the email to download. It is not a real Microsoft Windows email. I am very strongly suspicious this is a hacker email targeting Obama Group Administrators. I believe the download will destroy your computer.

No Microsoft employee will ever contact you privately. The signature from Panama is a fake and does not represent Microsoft Windows Firewall. Do not use the links to download.

Beth
Group Administrator
One Million MySpace Friends for ObamaBiden'08!

McCain Lying About Obama's Sex-Ed Record

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:05:15 EDT

By MARGARET TALEV
McClatchy Newspapers

Throw the flag against: The McCain-Palin campaign.

Call: Unsportsmanlike conduct.

What happened: A new 30-second TV ad attacks Barack Obama's record on education, saying that Obama backed legislation to teach " 'comprehensive sex education' to kindergartners." The announcer then says, "Learning about sex before learning to read? Barack Obama. Wrong on education. Wrong for your family."

Why that's wrong: This is a deliberately misleading accusation. It came hours after the Obama campaign released a TV ad critical of McCain's votes on public education. As a state senator in Illinois, Obama did vote for but was not a sponsor of legislation dealing with sex ed for grades K-12.

But the legislation allowed local school boards to teach "age-appropriate" sex education, not comprehensive lessons to kindergartners, and it gave schools the ability to warn young children about inappropriate touching and sexual predators.

Republican Alan Keyes tried to use Obama's vote against him in the 2004 U.S. Senate race. At the time, Obama spoke about wanting to protect young children from abuse. He made clear then that he was not supporting teaching kindergartners about explicit details of sex.

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said Tuesday of McCain's ad: "It is shameful and downright perverse for the McCain campaign to use a bill that was written to protect young children from sexual predators as a recycled and discredited political attack against a father of two young girls."

Penalty: 15 yards for the McCain campaign's deliberate low blow.

Palin on ABC

swimmer — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:21:19 EDT

The question is, will CHarlie Gibson ask the right questions? Will he CAVE on the bridge to nowhere? Will he be tough on her?

How long has she been rehearsing? Why have we not seen her on her own in stops along the campaign trail? What change can she bring? Where is that chef that she supposedly fired? What is her per diem?

Should be intersting.

Add The New MySpace Profile for One Million MySpace Friends for Obama/Biden'08!

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:16:27 EDT

I have decided to start another MySpace page for our group One Million MySpace Friends for Obama/Biden'08! to hopefully register new voters. Show your support for this effort by plumping our friends list on MySpace and add us to your top friends!

http://www.myspace.com/thispage_8

Making lots of friend requests is a lot of hard work that has to be done every day to make the page a success. Please make a friend request so we can impress new voters with our numbers and advertise our page in your bulletins by reposting. I will be posting the address in bulletins.

Thanks for all you do!

Beth

Administrator and Founder

One Million MySpace Friends for Obama'08!

MySpace Democrats Announcement...

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 06:12:54 EDT

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: DNC
Date: Sep 7, 2008 2:47 AM

Sometime in the next few days, MySpace Democrats and our allies on MySpace will roll out a major push to support Barack Obama.

We're going to need your help to show just how much MySpace Democrats supports Barack Obama.

We will need you to repost our bulletins, blog about the campaign when it launches and take action your self to help us elect Barack Obama

Stay tuned for more...

Join MySpace Democrats - http://groups. myspace. com/myspacedems

Subscribe - http://blog. myspace. com/myspacedemocrats

Add - http://www. myspace. com/myspacedemocrats

Campaign AdWatch: 'Alaska Maverick' Strains To Contrast

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:36:26 EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/03/campaign-adwatch-alaska-m_n_123597.html
Here's the new advertisement from the McCain campaign, "Alaska Maverick," which extends the GOP's last ditch efforts to keep the "experience" argument alive after McCain chose Sarah Palin to be his vice-president. Naturally, the case could be made if anyone actually believed that al Qaeda could be defeated and the economy revived through a sustained commitment to the proper field dressing of moose, but even McCain-fan Mike Murphy is throwing a wet blanket on this line of attack. Murphy was just on TV talking about this ad, and he told Chuck Todd, "I love John McCain to death, but this is the stupidest thing in the world."
And it's true! Laura McGann brought word from Alaska yesterday that Palin had, in her own words, pooh-poohed her own executive experience, mocking it as "not rocket science." Strangely, for all the "not rocket science" nature of the work, Palin was unique among Wasilla mayors in that she still needed help. As ProgressiveAlaska notes: "...when Palin was first elected mayor...in 1996, she had to hire a city manager. When her predecessors had occupied the office, they did that job themselves. There went $60,000 per year." (Much more on that via Andrew Sullivan.)
The whole attempt at contrasting Palin as someone who stands up to "oil producers" is similarly baffling, considering that McCain's been broadly signaling that his presidency will be a drill-crazy bonanza for the oil industry.

New McSame Ad Contains Untrue Charges

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:51:20 EDT

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/03/mccain-palin-ad-defends-p_n_123560.html

The aggressiveness of the spot creates a sharp contrast to the first political advertisement that the Obama campaign ran for its VP candidate, Joe Biden. That spot had no mention of McCain; rather, it pushed a small town theme and highlighted the Senator's Scranton roots. In a way, the two ads provide a telling insight not only into the contrasting political cultures of each campaign but how differently Palin and Biden's VP rollouts have proceeded.

MSNBC notes that almost every charge in the ad is untrue:

It's important to note that there are a few misleading assertions in the ad. For one, the "Journal" that's cited is the conservative and partisan Wall Street Journal editorial page. Two, to call Obama the Senate's most liberal senator is dubious. (The charge comes from the National Journal ranking Obama as having the most liberal Senate voting record of 2007, but he was nowhere near the top in 2005 and 2006; it's also worth noting that Obama missed many Senate votes in 2007, so that ranking is a bit skewed.) And three, the charge that Obama "gave big oil billions in subsidies and giveaways" is misleading. (According to nonpartisan fact-checkers, the 2005 energy bill the McCain camp is referring to actual resulted in a net tax INCREASE on oil companies.)

The ad, the campaign says, will air in key states. Here is the script:

ANNCR: The Journal says: "Governor Palin's credentials as an agent of reform exceed Barack Obama's." They're right.

She "has a record of bi-partisan reform."
He's the Senate's "most liberal."

She "took on the oil producers."
He gave big oil billions in subsidies and giveaways.
She's "earned a reputation as a reformer."
His reputation? Empty words.
JOHN MCCAIN: I'm John McCain and I approved this message.

GET A $12 OBAMA T-SHIRT

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:30:09 EDT

Hey,

Want an Obama T-shirt? MoveOn’s giving them out if you make a small donation to their young-voter registration program, aimed at registering half a million young voters in swing states. I just got mine, and wanted to share the opportunity with you.

Click this link to get your Obama T-shirt:

http://pol.moveon.org/obamatshirts/index13.html?id=-9042060-h6PZYix

Thanks!

An Extreme Choice

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:28:11 EDT

An Extreme Choice

Last Friday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) announced Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) as his vice presidential running mate, "catching almost everyone but his inner circle by surprise." Of the very little that is known about Palin is her extreme right-wing policies on a wide range of issues. For example, she supports teaching creationism in school, favors privatization of health insurance, boasts of being a "lifetime member of the NRA," opposes stem-cell research, and declared that "she would support a ballot question that would deny benefits to homosexual couples." On some of the most important issues of this election -- Iraq, energy, abortion -- Palin represents the extreme right wing.

EXTREME ON ABORTION: One of the only policy stances widely known about Palin when her name was first announced is her extreme opposition to abortion. She once said that she would not support an abortion for her then-14 year old daughter, even if she had been raped. Palin has also declared that "explicit sex-ed programs will not find my support," favoring abstinence-only programs instead. The right wing has lauded both Palin for choosing to carry her most recent child, who has Down Syndrome, to term, and her 17-year-old daughter for deciding to complete her pregnancy. Yet as the American Prospect's Ann Friedman points out, "John McCain and Sarah Palin don't believe women have a right to choose. It's absolutely absurd for the campaign to emphasize the fact that [Palin's daughter] Bristol 'made this decision,' and then push for policies that take away that choice."

EXTREME CLUELESSNESS ON IRAQ: Like George Bush before he became president, Palin has barely traveled outside the United States. She has never been to Iraq or Afghanistan and admitted last year, "I haven't really focused much on the Iraq war." In an interview with Time magazine last month, she seemed completely unaware of McCain's Iraq plan. She said she did not know "what the plan is to ever end the war." She later said it's "tough" to "talk about the plan for the war" because her son will be deployed to Iraq. "Let's make sure we have a plan here," she said. Palin then added, "respecting McCain's position on that too though." Eschewing any substantitve analysis of the war, she asserted simply that U.S. soldiers are "out on a task that is from God." She also seems to believe the Iraq war was about oil, saying that "in many [ways] the reasons for war are fights over energy sources." In another interview, she argued, "we better have a real clear plan for the war," adding, "And it better not have to do with oil."

EXTREME DENIAL OF GLOBAL WARMING: Though McCain points to his position on global warming as a chief difference between himself and President Bush, Palin shares more of the current president's perspective than McCain's. Though she admits that climate change "will affect Alaska more than any other state," she said, "I'm not one though who would attribute it to being man-made." "During last fall's political campaign, Gov. Sarah Palin said she remained unconvinced about how much human emissions contribute to current global warming trends." She has also opposed listing polar bears as endangered due to climate change. In the New York Times today, Tom Friedman writes, "With his choice of Sarah Palin -- the Alaska governor who has advocated drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and does not believe mankind is playing any role in climate change -- for vice president, John McCain has completed his makeover from the greenest Republican to run for president to just another representative of big oil."

EXTREME PAWN OF BIG OIL: "No one is closer to the the oil industry than Governor Palin," the Sierra Club's Carl Pope said. Palin told Roll Call last week, "When I look every day, the big oil company's building is right out there next to me, and it's quite a reminder that we should have mutually beneficial relationships with the oil industry." As a champion for Big Oil, Palin is a vociferous proponent of domestic drilling. "I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can't drill our way out of our problem," she said. She also dismisses alternative energy solutions as "are far from imminent" focusing instead on opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. During her race for lieutenant governor, she received a full 10 percent of her campaign donations from executives and their families at the disgraced oil services company Veco. In her 2006 race for governor, another 10 percent of her donations came from the oil and natural gas industry. Though she supported a windfall tax on oil profits -- an idea McCain has blasted -- she also signed a bill just last week "suspending Alaska's gasoline, marine fuel and aviation fuel taxes until Aug. 31, 2009," which will only add to Big Oil's coffers.

http://pr.thinkprogress.org/

There He Goes Again

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:29:57 EDT

There was a Phil Gramm sighting in Minnesota and it looks like he's back at it again, complaining about those pesky "whiners" who lost their only home to foreclosure, or saw their job shipped overseas.

    "If you're sitting here today, you're not economically illiterate and you're not a whiner, so I'm not worried about who you're going to vote for,'' Gramm told supporters of McCain at a Financial Services Roundtable event in Minneapolis on the sidelines of the Republican National Convention.

    Gramm, 66, stepped down as a senior adviser to McCain in July after telling the Washington Times that the U.S. is a "nation of whiners'' facing a "mental recession.''

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NVjq2py7BA

See the Obama campaign response below:

    "Today, the man who wrote John McCain's economic plan further insulted struggling Americans by suggesting that if they are not attending the Republican Convention, they are not only whiners, but economically illiterate. From the campaign whose candidate has said that we've made 'great progress' economically under George Bush and believes that the fundamentals of our economy are 'strong', that's pretty rich,” said Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor.

Obama Slams McSame on Abortion Rights in New Radio Ad

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:56:08 EDT

the first major broadcast push on abortion rights, which is airing in what appear to be heavy radio buys across swing states.

Here's the script:

    OBAMA: I'm Barack Obama, candidate for president, and I approved this message.

    VAL BARON: As a nurse practitioner with Planned Parenthood, I know abortion is one of the most difficult decisions a woman will ever make. I'm Val Baron. Let me tell you: If Roe v Wade is overturned, the lives and health of women will be put at risk. That's why this election is so important. John McCain's out of touch with women today. McCain wants to take away our right to choose. That's what women need to understand. That's how high the stakes are.

    ANNCR: As president, John McCain will make abortion illegal. McCain says quote, "I do not support Roe v. Wade. It should be overturned." And listen to McCain's answer on Meet the Press:

        RUSSERT: "A constitutional amendment to ban all abortions. You're for that?"
        McCAIN: "Yes, sir."

    VAL BARON: We can't let John McCain take away our right to choose. We can't let him take us back.

    ANNCR: Paid for by Obama for America.

The ad was shipped, Obama's campaign says, before Palin was selected. Though the campaign isn't pushing it to the media, it represents a major new front on an old, hot issue.

Strange Article About Palin After New Baby "Trig" is Born

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:10:04 EDT

Strange Article About Palin’s New Baby "Trig" After He is Born
Category: News and Politics

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: Myke Adams
Date: Sep 2, 2008 2:40 PM

By LISA DEMER
ldemer@adn.com
Published: April 22nd, 2008 01:11 AM
Last Modified: April 22nd, 2008 12:05 PM
Gov. Sarah Palin was back at work Monday in Anchorage, holding a meeting on the proposed natural gas pipeline three days after giving birth to her fifth child.

She and her husband, Todd, showed their new baby, Trig Paxson Van Palin, to a few reporters and photographers and answered questions about his condition and the sooner-than-expected delivery.

Trig has Down syndrome, a genetic abnormality that affects a child's intellectual and physical development, the governor confirmed.

"When we first heard, it was kind of confusing," Palin, 44, said. She called the revelation "very, very challenging" and said she initially felt sad.

But the family has worked through that. Palin said she and Todd feel blessed and chosen by God. With a big family including four older kids, grandparents, aunts and uncles, Palin said, they will have lots of support for what's ahead. In their eyes, she said, "he's absolutely perfect.
"

The oldest Palin kid, Track, is in the Army and texted his mother after learning the news with something to the effect of "This is just so cool -- I finally got my brother.
"

In a letter she e-mailed to relatives and close friends Friday after giving birth, Palin wrote, "Many people will express sympathy, but you don't want or need that, because Trig will be a joy. You will have to trust me on this." She wrote it in the voice of and signed it as "Trig's Creator, Your Heavenly Father.
"

"Children are the most precious and promising ingredient in this mixed-up world you live in down there on Earth. Trig is no different, except he has one extra chromosome," Palin wrote.

As for people who think a baby like Trig shouldn't even be born, look around, the governor wrote.
Who is perfect or even normal?

A MOTHER'S AGE

The risk of Down syndrome increases with the mother's age. For mothers under 30, it happens in fewer than one in 1,000 births. For mothers Palin's age, it's one in 35, according to the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Most children with Down syndrome are considered mildly or moderately disabled; there's a big range. A toddler may not walk until age 2; an adult may never live on his own. But support groups stress that those with Down syndrome are more like other people than not and can live rich and rewarding lives.

Because of prenatal testing, most families now know beforehand, said Judy Waldron, president of the Alaska chapter of the National Down Syndrome Congress, a support and education group that delivered a parent packet to the Palins in the hospital.

"They anticipate it and they kind of relish the challenge of having a child with special needs," said Waldron, an Anchorage teacher whose 19-year-old daughter, Lyn, has Down syndrome.

While it's "no walk in the park," the joys are great, she said. "Just the fact that they require such great effort to complete some simple tasks and that's real rewarding.
"

Todd Palin said the family has gotten a flood of supportive e-mail from families around the country with special-needs children. He said he's playing it by ear as far as his North Slope job.

Some people call them "angel children," straight from God, Waldron said. They are usually sweet-natured but can be ornery, like anyone.

EARLY ARRIVAL

Palin was in Texas last week for an energy conference of the National Governors Association when she experienced signs of early labor. She wasn't due for another month.

Early Thursday -- she thinks it was around 4 a.m. Texas time -- she consulted with her doctor, family physician Cathy Baldwin-Johnson, who is based in the Valley and has delivered lots of babies, including Piper, Palin's 7-year-old.

Palin said she felt fine but had leaked amniotic fluid and also felt some contractions that seemed different from the false labor she had been having for months.

"I said I am going to stay for the day. I have a speech I was determined to give," Palin said. She gave the luncheon keynote address for the energy conference.

Palin kept in close contact with Baldwin-Johnson. The contractions slowed to one or two an hour, "which is not active labor," the doctor said.

"Things were already settling down when she talked to me," Baldwin-Johnson said. Palin did not ask for a medical OK to fly, the doctor said.

"I don't think it was unreasonable for her to continue to travel back," Baldwin-Johnson said.

So the Palins flew on Alaska Airlines from Dallas to Anchorage, stopping in Seattle and checking with the doctor along the way.

"I am not a glutton for pain and punishment. I would have never wanted to travel had I been fully engaged in labor," Palin said. After four kids, the governor said, she knew what labor felt like, and she wasn't in labor.

Still, a Sacramento, Calif., obstetrician who is active in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, said when a pregnant woman's water breaks, she should go right to the hospital because of the risk of infection. That's true even if the amniotic fluid simply leaks out, said Dr. Laurie Gregg.

"To us, leaking and broken, we are talking the same thing. We are talking doctor-speak," Gregg said.

Some airlines have policies against pregnant women onboard during the last four weeks of pregnancy, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises against flying after 36 weeks.

This was going to be Palin's last flight anyway, her doctor said.

Alaska Airlines has no such rule and leaves the decision to the woman and her doctor, said spokeswoman Caroline Boren. Palin was very pleasant to the gate agents and flight attendants, as always, Boren said.

"The stage of her pregnancy was not apparent by observation. She did not show any signs of distress," Boren said.

Palin never got big with this pregnancy. She said she didn't try to hide it but didn't feel a need to alert the airline, either.

They landed in Anchorage around 10:30 p.m. Thursday and an hour later were at the Mat-Su Regional Medical Center in Wasilla.

Baldwin-Johnson said she had to induce labor, and the baby didn't come until 6:30 a.m. Friday.

"It was smooth. It was relatively easy," Palin said. "In fact it was the easiest of all," probably because Trig was small, at 6 pounds, 2 ounces.

Palin said she wanted him born in Alaska but wouldn't have risked anyone's health to make that happen.

"You can't have a fish picker from Texas," said Todd.

Palin said she won't take maternity leave but will go with Trig to doctor's visits, physical therapy, whatever he needs. She's breast feeding and plans to bring Trig to work with her, just as she did with Piper.

"It just feels like he fits perfectly," Palin said. "He is supposed to be here with us.
"

Kennedy's A Presence, Even if He's Absent Ailing Senator to Be Honored With Tribute

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:24:07 EDT

By Shailagh Murray
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 25, 2008; A27

DENVER, Aug. 24 -- Sen. Edward M. Kennedy may be too ill to attend the Democratic National Convention, but the patriarch of the party's first family will play a prominent part on opening night.

A tribute planned for Monday night will include a film by documentary producer Ken Burns, along with remarks from Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's daughter, who helped conduct Barack Obama's vice presidential search. A taped message from Kennedy will be played, but there is at least a chance that he will make the trip here if his doctors permit it. He was diagnosed with brain cancer in May and has spent much of the summer recovering from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

Shortly before his cancer diagnosis, Kennedy endorsed Obama, dealing a blow to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign and bestowing an establishment seal of approval on the insurgent senator from Illinois. But for those close to Kennedy, Obama was the obvious choice. His candidacy represented the culmination of a career-long pursuit for civil rights, and an impulse to embrace the new, rather than resist it.

"There was another time, when another young candidate was running for president and challenging America to cross a New Frontier," Kennedy said in his endorsement speech. "He faced public criticism from the preceding Democratic president, who was widely respected in the party. Harry Truman said we needed 'someone with greater experience' -- and added: 'May I urge you to be patient.' And John Kennedy replied: 'The world is changing. The old ways will not do. . . . It is time for a new generation of leadership.' "

"So it is with Barack Obama," Kennedy said.

Obama, for his part, has frequently praised Kennedy and has invoked his name and those of his brothers. "Ted has been at the forefront of every single cause that's important to Democrats for my entire adult life," he said in an interview. "Having gotten to know him in the Senate, what I came to realize was, he's probably the hardest-working senator that we have. And during this campaign, what I've seen is the sheer joy he gets out of politics. He cares so deeply about the people he's fighting for, but he also just enjoys being the mix, and the give-and-take."

Obama has won the support of other members of the Kennedy family, including Maria Shriver and Ethel Kennedy, widow of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy. At a fundraiser at Ethel Kennedy's home in Northern Virginia, her son, Max, introduced Obama by describing how she turned to him after Obama's speech at the 2004 Democratic convention and said, "The man who just spoke is going to be president of the United States, and he is going to change this country."

One Kennedy source counted several dozen family members coming to the convention, including Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.), the senator's son; Shriver, the wife of Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California; Jean Kennedy Smith and her family; Caroline Kennedy and her husband and children; and numerous members of Robert Kennedy's family, including Ethel Kennedy.

The tribute will be the big public event of the week. But the Kennedys will gather to commemorate another family milestone -- the 40th anniversary of Robert Kennedy's presidential bid.

Another historic event associated with John Kennedy will be marked: Obama's acceptance speech on Thursday night will coincide with the 45th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech at the March on Washington. After the address, King and other leaders were invited to the White House to meet with President Kennedy, who told the group he was committed to passing civil rights legislation. He was killed before the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964, but his brother has since been involved in trying to expand its protections for many minorities.

"The Kennedy family has been with us from the very early days," said Rep. John Lewis (Ga.), the only surviving member of King's delegation to the White House on Aug. 28, 1963. "Every major civil rights battle, Senator Kennedy has been there. He's been a warrior, he's been a fighter, he's been a workhorse for civil rights."

A convention week that starts with a Kennedy tribute and ends with an African American accepting the Democratic presidential nomination "is unbelievable," said Lewis. "It is unreal. It is the coming together of history, and maybe fate."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/24/AR2008082402148_pf.html

VIDEO: AN ANTHEM FOR CHANGE BY DAVE STEWART

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:03:56 EDT

Category: News and Politics

AN ANTHEM FOR CHANGE BY DAVE STEWART

Earlier this year when I was recording "American Prayer," a song I originally co-wrote with Bono, the phrase, "When you get to the top of the mountain, remember me" seemed to take on a whole new resonance, given the inspirational candidacy of Barack Obama.

The song always contained one of my favorite passages from Dr. King, which was hauntingly delivered the night before he was assassinated. King says: "I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!"

People long for a connection -- whether it is to music, to their country, or to a big idea. Regardless of what happens in November, Senator Obama has reminded millions of people that they have the power to connect to bigger ideas. He is, in essence, the embodiment of a new anthem for change. He has continued King's narrative from what was once thought of as a dream to a reality. I find it especially relevant that Barack Obama will accept the Democratic Party Nomination for President 45 years to the day of King's "I Have a Dream" speech.

When we were originally writing the song, Bono was crafting the words in a way that would make people think about the fact that 'America' as a concept was a truly great idea, based on the bedrock of equality. I find it more pertinent than ever to release it now; to the moment America finds itself in, daring to re-imagine itself and its place in the world.

When I set out to make a video for the new version of this song, I wanted to honor all of those millions of people, especially young people, who are, for the first time, feeling empowered to voice their beliefs. I wanted to capture how Obama's message of change has echoed across the broad fabric of what is America. To do that, we've cast the film with an eclectic array of personalities, including Forest Whitaker, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Barry Manilow, Joan Baez, Macy Gray and Joss Stone. They appear alongside veterans, teachers and everyday citizens -- all of whom have been touched by this simple idea of change.

As an Englishman, I'm not an expert in all the intricate details of American politics. But as an artist, I understand how rare it is to inspire a connection to a bigger idea or purpose. This video isn't so much an endorsement of Barack Obama as much as it is a celebration of all those who have picked up a sign, who have registered to vote and are working to make the world a better place. So as Senator Barack Obama ascends to the mountain top, let us not forget all of the others who for the past 40 years have sung anthems of change to make this moment possible.

Watch the video for "American Prayer" here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVi4rUzf-0Q

Official Site of the Dem Convention/Convention Schedule

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:08:07 EDT

http://www.demconvention.com/

Special Thanks to Soldierette for this info! There will be changes and additions to the schedule.

Convention Schedule - Historic Week!!

Next week will truly be a major week in American history. Hillary Clinton will be speaking on the 88th anniversary of women getting the right to vote. Barack Obama will make his acceptance speech, in front of 75,000 people, on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have A Dream" speech. DON'T MISS IT!!

Monday, August 25

The theme for the day is "One Nation" and Michelle Obama will be the "headline prime-time speaker."

The speakers will include:

* Former President Jimmy Carter

* Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi

Tuesday, August 26

The theme for the day is "Renewing America's Promise." "Senator Hillary Clinton will be the headline prime-time speaker and former Virginia Governor Mark Warner will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday night."

The speakers will include:

* Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy

* Governor Brian Schweitzer of Montana

* Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas

* Governor Janet Napolitano of Arizona

* Governor Jim Doyle of Wisconsin

* Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania

* Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio

* Senator Bob Casey, Jr., of Pennsylvania

Wednesday, August 27

The theme for the day is "Securing America's Future" and will feature the Vice Presidential candidate's speech. Representative Patrick Murphy (D-PA) and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth will offer a tribute to war veterans.

The speaker s will include:

* Former President Bill Clinton

* Governor Bill Richardson

* Massachusetts Senator John Kerry

* Senator Evan Bayh

* Senator Joe Biden

Thursday, August 28

The theme for the day is "Change You Can Believe In."

Barack Obama will accept the nomination in a speech at INVESCO Field at Mile High on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. He will be joined by Former Vice President Al Gore.

There are convention watching parties all over the country. You can find a local convention party near you at www.barackobama.com, or you can host your own party! Of course, this schedule and speaker list is subject to change and probably will to some extent.

Travelling to Springfield, IL for Kickoff to Denver?/ Obama's Schedule

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 06:03:32 EDT

If you are going to Springfield, IL for the kickoff trip to Denver here is excellent info. Springfield is where he announced he was running for President. Special Thanks to Katra Knoernschild for this info

Obama will be in Eau Claire, Wis., on Sunday; Davenport on Monday; Kansas City, Mo., on Tuesday; Billings, Mont., on Wednesday; and Denver on Thursday, where he’ll accept his party’s presidential nomination.

Turns out that the Blues & BBQ Festival will be overlapping Obama's event.

Because of this, and security zones being set up - several streets are being

closed off starting Friday at 6pm. Here's a link where you can get the

latest info:

http://www.sj-r.com/news/x996441285/RSVPs-encouraged-for-Obama-appearance-Sa

turday

Security entrances for Obama's Event are on 7th & Washington. The Blues &

BBQ Fest entrance is at Washington, between 5th & 6th and 5th & Adams.

If you're staying at the Mansion View, and arriving after 6PM on Friday, you

need enter from the South Side in to Downtown (From I-55 take the South

Grand Avenue Exit (96B or 96A?). Head east to 4th st, turn right, and

you'll be about 8blocks from the hotel. If you take the Sangamon or Clear

Lake exits, you'll be blocked off on the north side of downtown, and be

re-routed all the way around (not fun). If you miss the South Grand exit -

you can always take the 6th street Exit further down the highway, and just

take that straight up to downtown, and cut over to fourth.

Not the first biracial or multiracial President

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 05:56:19 EDT

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: 4OBAMA!
Date: Aug 19, 2008 7:05 PM

Aysha Hussain, a writer for Diversity Inc.
, states that "Ever since the nation first met Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in 2004, his race has been called into question more times than Michael Jackson's.
"

And the author's right, though Hussain attributes this focus on race to the belief, held by some historians, that "people don't really understand the genealogy of past U.S. Presidents.
"

In my own research on Melungeons - a distinct cultural group of tri-racial (black, white, Native American) and/or unknown foreign origins - I have come across researchers who show that at least five U.S. presidents had black ancestors.

They are:

Thomas Jefferson, the third U.S. President, was the "son of a half-breed Indian squaw and a Virginia mulatto father.
"

Andrew Jackson, the seventh U.S. President, was "the son of an Irish woman who married a black man." (His older brother was reportedly sold into slavery.
)

Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth U.S. President, had dark skin, course hair, and a heritage that included Melungeon or African ancestors. Hussein writes that "His heritage fueled so much controversy that Lincoln was nicknamed "Abraham Africanus the First" by his opponents.
"

Warren Harding, the twenty-ninth U.S. President, never denied his African heritage, and reportedly had black ancestors on both sides of his family; it is also said that Harding attended a school that was founded to educate fugitive slaves.

Calvin Coolidge, the thirtieth U.S. President, was found to have African and possibly Native American heritage as well.

Source: http://racerelations. about. com/b/2007/02/17/why-obama-wouldnt-be-the-first-president-with-african-ancestry. htm

Democrats compromise on party platform

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 18:13:30 EDT

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Democrats shaped a set of principles Saturday that commits the party to guaranteed health care for all, heading off a potentially divisive debate and edging the party closer to the position of Barack Obama's defeated rival, Hillary Clinton.

Obama, soon to be the Democratic nominee, has stopped short of proposing to mandate health coverage for all. He aims to achieve something close to universal coverage by making insurance more affordable and helping struggling families pay for it.

Advisers to Obama and Clinton both told the party's platform meeting they were happy with the compromise, adopted without opposition or without explanation as to how health care would be
guaranteed.

In return for the guarantee, activists dropped a tougher platform amendment seeking a government-run, single-payer system and another amendment explicitly holding out Clinton's plan as the one to follow.

The party now declares itself "united behind a commitment that every American man, woman and child be guaranteed to have affordable, comprehensive health care."

Under any system in play, most people would still put out money for health insurance as they do now, but they would get help when needed.

That was a common feature of the plans put forward by Obama and Clinton in the primaries. But she would have required everyone to get insurance while his plan makes it mandatory only for children.

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean praised "the spirit of this compromise." Judith McHale, a Clinton supporter who helped to lead the platform meeting, said Obama and Clinton advisers worked
collegially throughout the process.

For the 186-member platform committee, one imperative Saturday was to satisfy Clinton loyalists still sore from the often acrimonious primary fight while keeping policy firmly in synch with Obama's campaign.

There was little dissent, or room for it.

Democrats made mostly cosmetic changes to a platform draft prepared for the meeting, a process designed to showcase unity more than to air differences in the party at large on hot-button issues
such as the Iraq war, abortion and health care.

Party platforms are a statement of principles that are not binding on the candidates or the next president and they are typically given little attention after they are adopted.

Even so, the party's decision to embrace guaranteed health care is bound to become a leading yardstick by which Obama's presidency will be measured if he wins in November.

The platform was to be approved by the committee later Saturday, then submitted to the national convention in Denver later this month.

On Iraq, the platform states that Democrats "expect to complete redeployment within 16 months," reflecting Obama's time frame but not the tone of certainty he brought to it when he was running in
the primaries.

The 51-page platform draft showed the influence of Clinton's supporters not only in the extensive section on health care but in its assertions about the treatment of women. Some of her backers
believed sexism dogged her campaign for the nomination.

An extensive section on women's rights is included and the votes she received in the primaries are described as "18 million cracks in the highest glass ceiling."

Even so, the platform is thoroughly tuned to Obama's proposals.

It reasserts his promise of energy rebates to struggling families, pension subsidies, a crackdown on predatory lenders, higher taxes for families earning over $250,000, tax breaks for others, billions for economic stimulus and "direct high-level diplomacy, without preconditions," in the case of Iran.

On trade, it promises a multilateral approach to improving the North American Free Trade Agreement, without saying specifically what those changes should be. Obama criticized NAFTA when
campaigning in states that felt disadvantaged by it, but the platform offers no suggestion he would take unilateral action against the deal.

Instead, it says: "We will work with Canada and Mexico to amend the North American Free Trade Agreement so that it works better for all three North American countries."

Democrats typically have a strong plank in favor of abortion rights; this year's version is stronger than usual. "The Democratic Party strongly and unequivocally supports Roe v. Wade and a woman's right to choose a safe and legal abortion, regardless of ability to pay, and we oppose any and all efforts to weaken or undermine that right," it says.

Gone is the phrase from the past that abortions should be safe, legal and "rare."

The party also pledges to ensure access to adoption programs, prenatal and postnatal care and income support programs for expectant mothers who need the help.

The party also:
– Promises "tough, practical, and humane immigration reform in the first year of the next administration."
– Favors restoration of the ban on assault-type weapons and other "reasonable regulation" that recognizes the constitutional right to own and use firearms.
– Favors helping religious groups provide social services as long as "public funds are not used to proselytize or discriminate."
– Promises to close the Guantanamo detention center.
– Promises to double the Peace Corps.

The truth about John McCain

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:53:59 EDT

This week John McCain's campaign hit new lows with their attacks and distortions.

And all too often, the so-called "referees" in the news media are spending a lot of time repeating his false attacks and very little time holding him accountable.

Here's the latest:

* Just last week, McCain and his party attacked Barack Obama and ridiculed the idea that keeping your car tires inflated is an effective way to improve fuel efficiency and keep down the cost of gasoline. They even mailed out tire gauges as a joke. The thing is, the experts all agreed with Barack. Everyone from AAA to NASCAR has issued statements saying that keeping your tires inflated is a good idea. McCain finally had to face reality this week and reverse his position. But John McCain was not taken to task for this kind of petty, misguided stunt. Instead, the media had a good laugh and ignored his effort to distort the truth to win a few cheap political points.

* Earlier this week, the McCain campaign put out an ad saying that Washington is broken. It's gotten a lot of press so far, but what it failed to mention is that John McCain spent the last 26 years in Washington -- failing to fix this broken system. He portrays himself as a so-called "maverick" but doesn't want people to know that he has voted 95% of the time in support of George Bush's policies.

* Another ad uses scare tactics to claim Barack's tax policy will hurt middle class Americans. Press coverage of the ad repeated McCain's smears, but omitted the fact that Barack's economic plan will cut taxes for 95% of American families. Not to mention that McCain's upper class tax cut plan leaves out more than 100 million middle class families.

The media may not be informing the public very well, but we don't have to sit back and wait for them to start telling the truth about John McCain.

Barack was in Indiana the other day, where he called John McCain out on issues like this. Watch the video and sign up to join thousands of fellow supporters on the Obama Action Wire:

http://my.barackobama.com/actionwiremedia

Thanks for your help!

Did McCain get illegal oil money?

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 16:49:22 EDT

How sketchy is this? Right after John McCain switched his position on oil drilling, a bunch of top Hess Oil Company execs gave $28,500 each to help elect him. But so did a Hess office manager and her husband who's an Amtrak track foreman. They probably didn't have that kind of money lying around, and if oil executives funneled money through them to help elect McCain, that's very illegal.

Turns out, another oil industry exec gave McCain multi-thousand dollar checks allegedly from a Taco Bell manager, an auto mechanic, and a discount studio store owner. McCain returned $50,000, but over $450,000 in suspect money is still out there.

I signed a petition urging the U.S. Justice Department to investigate John McCain's potentially illegal contributions from the oil industry. Every signature will be delivered to the Justice Department by a clean money group on Monday. Can you join me in signing at the link below?

http://pol.moveon.org/mccain_oil_donors/?r_by=13441-9042060-4kvZQBx&rc=confemail

Thanks!

New Website: Bought By Big Oil

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:52:28 EDT

Quote of the Week

"If Democrats expand their congressional majorities, prospects will be very good for consumers -- and bad for oil companies."
-- Tyson Slocum
Director of the consumer group Public Citizen's energy program

From 20,000 Feet: Strengthening Our Majority

The Los Angeles Times wrote last week, "As voters steam over gas prices, Republican congressional candidates are bracing for a gusher of ads from now until Election Day attacking their ties to oil companies" and "Democrats are taking aim."

So who has the most to lose in November? "Amid the onslaught, the oil industry is increasingly worried about this year's election. Oil executives could face a bigger Democratic majority in Congress and a Democrat in the White House, both set on repealing industry tax breaks and imposing a windfall profits tax."

Just listen to what a member of the Independent Petroleum Association of America had to say: "We're bracing for the worst."

Luckily for Big Oil, some Republican Senate candidates are making arguments on their behalf. Steve Pearce in New Mexico said, "At a time when we're facing $4 gasoline, I think that you need people who've been in the energy industry to tell us what to do." With logic like that it's no wonder he's running more than 20 points behind.

And in case you missed it, click here to see the new website Bought By Big Oil, our latest effort to remind voters about the connections between oil company dollars and Republican policy.
www.BoughtByBigOil.com

Colorado: Pulling no punches

"Congressman Mark Udall came out swinging Monday against GOP challenger Bob Schaffer in the second of nearly a dozen planned debates in their U.S. Senate race," according to the Pueblo Chieftain.

"Udall, a five-term congressman, repeatedly attacked Schaffer on his energy stance, calling the former congressman an oil executive who likes to see high gas prices."

Udall: "There's a clear contrast here. I'm clearly somebody who's going to work across the board to drive down gas prices. Congressman Schaffer talks about the situation we're in, but he doesn't acknowledge that he played a key roll in getting us in this situation."

Yet again, Schaffer's shady dealings over Kurdish oil became a campaign issue. Udall "said he's traveled to Iraq twice to visit U.S. troops, adding that Schaffer only went there once, and that was to cut an oil deal."

According to the Chieftain, Schaffer "said he did help Aspect Energy negotiate an agreement with the Kurdish Regional Government over the objections of the U.S. State Department, which had a policy against such contracts. Udall said that contract could make it harder for the U.S. to leave Iraq gracefully because it could add more tensions to the region."

Kentucky: Lunsford goes on the offense

"A week after U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell released his first television attack ad in his re-election campaign, Democrat Bruce Lunsford returned fire," reported the Louisville Courier-Journal, "linking millions of dollars raised by McConnell to his votes in favor of the oil industry."

The Lunsford ad "quotes editorials in The Courier-Journal and Lexington Herald-Leader that panned McConnell's original ad and flashes the word 'dishonest' on the screen, a word that appeared in the Herald-Leader editorial. It then goes on the offensive against McConnell."

Lunsford's ad says, "McConnell raised $3 million from big oil while voting to give them billions in tax breaks. But he blames others for high gas prices, hoping voters can be fooled one more time."

Click here to watch Democrat Bruce Lunsford's latest campaign ad.
http://www.dscc.org/rant?content_item_KEY=1551#KY

North Carolina: Dole Slipping

The Raleigh News & Observer notes that Elizabeth Dole's "lead slips a bit" in the latest survey by Public Policy Polling. "Though Dole is ahead, she has lost a little ground compared with other recent polls" despite having gone up on the air by herself in the past few months.

The poll had Dole leading Kay Hagan by single digits - 49% to 40%.

Maine: Fly Fishing with Tom Allen

Click here to watch the latest installment of the DSCC's Road to Victory video series.
http://www.dscc.org/rant?content_item_KEY=1551#ME

Oklahoma: Steffanie's Ad

The race in Oklahoma has always been a pick-up opportunity on the horizon for us. Democratic State Senator Andrew Rice has been running a terrific campaign and is turning this into a competitive race.

Rice is known across the Sooner State for his commitment to ensuring that health insurance companies treat patients fairly. In his latest TV ad, he highlights how he has been carrying on the legacy of teenage cancer patient Steffanie Collings and fighting to lower medical bills for families struggling to pay for cutting-edge clinical trials.

Click here to watch the latest TV ad from Oklahoma Democrat Andrew Rice.
http://www.dscc.org/rant?content_item_KEY=1551#OK

Oregon: The latest DSCC ad

Thanks to the generous support of so many Democratic activists like you, the DSCC is already making the TV investments we'll need to win in November. Our latest spot is on the air in Oregon.

Click here to watch the DSCC's latest ad exposing the real record of Republican incumbent Gordon Smith. Make a contribution, and you'll help us run ads like this one in battleground states across the country.
http://www.dscc.org/rant?content_item_KEY=1551#OR

Click here to make a contribution.
https://secure.democratsenators.org/o/4/p/5000/contribute?donate_page_KEY=3339&default=50

-----------------------------------------------------------

Paid for by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee,
http://www.dscc.org, and not authorized by any candidate or
candidate's committee.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Obama urges full voting rights for Florida, Michigan delegates

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 09:26:10 EDT

The Democratic delegations from Michigan and Florida should be fully seated when Democrats hold their national convention later this month in Denver, said the party’s presumptive presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama.

"As these delegates go about the important business of the Convention, I believe Party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories," Obama wrote in a letter to the chairmen of the party’s credentials committee. His plea came a day before an expected stop in Lansing to talk about energy.

He urged the committee to pass a resolution when they meet Aug. 24, the day before the convention begins, to give the delegates from the two states full voting rights.

The Democratic National Committee rules committee voted last year to strip both states of all their delegates because they held primary elections before Feb. 5, in violation of party rules. In a contentious meeting in late May, the DNC voted to seat both delegations, but with only half a vote each.

U.S. Sen. Carl Levin and Democratic activist Debbie Dingell, who pushed the early primary as a way to break the hold Iowa and New Hampshire have on the first primaries in the nation, said today that Obama’s actions will help unify the Democratic Party.

“This underscores the need for a fairer and more sensible process for selecting presidential nominees,” the two said in a statement Sunday. “We have always been confident that Michigan would have a full delegation and a full vote.”

Members of the credentials committee released a statement today, saying the matter will be a top priority for the committee on Aug. 24.

The move isn’t surprising, given Michigan’s role as a key battleground state in November. Neither candidate wants to alienate voters in the two states. The Republican National Committee also punished Michigan and Florida by stripping half the states’ delegations to the convention.

Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP presidential candidate, has said he’d like to see both delegations fully seated at the Republican National Convention, which will begin Sept. 1 in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Obama Signals Support for Wider Offshore Drilling

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 20:01:50 EDT

Oil Search Would Be Part of 'Comprehensive Energy Policy' Aimed at Lower Gas Prices

By Jonathan Weisman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 2, 2008; A04

ORLANDO, Aug. 1 -- Sen. Barack Obama suggested on Friday that he could accept an expansion of offshore oil drilling as long as it was part of a broader package of measures that would free the logjam of energy bills in Congress.

"My interest is in making sure we've got the kind of comprehensive energy policy that can bring down gas prices," Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, said in an interview with the Palm Beach Post. "If, in order to get that passed, we have to compromise in terms of a careful, well-thought-out drilling strategy that was carefully circumscribed to avoid significant environmental damage -- I don't want to be so rigid that we can't get something done."

Republicans have consistently said they could craft legislation that would expand oil exploration on the outer continental shelf without jeopardizing delicate shoreline habitats. But Democratic leaders in Congress have been ardently opposed. Environmental groups, a key constituency, have been unyielding in their opposition.

Instead, Democrats crafted a rhetorical answer to the GOP's drilling campaign, calling on companies to begin oil drilling on the millions of acres both on- and offshore that have already been leased to them but remain untapped. Obama has taken up that line as part of his standard stump speech.

But with rising gasoline prices, polls indicate voters increasingly side with the Republicans, even here in Florida, where opposition to offshore drilling has always been strong. McCain switched his own position on the issue earlier this year, as did Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R), who had also been opposed.

"It's clear that members of both parties are following John McCain's leadership toward an 'all of the above' approach on energy that includes nuclear, alternative energy, and off shore drilling," McCain's campaign said in a statement. "We hope Barack Obama will realize that his ongoing opposition to John McCain's realistic energy solutions and additional off shore drilling is wrong."

Obama said in the Palm Beach Post interview that "the Republicans and the oil companies have been really beating the drums on drilling. And so we don't want gridlock. We want to get something done."

Obama, through his Senate office, issued a written statement welcoming a proposal sent to Senate leaders Friday by 10 senators -- five from each party -- that would lift drilling bans in the eastern Gulf of Mexico within 50 miles of Florida's beaches and in the Atlantic off Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia, but only if the states agree to oil and gas development along their coasts. The states would share in revenue from the development.

Drilling bans along the Pacific coast and the Northeast would remain in place under the compromise.

The compromise "would repeal tax breaks for oil companies so that we can invest billions in fuel-efficient cars, help our automakers re-tool, and make a genuine commitment to renewable sources of energy like wind power, solar power, and the next generation of clean, affordable biofuels," Obama said.

Obama campaign rejects rapper Ludacris' rhymes

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 10:53:53 EDT

The Associated Press
Thursday, July 31, 2008; 8:27 AM

CHICAGO -- Barack Obama's presidential campaign says a new rhyme by supporter and rapper Ludacris is "outrageously offensive" to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Republican Sen. John McCain and President Bush.

The song brags about an Obama presidency being destiny. It uses an expletive to describe Clinton, calls Bush "mentally handicapped" and says McCain doesn't belong in "any chair unless he's paralyzed."

The lyrics don't spare the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who recently apologized for making crude comments about Obama. "If you said it then you meant it," intones the rapper.

Obama's campaign blasted "Politics as Usual," which is on the "Gangsta Grillz: The Preview" mixtape with Atlanta spinner DJ Drama.

"As Barack Obama has said many, many times in the past, rap lyrics today too often perpetuate misogyny, materialism, and degrading images that he doesn't want his daughters or any children exposed to," campaign spokesman Bill Burton said in an e-mail statement Wednesday. "This song is not only outrageously offensive to Sen. Clinton, Rev. Jackson, Sen. McCain and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear. While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics."

Ludacris' publicist and manager did not immediately return calls Wednesday for comment.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/31/AR2008073100667_pf.html

Michelle Obama wants you to join Blue Stars for Obama - Pro Military Pro Obama

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:05:46 EDT

THANKS TO MICHAEL RUPP AND HEIDI FOR SENDING THIS POST IN MY GROUP'S LISTSERV

We are hoping you can help gather the 1600 members in 36 groups who have identified themselves as Military Family members by sending out an email to your membership group, urging everyone to also join Blue Stars for Obama: Pro Military, Pro Obama. It's your link to the campaign and to Michelle Obama's Roundtables on Military Families

Blue Stars for Obama is an organizing site for military families to take action in the campaign! Through Blue Stars for Obama we'll collect list of endorsements, ask you to help us grow the group, and seek ideas that we can feed back to the campaign. Blue Star members may have the opportunity to get invitations to Michelle Obama's roundtable discussions with military families held near bases around the country. Help us take action! Even if you belong to another MyGroups military family site, please join Blue Stars too. Blue Stars for Obama is "Pro Military, Pro Obama." It was started by Army and Marine Corps Spouses who believe supporting Senator Obama reinforces our support of our loved ones serving in the military and sees our commitment to the country as military family members echoed in Barack Obama's unyielding personal commitment to public service and his dedication to make America safer by increasing the prestige of the US around the world. The essence of Senator Obama's candidacy reflects the traditional military values of courage, commitment, honor, loyalty and selfless service ~ values needed in the White House. You can help bring about this change by becoming a "Blue Star for Obama." This exciting comprehensive grass roots initiative borrows the symbolism of the blue star flag which immediate family members of active duty service members in times of war may fly, but it is not in any way affiliated with the Service Flag or the Blue Star Mothers organization. Blue Stars for Obama is open to all who have any family member serving in the military ~ that includes a spouse, child, parent, grandchild, niece, nephew and so forth.

For more information on this exciting group and updates on Michelle Obama's activities, check out the blog on our group page.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlueStarsForObama

Thanks so much for helping this amazing grassroots effort!

Heidi

Fight The Smears: The Truth About Barack’s Foreign Trip

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 12:53:38 EDT

Lots of lies and miss-information being emailed around the Internet about Barack's trip overseas:

LIE: Barack Obama didn't take time to meet with troops on his overseas trip.

Conservative blogs, referencing an inaccurat e email from abroad, have been spreading the rumor that Barack Obama gave troops the cold shoulder on his foreign trip.

TRUTH: Barack Obama spent time throughout his trip visiting with and thanking our troops in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. He was proud to meet so many of troops overseas and has repeatedly praised their service and dedication.

Watch this video of Barack with the troops: http://www.youtube.com/v/1icHG0x0Am8&hl=en&fs=1

For more information on how you can fight these and other smears visit: FighttheSmears.com

Sincerely, Scott & Martha at Obama HQ Beth Group Founder and Moderator

Sign this petition! Al Gore Being Attacked by Fossil Fuel Special Interests

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:17:06 EDT

Hi, Al Gore took a big risk when he called on us to get 100% of our electricity from cheap, clean sources within 10 years. Now he is being attacked by Big Oil and the fossil fuel special interests. They are calling the plan unrealistic and crazy. Help solve high enrgy costs and turn back the tide of fossil fuel special interests by signing a petition to support Al Gore's ambitious challenge. Together, we'll urge Obama, McCain, and Congress to get on board. Can you join me? Just click here: http://pol.moveon.org/gorechallenge?r_by=13294-9042060-tqfxhxx&rc=comment_paste Thanks! Beth

Gramm Steps Down From McCain Camp

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:50:32 EDT

What a miserable excuse for an intellectual leader in the Republican Party

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/18/gramm-steps-down-from-mccain-camp/

By Sarah Wheaton

Updated: Just over a week after drawing outcry for his comments about a “nation of whiners” fretting over a “mental recession,” Phil Gramm announced he was stepping down as co-chairman of Senator John McCain’s campaign.

The former Texas senator was an early supporter of Mr. McCain and frequently accompanied him at campaign appearances and served as a surrogate and economic adviser. But the candidate repudiated Mr. Gramm’s remarks last week, and his efforts to clarify that he was talking about the nation’s leaders, not regular citizens, were evidently unsuccessful.

Mr. Gramm issued a statement late Friday evening:

It is clear to me that Democrats want to attack me rather than debate Senator McCain on important economic issues facing the country. That kind of distraction hurts not only Senator McCain’s ability to present concrete programs to deal with the country’s problems, it hurts the country. To end this distraction and get on with the real debate, I hereby step down as Co-Chair of the McCain Campaign and join the growing number of rank-and-file McCain supporters.

Mr. Gramm’s comments, initially made in an interview with The Washington Times, came as Mr. McCain was in the midst of a “Jobs First” tour of economically distressed regions and as the instability of mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae was becoming apparent. Mr. McCain is vulnerable to suffering from voters’ associations with President Bush on this issue. A recent New York Times poll(pdf) found that 61 percent of respondents think he would continue Mr. Bush’s economic policies, and respondents also expressed greater confidence in Democrats than Republicans to handle the economy.

After more than a week, the Democrats have continued to attack Mr. McCain for his association with Mr. Gramm. On Friday morning, for example, Senator Barack Obama’s campaign criticized Mr. McCain for retaining Mr. Gramm as an adviser and representative. “Senator McCain’s economic plan gives nearly $4 billion in tax breaks to the oil companies but doesn’t provide any tax relief to more than 100 million middle-class families,” said Tommy Vietor, an Obama spokesman, in an e-mail message to reporters that included a link to a Robert Novak column. “But that shouldn’t come as a surprise since today we learned that Phil Gramm will continue to advise Senator McCain on economic policy despite calling Americans struggling in this economy ‘whiners.’”

And the Obama campaign does not appear to be placated by Mr. Gramm’s departure. Shortly after his announcement, Hari Sevugan of the Obama campaign fired this salvo: “The question for John McCain isn’t whether Phil Gramm will continue as chairman of his campaign, but whether he will continue to keep the economic plan that Gramm authored and that represents a continuation of the polices that have failed American families for the last eight years.”

GOP Senate Candidate Fesses Up To Oil Deal

Candace N. - V.O.B — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:16:01 EDT

Colorado Senatorial candidate Bob Schaffer acknowledged today that he knowingly arranged an oil deal in the Kurdish region of Iraq that was counterproductive to American interests in the region. He argued that the deal was allowed under Iraq's federal system, and so he felt comfortable pursuing it.

Schaffer, a Republican, came under heavy criticism in recent weeks for arranging the deal, because U.S. officials said it would be damaging to the tenuous oil-revenue sharing agreements that the Iraqi government was, at the time, putting together.

Initially, Schaffer denied he was aware State Department officials had warned against such an arrangement, despite the fact that objections from Condoleezza Rice and President Bush were highly public.

But on Thursday, the Colorado Republican changed his tune, acknowledging, according to the paper the Pueblo Chieftain, that "U.S. officials in Baghdad did not want U.S. oil companies doing business directly with the Kurds."

"It's troubling enough that Bob Schaffer flew into Iraq in the middle of the war, not to support our troops, but to cut a money-making oil deal that undermined the mission our troops were fighting for," said Tara Trujillo, campaign spokeswoman for Schaffer's Democratic rival, Mark Udall. "But now we see he won't even give Coloradans a straight answer on what he knew and when."

Schaffer initially traveled to Iraq in November 2006 to lay the groundwork for an oil deal in the Kurdish regions for Aspect Energy, his former employer. Previous deals like Aspect's had drawn disapproval from President Bush. And the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office reported that the Iraqi government viewed foreign deals like the one Aspect was arranging as "illegal."

Schaffer continued to work on the Aspect deal while officially a candidate for the United States Senate. For his labor he earned a $160,000 salary from Aspect Energy in 2007, and a $226,000 severance package when he left the company after conclusion of the deal.

His initial claims of ignorance that the Aspect deal was against U.S. interests were highly dubious, as the Huffington Post reported two weeks ago:

Throughout that time period, Iraqi officials, including the country's oil minister, were expressing fears that Kurdish oil ambitions would result in open political conflict within the Iraqi state. Additionally, the State Department wrote a letter to Congress stating that any contract signed between a foreign energy company and the Kurdistan Regional Government would elevate tensions.
...
What makes the issue so damaging, critics allege, is not just that Schaffer is claiming he was unaware of the concerns of the President, State Department and Iraqi officials, but that he was doing this all at the same time that he was officially running for Colorado's Senate Seat.

Barack Obama and The 21st Century challenges

MI 2020 -T Man — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 13:06:55 EDT

Sen. Obama explicitly demonstrated his national and international statesmanship and leadership for the 21st century through his summit yesterday. If only the current administration had've thought to have a public forum on the economic and optional war strategies, we wouldn't be in such a tragic situation as we are now.

The senator from Illinois presented a panel of experts to acknowledge, examine and resolve the hypothetical but likely crisis of cyberspace, nuclear and biological concerns that loom before us in the 21st Century. This is a true sign of intelligence and vision...some argue he's a mere politician, i beg to differ, he's in a political arena, yes,....but his mind and spirit are far beyond that...

Must Darfur wait another year?

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:20:59 EDT

Dear Friend,

On July 31, 2007, the U.N. Security Council authorized 19,000 additional peacekeepers to help stop the violence in Darfur.

One year later, barely 2,000 have arrived, and those that have arrived lack the equipment they need to protect themselves, let alone Darfuri civilians. Just yesterday, at least seven peacekeepers were killed in Darfur in an attack most likely orchestrated by the government of Sudan.

The Save Darfur Coalition is circulating a petition to the leaders of the five most critical voices on the U.N. Security Council to demand that they stop dragging their feet. I've already signed. You can too by clicking below.

http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign/anniversary

A Security Council resolution is useless without concrete action from the U.N. and the leaders of the nations who lead it. It is outrageous that the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council - China, Russia, France, the U.K., and the U.S. - cannot produce the political will, a few hundred trucks, or even just 24 helicopters to end the brutal genocide.

This is a failure of will, plain and simple. The world promised Darfur protection but has failed to deliver it.

Since January alone, 190,000 Darfuris have been displaced and driven from their homes. How many more deaths and displaced people will it take before the world community provides real security?

Help me send these world leaders a strong message: stop the foot-dragging and keep your moral obligation to bring peace and security to Darfur. Click the link below to send your message today.

http://action.savedarfur.org/campaign/anniversary

And please keep the momentum going by forwarding the petition on to 10 of your friends. Thanks for joining me in this important struggle.

Thanks for all you do!

Beth

Mental Recession - high cost of gas and food, an illusion

MI 2020 -T Man — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:06:36 EDT

Phil Gramm, one of McCain's economic advisers, stated that what Americans are experiencing is not mental depression, but mental recession....clearly exhibits who is mental and dillusional. Though McCain distance himself from Gramm's statement, there is quite a disconnect from the priviledged officials whose income is generated by tax payers and the tax payers subjected to a poorly managed government and economy.

Obama Family

MI 2020 -T Man — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:32:49 EDT

During the continuous campaign we are often faced with the seriousness of organizing and planning, but on the lighter side of things, i received an e-mail from April Bryant on the Obama Family being video/interviewed by Access Hollyood at www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/08 which was very refreshing....

Happy Fourth of July

MI 2020 -T Man — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:11:25 EDT

I would like to wish all supporters of Sen. Barack Obama and all Americans a happy Fourth of July. If you have time to read the speech on patriotism by Sen. Barack Obama it should energize you even more(if that's possible) to ensure that our honorable endeavor becomes a success.

General Clark

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:04:59 EDT

Dear MoveOn member,

Please take a moment to read this important message from our friend, Iraq war veteran and chairman of VoteVets.org, Jon Soltz.

Thanks for all you do.

--Nita

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sign the petition

Dear MoveOn member,

On Sunday, General Wesley Clark spoke honestly and bluntly about what it
takes to be Commander in Chief. He said that while Senator John McCain's
service made him a hero to millions, including Clark himself, McCain's
experience doesn't trump the poor judgment that he's shown on some of the
most important issues in recent years.

What General Clark said was right, but the media has been in an
uproar--twisting his words and accusing him of saying things he didn't
say. (You can read Clark's actual words in the P.S. below). CNN even went
so far as to accuse Clark of "swift boating" McCain.

When the media distorts the facts on important issues like this, it has
serious consequences. Can you sign this petition supporting General Clark
and tell the media to stop distorting his comments? Clicking the link will
add your name to the petition.

http://pol.moveon.org/clark/o.pl?id=13051-9042060-mARSDlx&t=11

The petition reads:

The American people deserve the truth--not sensational reporting. The
media has consistently twisted General Clark's words. In fact, General
Clark said he respects John McCain's service, but that McCain's experience
doesn't automatically give him the judgment to be Commander in Chief. The
media must stop distorting Clark's statement.

Over the last 24 hours, the media has made a caricature of General Clark's
statement and distracted this country from the real debate. CNN said that
General Clark "tried to Swift boat John McCain," and MSNBC said Clark
"blasted McCain's military record."

These characterizations are totally false.

We all honor Senator McCain's service. But that does not mean that on
matters of security, the military, and veterans issues that Senator McCain
is beyond reproach. Nor does it mean that his service trumps the poor
judgment he has shown on some of the most important issues of our time,
including the war in Iraq, the efforts to get Osama bin Laden, and
veterans legislation like the 21st Century GI Bill.

Please sign the petition today:

http://pol.moveon.org/clark/o.pl?id=13051-9042060-mARSDlx&t=12

It is important for General Clark to not back down, and to keep treating
the American people like adults who can handle a real, honest, and blunt
debate in these important times.

In some circles, this is called "straight talk," and it's exactly what we
need right now.

Thank you for your support,

Jon Soltz
Iraq War Veteran
Chairman, VoteVets.org

P.S. Here's what General Clark actually said, from my piece on Huffington
Post yesterday:

BOB SCHIEFFER: How can you say that John McCain is untested and untried,
General?

CLARK: Because in the matters of national security policy making, it's a
matter of understanding risk. It's a matter of gauging your opponents and
it's a matter of being held accountable.

John McCain's never done any of that in his official positions. I
certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and
to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a
prisoner of war. He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services
Committee. And he has traveled all over the world.

But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the
Navy that he commanded--that wasn't a wartime squadron. He hasn't been
there and ordered the bombs to fall. He hasn't seen what it's like when
diplomats come in and say, I don't know whether we're going to be able to
get this point through or not. Do you want to take the risk? What about
your reputation? How do we handle this publicly? He hasn't made that
calls, Bob.

SCHIEFFER: Well, General, maybe--could I just interrupt you?

CLARK: Sure.

SCHIEFFER: I have to say, Barack Obama has not had any of those
experiences, either, nor has he ridden in a fighter plane and gotten shot
down. I mean...

CLARK: Well, I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down
is a qualification to be president.

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 3.2 million
members--no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny
staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
________________
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/.
Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Patriotism is evident

MI 2020 -T Man — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:44:39 EDT

1. Campaigning for President of The United States Of America
2. Served in State Senate for State of Illinois
3. Serves in U.S.Senate
4. Graduate of Harvard Law School
5. Model citizen as husband and father
6. Support from Millions of citizens who've been subjected to 8 years of deplorable political , economic, and global relations.
7. Applied skills and legal knowledge to improve citizens of lesser means by organized community activities.
8. Author.
PATRIOTISM?....... Few if any cynics or critics can come close.

organization

MI 2020 -T Man — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 00:50:53 EDT

I attended a "unite for change" meeting at the Democratic Party HQ in Columbia, SC that was incredible. There was a video of Sen. Barack Obama in which he made a point that stuck with me. He said that the lobbyists and special interest groups were highly effective because they were ORGANIZED for their purpose. So must the volunteers, supporters, campaigners and staff of the Democratic Party be for Sen. Barack Obama.
There have been very few periods in the course of history with this much at stake for this nation. Neither has there been this much enthusiasm to correct the ills of this nation through the efforts of the people. But enthusiasm alone, can't resolve the many issues that are out of hand. It will and must take an organized effort of knowledgeable citizens to pursue this endeavor. We can't just elect Sen. Barack Obama and then sit back, but we as a nation must continue to be just as enthused and persistent about the resolution of the pressing issues.

Obama Campaign Apologizes for Muslim Snub

funkfresh01 — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 19:07:58 EDT

http://www.nysun.com/national/obama-campaign-apologizes-for-snub-of-muslim-women/80282/

Source: New York Sun

Senator Obama's campaign is apologizing after campaign volunteers reportedly kept two Muslim women from appearing behind the senator at a Detroit rally on Monday because they were wearing headscarves.

One witness, Ali Koussan, told the Politico that one volunteer cited "the political climate," "what's going on in the world," and "what's going on with Muslim Americans" before stating that it wouldn't be helpful for one of the hijab-wearing women to appear in television pictures with Mr. Obama.

"I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me? Are you serious?" Mr. Koussan said.

"This is of course not the policy of the campaign. It is offensive and counter to Obama's commitment to bring Americans together and simply not the kind of campaign we run," a spokesman for the campaign, William Burton, told the political news outlet. "We sincerely apologize for the behavior of these volunteers."

The Council on American-Islamic Relations called on Mr. Obama to invite the two women who were snubbed to appear with him at a future event.

Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the ITC Determination on Chinese Pipe Producers

Candace N. - V.O.B — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 14:15:39 EDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement after the International Trade Commission (ITC) concluded that Chinese pipe producers have injured U.S. manufacturers for several years by dumping circular welded steel pipe exports into our market - a practice which has been enabled through Chinese pipe producers receiving illegal government subsidies.

"I appreciate and support the ITC determination. This is the first case in the history of U.S. trade agreement enforcement involving subsidies in China that has resulted in the imposition of countervailing duties by the U.S. Department of Commerce.

"A month ago, the Department of Commerce determined that the actual rates of Chinese dumping range from 69 to 85 percent and that the actual illegal subsidies range from 29 to 615 percent. These are egregious and outrageous violations of fair trade, and the ITC's determination today was the only responsible response.

"The United States must always use the full range of multilateral and bilateral tools to insist that China and all other nations abide by the rules that govern the economic policies of nations. Our trade agreements must provide for fair competition and for fair treatment of American workers, and then they must be fully enforced as Congress intended them to operate."

Great video that was emailed to me about the McCain's Hypocrisy

Candace N. - V.O.B — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 14:25:08 EDT

I was surprised when I saw this. McCain's comment was much worse.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/19/watch-mccain-didnt-love-a_n_108191.html#postComment

Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the 63rd Birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

Candace N. - V.O.B — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:36:22 EDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the 63rd birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma:

"The 63rd birthday today of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma offers an opportunity to remind the world community of the continuing tragedy in her country and the responsibility we have to press for change there.

"This year marks the 20th anniversary of Burma's 1988 democracy movement and of Daw Suu's emergence as its inspirational leader. She has sacrificed family and ultimately her freedom to remain true to her people and the cause of liberty. And she has done so using the tools of nonviolent resistance in the great tradition of Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, and Martin Luther King, earning the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize.

"Since her last birthday, the world has watched in horror as Burma's ruling junta first crushed the "Saffron Revolution," gunning down and rounding up Buddhist monks and other Burmese citizens peacefully demonstrating for political reform and social justice, and then, last month, resisted and impeded international provision of critical assistance to millions of Burma's people in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis. Tens of thousands died from the immediate impact of the cyclone itself, and at least 2.4 million people, 40 percent of them children, remain homeless and in desperate need of assistance.

"For decades, the junta has overseen the continued deterioration of living standards, basic human rights, and general well-being of the Burmese people. Two million refugees, thousands of political prisoners in Burma's jails, and the retreat of the junta's leaders themselves to an Orwellian capital cut off from its people are further testament to the alienation and devastation that Burma's current leaders have brought upon their nation.

"This situation offends the conscience of the American people, as it does for millions of others around the world. If the junta continues its failure to protect the dignity, health and well-being of the Burmese people, the international community must be prepared to work harder toward effective coordinated action, including but not limited to action through the United Nations Security Council.

"Aung San Suu Kyi will spend her birthday the way she has spent 13 of the past 19 birthdays, under house arrest. Nonetheless, she continues to serve as a consistent manifestation of hope even as hope has been on the retreat in Burma. As we honor Daw Suu today, we must do so the way she would want it done: by honoring the people of Burma, and keeping faith with them in their struggle for freedom, justice, and democracy."

McCain’s McClellan Nightmare

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 13:43:13 EDT

June 1, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist

By FRANK RICH

THEY thought they were being so slick. When the McCain campaign abruptly moved last Tuesday’s fund-raiser with President Bush from the Phoenix Convention Center to a private home, it was the next best thing to sending the loathed lame duck into the witness protection program. John McCain and Mr. Bush were caught on camera together for a mere 26 seconds, and at 9 p.m. Eastern time, safely after the networks’ evening newscasts. The two men’s furtive encounter on the Phoenix airport tarmac, as captured by a shaky, inaudible long shot on FoxNews.com, could have been culled from a surveillance video.

But for the McCain campaign, any “Mission Accomplished” high-fives had to be put on hold. That same evening Politico.com broke the news of Scott McClellan’s memoir, and it was soon All Bush All the Time in the mediasphere. Or more to the point: All Iraq All the Time, for the deceitful origins of the war in Iraq are the major focus of the former press secretary’s tell-all.

There is no news in his book, hardly the first to charge that the White House used propaganda to sell its war and that the so-called liberal media were “complicit enablers” of the con job. The blowback by the last Bush defenders is also déjà vu. The claims that Mr. McClellan was “disgruntled,” “out of the loop,” two-faced, and a “sad” head case are identical to those leveled by Bush operatives (including Mr. McClellan) at past administration deserters like Paul O’Neill, Richard Clarke, John DiIulio and Matthew Dowd.

So why the fuss? Mr. McClellan isn’t a sizzling TV personality, or, before now, a household name beyond the Beltway. His book secured no major prepublication media send-off on “60 Minutes” or a newsmagazine cover. But if the tale of how the White House ginned up the war is an old story, the big new news is how ferocious a hold this familiar tale still exerts on the public all these years later. We have not moved on.

Americans don’t like being lied to by their leaders, especially if there are casualties involved and especially if there’s no accountability. We view it as a crime story, and we won’t be satisfied until there’s a resolution.

That’s why the original sin of the war’s conception remains a political flash point, however much we tune out Iraq as it grinds on today. Even a figure as puny as Mr. McClellan can ignite it. The Democrats portray Mr. McCain as offering a third Bush term, but it’s a third term of the war that’s his bigger problem. Even if he locks the president away in a private home, the war will keep seeping under the door, like the blood in “Sweeney Todd.”

Mr. McCain and his party are in denial about this. “Elections are about the future” is their mantra. On “Hardball” in April, Mr. McCain pooh-poohed debate about “whether we should have invaded or not” as merely “a good academic argument.” We should focus on the “victory” he magically foresees instead.

But the large American majority that judges the war a mistake remains constant (more than 60 percent). For all the talk of the surge’s “success,” the number of Americans who think the country is making progress in Iraq is down nine percentage points since February (to 37 percent) in the latest Pew survey. The number favoring a “quick withdrawal” is up by seven percentage points (to 56 percent).

It’s extremely telling that when Gen. David Petraeus gave his latest progress report before the Senate 10 days ago, his testimony aroused so little coverage and public interest that few even noticed his admission that those much-hyped October provincial elections in Iraq would probably not happen before November (after our Election Day, wanna bet?). Contrast the minimal attention General Petraeus received for his current news from Iraq with the rapt attention Mr. McClellan is receiving for his rehash of the war’s genesis circa 2002-3, and you can see what has traction this election year.

There are other signs of Iraq’s durable political lethality as well. Looking for a bright spot in their loss of three once-safe House seats in special elections this spring, Republicans have duly noted that the Democrats who won in Louisiana and Mississippi were social “conservatives,” anti-abortion and pro-gun. They failed to notice that all three Democratic winners, including the two in the South, oppose the war. Even more remarkably, new polling in Texas finds that an incumbent Republican senator and Bush rubber stamp, John Cornyn, is only four percentage points ahead of his Democratic challenger, Rick Noriega, a fierce war critic who served in Afghanistan.

In the woe-is-us analyses by leading Republicans about their party’s travails — whether by the House G.O.P. leader John Boehner (in The Wall Street Journal) or the media strategist Alex Castellanos (in National Review) — Iraq is conspicuous by its utter absence. The Republican brand’s crisis is instead blamed exclusively on excessive spending, scandal and earmarks — it’s all the fault of Tom DeLay’s K Street Project, Jack Abramoff and that Alaskan “bridge to nowhere.”

This transcends denial; it’s group psychosis. Nowhere is this syndrome more apparent than in the profuse punditry of Karl Rove, who never cites Iraq as a problem for Mr. McCain (if he refers to it at all) and flatly assured George Stephanopoulos last Sunday that Mr. McCain has no need to make a “clean break” from Mr. Bush.

Mr. Rove is to the McCain campaign what Bill Clinton was to the Hillary Clinton campaign: a ubiquitous albatross dispensing dubious, out-of-date political advice and constantly upstaging the candidate he ostensibly supports. Like Mr. Clinton, Mr. Rove is a camera hog who puts his need to vehemently defend his own administration’s record ahead of all else. So what if he’s under subpoena by the House Judiciary Committee? He doesn’t care if he reminds voters of administration scandals or of Mr. McCain’s association with Iraq any more than Mr. Clinton cared if he reminded voters of his continued ties to suspect financial donors and the prospect of an out-of-control co-presidency.

Damaging as Mr. Clinton’s behavior was to his wife’s campaign, Iraq was worse. Mrs. Clinton could never credibly explain away her vote authorizing the war. Her repeated disingenuous attempts to fudge it ended up contaminating her credibility on other issues.

Mr. McCain’s record on Iraq is far worse than Mrs. Clinton’s. He didn’t just cast a vote but was a drumbeater for the propaganda Mr. McClellan cites, including the neocon fantasies of a newly democratic Middle East. On “Hardball” and “Meet the Press” in March 2003, Mr. McCain invoked that argument, along with the promise that Americans would be “welcomed as liberators,” to assert the war would be “one of the best things that’s happened to America.”

To cover up these poor judgments now — and questionable actions, including his public boosting of Ahmad Chalabi, then a lobbying client of the current McCain campaign guru, Charles Black — Mr. McCain is hoping that the “liberal media” will once again be complicit enablers. We’ll see. He’s also counting on the press to let him blur his record by accentuating his subsequent criticism of the war’s execution — as if the war’s execution (also criticized by countless Democrats), not its conception, was the fatal error.

His other tactic is to try to create a smoke screen by smearing Barack Obama as unpatriotic. Mr. McCain has suggested that the Democratic front-runner is the Hamas candidate and has piled on to Mr. Bush’s effort to slur Mr. Obama as an apostle of “appeasement.” A campaign ad presented Mr. McCain as “the American president Americans have been waiting for” (not to be confused, presumably, with the un-American president Al Qaeda has been waiting for).

Now Mr. McCain is chastising Mr. Obama for not having visited Iraq since 2006 — a questionable strategy, you’d think, given that Mr. McCain’s own propagandistic visit to a “safe” Baghdad market is one of his biggest embarrassments. Then again, in his frantic efforts to explain why he sided with Mr. Bush to oppose an expanded G.I. bill that the Senate passed by 75 to 22, Mr. McCain has attacked Mr. Obama for not enlisting in the military.

Besides making Mr. McCain look ever angrier next to his serene opponent, this eruption raises the question of why he chose double-standard partisanship over principle by not applying this criterion to the blunderers who took us into Iraq. Unlike Mr. Obama, who was 7 years old in 1968, Mr. Bush and company could have served in Vietnam as Mr. McCain did.

The McCain campaign may have no choice but to double down on Iraq — what other issue does the candidate have? — but it can’t count on smear tactics or journalistic and public amnesia to indefinitely enforce the McCain narrative. As the McClellan circus shows, unexpected bombshells will keep intervening — detonating not only on the ground in Iraq but also in Washington, where more Bush alumni with reputations to salvage may yet run for cover about what went down in 2002-3.

As F. Scott Fitzgerald would have it, we will be borne back ceaselessly into the past. Or so we will be as long as Americans continue to die in Iraq and as long as politicians like Mr. Bush, Mr. McCain and Mrs. Clinton refuse to accept responsibility for their roles, major and minor, in abetting this national tragedy.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/opinion/01richedit.html?hp

DNC Launches McCainpedia

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Mon, 26 May 2008 11:59:06 EDT

DNC: McCainpedia - A Project Of The Democratic Party

McCainpedia.org is a wiki run by the DNC's Research, Communications, and Internet teams. The goal is to centralize research material, allowing the general public to use it as they see fit. Unlike some wikis, McCainpedia is read-only and can't be edited by the public. This allows us to fully validate all of the information that appears, ensuring accuracy and reliability.

http://www.mccainpedia.org

McCainpedia follows FlipperTV, which puts video taken by Democratic "trackers" of John McCain as he campaigns across the country, and allows users to watch, download, and use the footage as they wish. FlipperTV has now been incorporated into McCainpedia alongside all of the research information.

http://www.mccainpedia.org

Obama would take California in November, Times/KTLA poll finds

Beth for Obama'08 in Skokie, IL — Sat, 24 May 2008 22:16:07 EDT

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-me-poll24-2008may24,0,6353526.story

Barack Obama's photostream

Candace N. - V.O.B — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:59:22 EDT

http://www.flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom

Obama gaining on Clinton in Pennsylvania: poll?

RevSkull — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 06:41:38 EDT

The latest polling, push the skepicism button, from PA has Obama closing the gap on Clinton. http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN0842272420080409?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews

As you read it, note that most of the breakdowns favor us but we still haven't made enough headway with women...according to the pollsters. The problem with most of these polls is that the questioning is so bad that they distort the views of the potential voters. Today's pollsters are no more accurate than the one's in 1948 who were sure that Dewey would beat Truman.

Folks were circulating polling information the past few days showing us to be AHEAD in PA but most people discounted those. What the best of the Talking Heads on TV are now saying is that Clinton has to win by 10 points or more to be able to claim a victory and by 20 points to gain any delegate advantage. Anything within 5 points could give her the popular vote win but give us the delegate win.

One thing is certain, after this campaign, the Democrats will have to reform and simplify their nominating process. I've heard from many of you how you wish it had been the simple "Winner-take-all" of the Republicans. That may well be the solution.

Put to shame by an 8th Grader...

RevSkull — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:43:46 EDT

An 8th Grader in many of my groups has already hit his goal of raising $2,000 and is now going for $2,500. I have raised a big goose egg!

Barack Obama and I are committed to changing the political process by building a campaign built on a broad base of support from ordinary Americans. In my case, a disabled man who struggles, along with my wife, to just get by each month.

I've set my own personal fundraising goal for the campaign, which you can see in the thermometer to the right. I will do anything I can to raise funds via the internet.

Will you make a donation to help me reach my goal? Will you support Barack Obama's efforts to bring change?

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/RevSkull

I'd rather be discussing how close we seem to be getting in PA but raising money is still important and means more for North Carolina and Indiana.

Thanks,

RevSkull

Good Friends

Jeremy Lien — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 04:19:35 EDT

To all you great Barack Obama Supporters,

I'd like to meet and be added to all of your friends list so that I may acquire and meet many more people. Please add me to your friends list, or actually just request me and I'll certainly add you all. Thanks for much

Jeremy

The Frustration may be hard, but the Movement is still alive and kicking.....

John — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 01:33:45 EST

After losses in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island, I had to sit down for a moment. I had to rethink what had just happened. Then I realized something that Senator Obama said just a few weeks before. He said, "This Race is going to be long, and we will have our ups and downs, but I believe the will of the American People and thier fight for change will be heard."

I remembered this line, and then saw the downs in the campaign, but then I saw the upbeat parts of the campaign. We lost NH, and NV, but then came back in South Carolina and won by a huge margin. The largest margin in the race tonight was won by Senator Obama in Vermont. It still shows that when this campaign wins, we win by a huge margin. We dont play around, lol.

In Texas Barack Obama won the Caucus, and has been awarded more delegates in Texas than Mrs. Clinton. He has also been awarded a 10-5 delegate margin in Vermont. Not only is he still ahead by as many delegates as he was this morning, but he is now ahead by more than 10 delegates as this morning. This race isn't as close as the media tends to show it. We shall see when Wyoming and Mississippi have their primaries in just 4 days.

GO GO GO OBAMA!!!!

WE ARE STILL BEHIND YOU AND WE WILL NEVER ABANDON...

For the Change we seek can only be addressed and become reality under an Obama Administration.

Johnny McLaurin

South Carolina For Obama

P.S. South Carolina never gave up on you, and you have not given up on us Mr. Obama.

My Country Tis Of Thee....take a few moments today

Rev Bry — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:17:27 EST

to sing this beautiful song as we contemplate change for the USA!

1. My country,' tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside let freedom ring!

2. My native country, thee,
land of the noble free, thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
thy woods and templed hills;
my heart with rapture thrills, like that above.

3. Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees sweet freedom's song;
let mortal tongues awake;
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break, the sound prolong.

4. Our fathers' God, to thee,
author of liberty, to thee we sing;
long may our land be bright
with freedom's holy light;
protect us by thy might, great God, our King. God Bless America blessings,rev bry

www.barockthevote.org is up and running

Jason — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:58:08 EST

please sign up to discuss Obama's run for president and politics in general!

www.barockthevote.org

Dennis Kucinich Calls Upon Supporters in Iowa to Back Barack....

John — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 21:13:54 EST

What a great day it is when even a rival candidate comes too his senses and sees how special the Obama Campaign really is. He has pretty much endorsed Senator Obama in Iowa, and for that I want to thank Mr. Kucinich. Now on to Iowa, we are just 2 days away, 2 days. Can you believe it? I have been waiting for this day and moment for 10 months. Now just 2 days away, we can finally set our hopes up to become the ones who stood up for change in America. Lets get ready to see it unfold, and lets get ready to usher in a new era in American Politics. "The Politics of Hope"

Thank You all,

Johnny McLaurin

South Carolina For Obama

5 Days.....

John — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 00:09:06 EST

Just 5 days left until the Iowa Caucus's. This is my third blog in the countdown until the huge day when Barack Obama Sweeps Iowa. I am ready, are you? I have been ready for so long, have you been ready? I am ready for a difference in America, are you? Are You Ready America!? I want to hear your voices come January 3rd, and I believe I will. I love everyone who has worked so hard to keep this campaign on the move and too keep informing the public of the great change to come. Thank You All,

Johnny Mclaurin

South Carolina For Obama

The World Needs To Know...

John — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 21:26:11 EST

That as I sit here, staring at my Obama button, a white background with red white and blue emblems, and a name written in royal blue, Obama' 08, I feel a sense of goodness. I have never felt such goodness in my life. Too come close too it, I would say religion is the closest aspect. Like Obama, someone willing to give up their ego, and thier good name in order to change this country and this world. I don't care what Hillary, or the pundits are saying about this good man, what I am saying is listen to his words. I hear Hillary and all I hear is past partisicm, and hatred for good. When I hear Obama I hear hope, I hear the future, and I feel that righteous wind that he so talked about three years ago approaching at hurricane strength. What I can say is, that I know what it is like to be let down my whole life, but when I see Obama I seen Opprotunity. With I see Obama I see leadership, when I see Obama I see the frustration in all of America's eyes finally being met with a truthfull gaze. I cannot help but to think, Obama will be the Best President This Nation has EVER and I mean Ever had.

Thank You all,

Johnny McLaurin

South Carolina For Obama

This is our destiny...

John — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 21:03:54 EST

I believe in Barack, I believe in hope and change for this country, I believe that we can build a better middle class, and a better for future for those who now struggle in poverty. I believe that we as a people have an obligation to show Washington that this election is not about them, but about us. Its about all of us, and I encourage to show your strengths and abilities. From here on out, till the Iowa and NH primaries, let our voices be heard!

Thank you all so much,

Johnny McLaurin

South Carolina For Obama

Cast a Vote for Obama NOW on Dailykos

Joe — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:56:31 EST

Go to http://www.dailykos.com/ and cast a vote for Obama as winning today's last Iowa debate.

Tomarrow is the day...

John — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:22:50 EST

Tomarrow is the day when over 50,000 Obama and Oprah supporters flood Williams-Brice Stadium to see Barack Obama, his wife, and Oprah tell America how they will change this country, and the world. I believe in Senator Obama, and I also believe in the goodness of the American People to follow when they see a righteous wind at their backs. We can do this! Yes We Can!!!

O O O OBAMA!!!!

Johnny McLaurin of Columbia, South Carolina

Look for me to be volunteering tomarrow!

Tomarrow is going to be the day of my year!

John — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 22:17:50 EST

Tommarrow I get to see my hero, Senator Barack Obama!

I also get to see Oprah Winfrey, and Mr. Obama's wife Michelle.

I hope they feel welcome, as they should always feel, because in south carolina, we loved him like he is the man of steel!!!!

WE NEED CHANGE, SO COME OUT AND VOLUNTEER TOMARROW TO HELP OUT THE SC HEADQUARTERS AND OBAMAS SOUTH CAROLINA CAMPAIGN.

Thank you all,

Johnny McLaurin

Voices of Change, A Barack Obama Insight of Poetry....

John — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 18:27:54 EST

Tomarrow go an tell everyone you know,

Of the Good news, and Good heart of all who show,

Tell them of the ideas, of greatness and hope,

Tell it too the ones on your corner who sit around and mope,

Tell it too the children without food or a claim,

Tell it too the adults, who sit around and complain,

Tell it to the old people, and tell it too the new,

There is something here at stake, so much work here to do,

Tell it the family, where Christmas has come to cease,

Tell it to the man or woman, living with a disease,

Tell it to the worker without enough medical care,

Tell it to the world that we will soon be there,

I want to know if you believe deep inside your heart,

About change and hope in dreams, that can only begin to start,

With yourself, your friends, and your community seaching for life,

To end all of the worlds hatred, and to end all their strive,

I am here for you, and I know you are here for me,

Lets tell the World Barack Obama is just like you and me......

By Johnny McLaurin

Go spread the news, about change and hope to everyone you know, time is short, there isnt much to waste. Thank you all

O O O OBAMA!!!

OBAMA AND OPRAH IN SC!!! THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR!!!

John — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:33:14 EST

I live no more than a little more than 5 mins away from Williams Brice Stadium! My mother an I will be attending the event. The local NBC Station Channel 10 WIS News has been showing this story all afternoon and night! Im so greatful for the support of fellow Obama supporters from all accross the country. This event is going to be amazing! More than 20,000 people are expected to turn out, that means in a stadium that seats nearly 82,000 people, it could be tens of thousands more! I will be there, and I will love every minute of it! I have already decided to get there 5 1/2 hours early, to help with volunteering and to get great seats! This event is going to change the republican rule in South Carolina, and I am glad to say I will be a part of History. So many South Carolinians not only love Oprah, but they Love Barack Obama as well! Being part of history makes me speechless. Sunday, December 9th, is going to be glorious! I hope to cap that 82,000 people capacity.

Johnny McLaurin of Columbia, SC
and of Obama for SC

O O O OBAMA!!

Black/Brown Forum in Iowa

John — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:17:02 EST

Today many Obama Supporters gathered outside of the Black/Brown Forum in Iowa, to show their support for Barack Obama, even though the snow, sludge and freezing rain was there. When a movement gains momentum, it is very hard to stop .... here is the link to the official blog

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post_group/ObamaHQ/CRgm

Judgement Vs. Experience

John — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 19:05:26 EST

After reading an article recently in the Obama Blogs. I saw an article that really made alot of sense to me. It said something like if you dont have good judgement, you dont really have experience. If you dont have any judgement, you have nothing really useful to offer to anyone. I thought it made a great point. Obama has this judgement, this really great judgement, and taking that into account with his experience of crossing party lines, and getting things done for the greater good of humanity, he is the one for the job. He should be our next president, and there is no doubt in my mind he will be!

Johnny Mclaurin

Obama for South Carolina

Vote Today Online Poll for Obama

Joe — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 14:46:43 EST

Daily Kos has a poll put up today at 9:42 AM. Make sure to go there today and vote for Obama! It's still early…Obama's now in second place at 26% behind Edwards at 35% Let's change these numbers to reflect the grassroots support we are seeing moving in his direction.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/11/29/124013/18

Dont forget to watch the PRE J-J Ralley Tonite on CSPAN @ 8pm EST

John — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:57:16 EST

Tonite is going to be fantastic, last nite Obama supporters won the so called "Sign Wars." That was just a sign of things to come, because Obamites, and Obama will rock the Veterans House tonite!

WOAHHHHH!!!!!!!

IM FIRED UP AND READY TO GO!

GO OBAMA!!!

Johnny Of South Carolina

I hardly have any views of my blogs but....

John — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 21:16:22 EST

I hardley have any views of my blogs but I have to write them in case. In case there is that one person who comes along, and has no idea of who Obama is. To me as a citizen of this country, and who is campaigning for someone of whom I think will be the Best President Ever. I have to stop and go, maybe that guy or girl may see this. An see the same energy and hopefulness I have. I have to write it, because If I dont, If i dont write this and take it head on then who will. I can't rely on everyone else forever, I have to make my voice heard. And thats what Im doing. I love you Obama and can't wait to see you back in Columbia, South Carolina. Especially for a rally!! WOAH!!!!!!

GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!

Johnny Mclaurin of Columbia, South Carolina

It's NOW or it's NEVER....

John — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:50:34 EST

Here come the last 60 days of the Primary Campaigning. This is the crucial time, when all of the country begins to listen to what the candidates are saying. I have no doubt that Barack will be giving some of the most inspirational speeches of his political career. I have no doubt that people will listen, and I have no doubt, in my mind. That the nation will rise up this January and Senator Barack Obama will be named the Democratic Nominee, and then its off to the races baby!!!! I have no doubt he will make his case for the country in these last days of the Primary Elections, and he will do it well and with authority. The question is do you, do we, want change and to make a difference in this world? If so we need to stand together as one, and go out there and win the vote with Obama. History shows that few people can come together, and gain the support of millions around a nation or country for change. I have no doubt, in my mind, that we can do this.

Thank you,

Johnny McLaurin of South Carolina

GO OBAMA!!!!!

A Barack Story..

John — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:23:52 EST

There was a story that Barack told some time, years ago. He spoke of a time when he got together with his churches and they all talked about how to change the world. This was in the lower South Side Chicago Area. He said for weeks they tried to invite people too join thier grassroots. And this was years before he even ran for office. But he had no one show up, not one person. While outside of the church, he look across the street and saw 5-7 young children between the ages of 5 and 9 playing. They were throwing rocks at an abandoned building. Barack then told his collegues, "What if we stop? What if we pretend we dont care about the youth of today. And they fall into this crisis. Will we stand here today, and years from today say we did the right thing." that may not me exact but its a summary. Barack said it then, and Ill say it now. We cant leave our children out to dry. So they are under protection now. Because of Senator Obama!

GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Johnny

YEHH!! OBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Step up and talk the talk...

John — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:17:23 EST

Step up and talk the talk about Barack Obama!

Johnny

Go Barack!!!

John — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:07:41 EST

In every state, and in every town, there is an Obama supporter waiting to hear from us, lets let them know we care, and that Barack will not let them down.

GO OBAMA!!!!

Johnny

Those polls say this, and they say that!?

John — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:05:26 EST

Many people forget that the Iowa Primaries are only 3 months away. But little do many know, in Iowa they get together to gather the people to afirm who is the next President. I have no doubts that if Barack gathers 40,000 in Austin, TX. Then he will have know problem gathering 100,000 in Iowa on January 3rd, 2007. Go Obama!

johnny

GO OBAMA!!!!!!!

GO OBAMA GO!!!

John — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:02:03 EST

Barack you are the man, and if my psychic energy is correct, an i dont even have any. But deep in my bones my body says your going to win in 2008!!!

GO OBAMA GO!!!!!!!!!

Johnny

OBAMA~!

Republicans and Democrats Love OBAMA!

John — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 16:16:14 EST

It has been seen in the past few days, the support of thousands of Republicans coming out for Barack Obama in Iowa, New Hampshire, and Nebraska. It seems the lines that once use to divide the country and elections are now being crossed, and by none other than Senator Barack Obama. His new wave of politics, which in my view is the correct way, has reached the hearts and minds of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. He is bridging the gap that has been around since the mid 1800's. Thats how influential, how fluent, how passionate about America that this man is. That is why he is going to win the Elections in early 2008, and thats why he will win the General Election in November of 2008!

MUCH LOVE OBAMA and SUPPORTERS!

Johnny McLaurin

GO OBAMA

HOPE, LOVE, and CHANGE...I BELIEVE!

John — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 22:25:00 EDT

I believe in hope, as a Christian, it is truely one of God's greatest gifts to mankind. No matter what the obstacles, no matter the quantity against you, Hope has guided us through many of life's toughest fights. Senator Obama has given me the hope to stand up, with my brother, and with my sister, and fight to get my country back! He has given me the love, and compassion to stand up, and say what I'm feeling, not just when he is around, but all the time. He has shown in the past debate, that he is not running for second, or third, but he is in it to WIN! I believe in him, I believe in him so much, that I devote most of my time in life, too watching the debates, blogging on Barack Obama.com and listening to other people just like me, and so different who want to talk. I believe he said it correctly, that we need to get, "Democrats, Independents, and Republicans!" together if we want to make any impact on our country. Im so sick and tired of red states, and blue states, and this and that. The hope he brings makes my generation blush in awe, because its so hard to believe we have a man on our side who actually cares about us. But you know what, I care for Obama, I do, I love him like a relative, and I will fight for his cause, and our cause as long as the fight is in me. An believe me when I say this, "The Fight will not be over, not for long, I will stand up and do my best to bring our country back to the people!" Just as Senator Obama has promised, and you know what? I belive him.

GOOD LUCK BARACK, MUCH LOVE AND HOPE!!

Johnny McLaurin of South Carolina

Polls Shmoals, Im Voting For Obama!!!

John — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:32:40 EDT

I dont really care about what the next poll that comes out says, I don't care if Hillary is at 99%, all Im saying is these polls mean absolutely nothing, and Im pretty sure that when Al Gore endorses Senator Obama, then those polls will begin to change immediately. But also look at 2004, Everyone thought Dean would win with no problem, then Kerry sneaked up on him. Hillary's front runner status has her letting her guard down, and just like in a boxing match, when u let ur guard down u get knocked out. An soon she will be out of this race, and Obama will be the nominee, its not something i think, its something i know. And that is what you call hope!

Johnny

Columbia, South Carolina

Campaign Update, Talking Points and Schedule for this Week

Kobi Little — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:31:22 EDT

This week's blog is packed with new information from the campaign. Special thanks to my friend Teal Baker for her contributions to this post. Take it all in and then share it with others. If you like this blog or if you find this information useful please send me a friend request and join my group, Kobi Little's National Network for Obama.

Breaking news from the conference call with Campaign Manager David Plouffe: A new online fundraising contest is being launched that will grant the members of the My.BarackObama.com groups that raise the most money through the end of the week the opportunity to participate in a personal conference call with Senator Barack Obama and Campaign Manager David Plouffe. Be on the lookout for more information from the My.BarackObama.com team.

State of the Campaign

When we got into this race as a largely unknown candidate new to the national political stage, we never expected that nine months later at this stage of the race, we would be in a tight three way race in Iowa; leading in the money race; have the largest grassroots organization in modern political history; and have an organizational advantage in the early states and February 5 over a quasi-incumbent from the most powerful political machine in modern political history.

Barack is the candidate with the message and biography that is most in synch with the electorate – according to a Gallup poll in September Democratic voters prefer change to experience by a margin of 73 percent to 26 percent.

The Obama campaign has: the largest organizations with the most experienced staff and enthusiastic volunteers in the 4 early states;

An unexpected financial advantage that allows the campaign to compete in multiple contests at the same time;

The most donors by far in the race, who as the election draws nearer will get even more active on our behalf, giving us financial sustainability;

A significant organizational advantage in February 5th states.

Barack Obama's Schedule: On Monday, Barack Obama received the endorsement of the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association. Tuesday, he’s speaking at Change to Win in Chicago. Wednesday, he can be seen live on the NBC/NECN/New Hampshire Public Radio/New Hampshire Democratic Party debate, which will be broadcast live on MSNBC at 9pm EST. Following the debate he’ll head to New York, where he’ll participate in a live interview on ABC’s The View at 11am EST on Thursday before leading a major rally in Washington Square Park. On Friday, he speaks at Howard University’s Convocation and participates in the CBC Issues Forum in Washington, DC.

Barack Top Ten - 9-22-07 - Victory2008.net

Barack Daily Buzz - Victory2008.net — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 15:13:46 EDT

1) Obama Condemns Jena Charges during Iowa State University Speech
9-22-07
Lisa Rossi - Des Moines Register
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/NEWS09/709220328/-1/NEWS04

2) Obama and Edwards Step Up Criticism of Clinton
9-22-07
Beth Fouhy - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPDo-NMvpVY4UgXpm2c296R0i3Jw

3) Obama Leads Both Giuliani and Thompson in Recent Poll
9-22-07
Rasmussen Reports
http://news.yahoo.com/s/rasmussen/20070921/pl_rasmussen/obamamatchup20070921_1

4) Obama's Mother Featured in New TV Ad Airing in Iowa
9-22-07
John McCormick - Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/obama/chi-obama_adsep21,0,7546153.story?coll=chi-news-col

5) JFK Advisor, Counsel and Speechwriter Ted Sorensen Backs Obama
9-22-07
Jennifer Feals - Seacoast Online
http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/NEWS/709210402/-1/NEWS11&sfad=1

6) Students Like Obama in Iowa But Will They Caucus?
9-22-07
Dan Gearino - Sioux City Journal
http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2007/09/22/news/iowa/3d06824cc7f1e10c8625735e000ce490.txt

7) Obama Wants to Expand Senior Volunteer Programs
9-22-07
Mike Glover - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jDkaLoCLlGNuKVxZbfOhsUW7F7Dg

8) Democrats 2008 - Clinton - 36% - Obama - 23% - John Edwards - 18%
9-22-07
Angus Reid Global Monitor
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/28315/democrats_2008_hillary_36_obama_at_23/

9) Ben & Jerry's Co-Founder Ben Cohen Accuses Obama and Clinton of Timidity over Pentagon Cuts
9-22-07
Teddy Davis and Mike Chesney
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3632367&page=1

10) In Polls Obama Lurks - Analysts Say Barack Needs to Soar
9-22-07
Jason Clayworth - Des Moines Register
http://desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070922/NEWS/709220332/1001/ENT

Victory2008.net - Barack Top Ten - 9-20-07

Barack Daily Buzz - Victory2008.net — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:39:25 EDT

1) Obama Rallies Supporters at Atlanta World Congress Center Rally
9-20-07
Jim Galloway - Atlanta Journal-Constitution
http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/news/stories/2007/09/20/obama_0921.html

2) Obama Walks on Anti-MoveOn.org Senate Vote
9-20-07
Jill Zuckman - Balimore Sun
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/politics/blog/2007/09/obama_walks_on_antimoveonorg_s.html

3) Obama Continues Big Iowa Push
9-20-07
Scott Helman - Boston Globe - Political Intelligence
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2007/09/obama_continues.html

4) Obama Cites Mother's Illness on New Iowa Ad
9-20-07
Jim Kuhnhenn - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hh7VvIk7zB-lfToYbyWIybBiap3Q

5) Obama Uses Mom's Image in New Ad
9-20-07
John McCormick - Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-obama_adsep21,1,3964664.story

6) Jesse Jackson Disputes Report on Obama Remark
9-20-07
Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i5SL_j8SjhfK1-lzyjy6wOI3uSFA

7) Obama Brings in Long Term Advisor and Friend Valerie Jarrett to Advise on Campaign Strategy
9-20-07
Nedra Pickler - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jpXh7-HKhyktrwvcuoIwFf3EzZxQ

8) Obama, Jackson and Jena
9-20-07
Tobin Harshaw - New York Times - The Opinionator
http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/20/obama-jackson-and-jena/?hp

9) Obama's Return to Message of Change
9-20-07
Chris Cillizza - Washington Post - The Fix
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/2007/09/obamas_movement_1.html

10) Obama Casts Voters as Agents of Change
9-20-07
Jim Kuhnhenn - Associated Press
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jEs_MTJD-Gzvb5hksDWUuvnzSDJA

The Columbia Walk for Change was a huge success!

John — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 15:35:17 EDT

I set out on a journey today at 10:00 am. The streets were packed with cars, and the sidewalks busting with pedestrians. I joined the 50 some odd people in the Columbia Walk for Change. I walked down the 1.3 mile stretch of Reed St. with flyers, cards, stickers and pamplets in hand. It was almost unbearably hot outside, a mere 93 Degrees with 76% humidity can take its toll early. So I was carrying two bottles of water, which were hot by the time I opened the second. But I stuck it out, and walked, and knocked on doors, and spoke to men and women of all ages. Some who have never heard of the Senator before, and some who had been waiting for our knock at the door since Feb. when Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States. Like the day if the announcement thousands braved the cold air to listen to Obama speak. Today my fellow Obama supporters and I did the same thing, because of change. Because we want Change, and we will break a sweat to get it accomplished. I just want to thank Kendall Corley, and Max for the great Organizing they did for this event. I also want to thank all those who hurried last nite and this morning to put together the information packets for us. Thank you, to all of you, like the Senator said, "I can't change this country on my own, I need you to help change it with me." I feel that is what we have done and will continue to do.

Thanks to all!

Johnny McLaurin

A Panic Attack!

John — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 22:55:31 EDT

Now I know already as your reading this, you are probably thinking that this is the same old things that you would hear on a blog at BarackObama.com. But its not, as I always do I am going to speak from the heart. I am inspired by Barack. His story, his father's legacy in Kenya, and not to mention one of the greatest mothers a child could ask for. From his days in Kansas, to his days in Hawaii and Indonesia, an then in the mainland US, he has matured into one of America's greatest leaders. I say to you today not as a supporter of Obama, but as a spectator of this campaign, I believe he is going to be the 44th President of the United States of America. Why do I believe this you ask? It's because I have never seen nor have I heard of anyone gathering as many people in crowds as this man does today. His message is clear, and his plans sensible. It is time that we now step up to the plate. America we cant sit around and bicker and moan and complain about things unless we are willing to change it. If we can step to the plate, and make a change, and end this dirty politics that has ruined our nation. Then we as a people will be able to prosper into a better future for America, and I beieve then we will be headed on the path that we need to be following.

Thank you,

Johnny Mclaurin

A day of Hope, and A Walk for Change!

John — Wed, 23 May 2007 14:12:58 EDT

My fellow South Carolinians, on Saturday, June 9th, at 10:00am on 1025 Calhoun Street, a movement will begin. A movement for change, and a movement for love, and hope for this great nation. Senator Barack Obama is the hope for our future, for this nation, the hope of the young faces, and those of old. He is the one man who can change our future for the better, but he cannot do it alone. He needs our help to do so, because thats how this great country of ours works. Based on Democracy, the United States Needs its people to rally for a cause, for hope and change. Please join myself, Kendall Corley, and many others for the Walk for Change on Saturday, June 9th, 2007. Thousands others will be marching across the nation with us, and if all who support change, and supporters of Barack Obama come out, we may be talking about millions instead of thousands. Thank you for your support, and don't forget about the South Carolina Primaries coming up in January of 2008. Help get out the vote, and spread the word of Obama.

Thanks,

Johnny Mclaurin

From the Heart...

John — Sat, 19 May 2007 08:58:06 EDT

From the heart, thats how I feel when I hear Barack speak to a crowd of thousands. Thats how I feel when I see the eyes and the wonder of the American People, when I see how we mingle with one another, and the love that surrounds a campaign thats not about the candidate, but about you. I feel sincerity, and I feel love, I feel anger, but I feel that there is a way to use that anger in a positive way. I feel that we can end this war, that we can have universal healthcare for every American, and we should. We spend more money that any other nation in history on healthcare and yet there are still 46 million that are uninsured. I believe that there is hope for the future, I believe there is hope for the people, in that if we come together, as one, as Americans we can accomplish things beyond our wildest imaginations. We can tell this President, that we are tired of seeing our innoncent men and women die in Iraq, and they are tired of serving 2, 3, and sometimes 4 tours of duty. They don't see an end in sight, there wasn't ever a well thought out plan of how to leave Iraq. We should not have invaded Iraq, they were no imminent threat to the United States, Saddam Hussein was about fall just like all dictators eventually do, and we had no means what so ever invading that country, while we were already fighting the real fight in Afghanistan. Thats what we need to do, suppress the Taliban, and catch Bin Laden. To do these things, I think that Barack Obama is the best man for the job, he has experience in life beyond your wildest beliefs of him. He may be young, but he is a fresh face to politics, and when he is elected President of the United States, he will wipe the slate clean in Washington. Start over, and this government will no longer be a corrupt, lobbying nation that it is now, but it will the Government for the People, and By the People. Remember we need to Organize, we need to step up to the plate, get out the vote, spread the word, and do not be intimidated. Remember as one, we will not fail, for we are the United States of America. Vote for Barack, and tell the world that we are ready for change.

Thank you all, and God Bless

-Johnny McLaurin

Americans for Obama (2008) Supporters

OFA ===> History in the Making.

I like that Susan Rice!!

Bill Peddler!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOW TO SECTION:Posting photos in photo forum threads

Christopher Haas

Main Causes of the Great Depression

Jindal's State Must Pay $336 Million to Fix Levees

GOP House Whip's Wife 'Didn't Know' Her Banking Firm Benefited from Bailout

Barack Obama IS Our New President !!!!!!!

October

October

The Art Of Linking: Courtsey of Our Own College Student Lace King.

Contact Congress About the Trillion Dollar Bailout - Stop the Panick

‘Obsession,’ the Radical Right’s War on Islam

Going on 20 Months....

Beyond Your Wildest

Re: Re: Re: Re: Spread the Word! Ohio Saves America!

September

Email entitled "Windows Firewall Update" is a Hacker, Virus, or Worm

McCain Lying About Obama's Sex-Ed Record

Palin on ABC

Add The New MySpace Profile for One Million MySpace Friends for Obama/Biden'08!

MySpace Democrats Announcement...

Campaign AdWatch: 'Alaska Maverick' Strains To Contrast

New McSame Ad Contains Untrue Charges

GET A $12 OBAMA T-SHIRT

An Extreme Choice

There He Goes Again

Obama Slams McSame on Abortion Rights in New Radio Ad

Strange Article About Palin After New Baby "Trig" is Born

Kennedy's A Presence, Even if He's Absent Ailing Senator to Be Honored With Tribute

VIDEO: AN ANTHEM FOR CHANGE BY DAVE STEWART

Official Site of the Dem Convention/Convention Schedule

Travelling to Springfield, IL for Kickoff to Denver?/ Obama's Schedule

Not the first biracial or multiracial President

Democrats compromise on party platform

The truth about John McCain

Did McCain get illegal oil money?

New Website: Bought By Big Oil

Obama urges full voting rights for Florida, Michigan delegates

Obama Signals Support for Wider Offshore Drilling

Obama campaign rejects rapper Ludacris' rhymes

Michelle Obama wants you to join Blue Stars for Obama - Pro Military Pro Obama

Fight The Smears: The Truth About Barack’s Foreign Trip

Sign this petition! Al Gore Being Attacked by Fossil Fuel Special Interests

Gramm Steps Down From McCain Camp

GOP Senate Candidate Fesses Up To Oil Deal

Barack Obama and The 21st Century challenges

Must Darfur wait another year?

More drilling is not the answer

Mental Recession - high cost of gas and food, an illusion

Obama Family

Happy Fourth of July

General Clark

Patriotism is evident

organization

Obama Campaign Apologizes for Muslim Snub

Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the ITC Determination on Chinese Pipe Producers

Great video that was emailed to me about the McCain's Hypocrisy

Statement of Senator Barack Obama on the 63rd Birthday of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

McCain’s McClellan Nightmare

DNC Launches McCainpedia

Obama would take California in November, Times/KTLA poll finds

Barack Obama's photostream

Obama gaining on Clinton in Pennsylvania: poll?

Put to shame by an 8th Grader...

Good Friends

The Frustration may be hard, but the Movement is still alive and kicking.....

My Country Tis Of Thee....take a few moments today

www.barockthevote.org is up and running

Dennis Kucinich Calls Upon Supporters in Iowa to Back Barack....

5 Days.....

The World Needs To Know...

This is our destiny...

Cast a Vote for Obama NOW on Dailykos

Tomarrow is the day...

Tomarrow is going to be the day of my year!

Voices of Change, A Barack Obama Insight of Poetry....

OBAMA AND OPRAH IN SC!!! THE BIGGEST EVENT OF THE YEAR!!!