Muslims 4 Obama

UNITY WALK AND RALLY FOR HEALTH CARE

signsSansSignifieds — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:00:15 EDT

2 PM Rally at Times Square, 42nd St. and 7th Avenue

Health reform is finally within grasp. Opponents are spending millions every day to destroy it. We cannot let this happen. We voted for change in '08 and we must see it through.

On Saturday, August 29, 2009, New Yorkers will walk from all parts of the city for the first ever United We Walk for Reform Rally in support of the historic health reform legislation before Congress.

It's our health care. It's our time. Save the date to make your voice heard.

MID-MORNING, ACROSS THE CITY: Grassroots groups will meet in front of hospitals and health clinics across the city to walk to rally at Times Square. Check out mybarackobama.com for meeting locations in the next week (or set up one of your own).

2 - 3:30 PM - UNITY RALLY: Rally for health care at Times Square, 42nd St. and 7th Avenue

My Indo-Pak Family. My story. I am a tragedy...

R.Alamsha — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:13:23 EST

Yes. I wanted to speak out on this, to the world.
I have been speaking to myself for the past 17 years.
Not a single day, i have gone to bed without speaking to myself on this, in the past 17 years.
I could not find an answer.
I have been asking God to give me an answer. I still hope, He will not let me down.
Now, i will speak out on this, to the world.
I am sure, i am not alone.
Like me, thousands are waiting to speak.
I will speak on their behalf.
I will tell my story, to the world.

It was a typical arranged marriage. Her Indian grand mother living in our neighbourhood, one day in 1991, brought her Pakistani grand daughter's photograph to my home, showed my parents and proposed the alliance. My parents gave me the photograph and looked for my response. I liked. I never bothered, whether she will like me or not but took it for granted that she is going to like me, in my photograph. My photograph and message went back to her parents, living in a Gulf country. The strange photo chemistry worked. They all came, except the girl, we all liked each other and finally the marriage was held in that Gulf country, registered in the court and we were legally declared and registered on our respective passports by our embassies as husband and wife.

Little we realised that there are unwritten taboos between India and Pakistan.
Little we realised that we can NOT simply assume that we are just humanbeings, created by God.
Little we realised that we can not simplify things. We can not take things for granted.
Little we realised that we are breaking the "holy code of conduct" written on our behalf by Jinnah, Gandhi and Nehru.
Little we realsied that we belong to born enemies.
Little we realised that we are supposed to hate each other.
Little we realised that there is an invisible wall, greater than the great wall of China and mightier than the mightiest is standing between us.

Since then we are living in Gulf. In the past 17 years, I have never visited Pakistan. She had visited my home in India, just 2 times in the past 17 years. The fear of the "unknown" is haunting us.

I wonder how many readers of this sad story, have Hindu/Muslim/Sikh families across the border?. How many of them have found their spouse or sweet heart across the border? Can they understand the anguish and pain of such divided hearts and millions of divided families?.

We are told that there can only be either black or white. Every one says that India and Pakistan are like south pole and north pole. But, we can NOT choose one over the other. We love both and we need both. The "better half" of us, is holding either an Indian or Pakistani identity. In my case, my children hold Indian identity. We love our nation and will NEVER giveup this identity. But we can NOT hate each other's homeland, as expected by our homeland.

We have all the greatest icons of love. Taj Mahal, Laila-Majnu and what not?. But in reality, we prefer to watch them from a distance. We are living in the non existing Indo-Pak world, which REALLY existed before 1947. We are a living anachronism. We are living Veer-Zara's.

We are a living tragedy, no one wants to listen or talk about including our own selves.

But i have one answer. If i were reborn and God gives me another chance to decide, I WILL DO IT AGAIN.

Will she do it again...?. I do not want to ask.

My advice to others - NEVER do it.

The question i would like to ask is:

Is it possible for me to settle with my family in India, without changing my wife's Pakistani nationality?. She will never change it and i have no right even to talk about that. I respect her decision.

My constitution does not prohibit marriages between Indian and Pakistani nationals.

My constitution does not take away my right to work, study, practice my profession ,serve my nation and pursue better life because my spouse is a Pakistani national.

My constitution gives me full guarantee and freedom to marry whom i like and live peacefully in my nation.

It's all too good in paper but in reality looks like a nightmare.

I do not know, what others think about me?.
I do not know, what my friends think about me?.
I do not know, what my NATION thinks about me?.
I do not know, what my mom, brother, sisters and relatives think about me?
I do not know, what my wife, who trusted me, thinks about me?
I do not know, what my children will think about me?
I do not know, what YOU think about me?

For some strange reason, i feel very light today.
I think, i can sleep well today.
Even i can CRY well today.

Is there a solution for such "undivided and indivisible" Indo-Pak families?.

What is our crime?. Do we have a place on this earth to live ?.

President Barack Obama Inauguration Day 2009 - Washington, DC Group!!! 6

Carol Maric — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:51:18 EST

An open invitation to join : President Barack Obama Inauguration Day 2009 - Washington, DC Group!!!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/InaugurationDay2009

Make plans to be in DC on this historical day!

Make plans to be tuned in with TV and/or the Internet.

Be out in public with friends and fellow citizens.

A Grand and Wonderful Celebration!

Leonard Peltier

JEFF 19 — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:09:19 EST

I think it is time to pressure Barack Obama to pardon Leonard Peltier. Send message via link at www.change.org.

Jeff Garrison

Obama and ideology

Edward Mokurai Cherlin — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:20:01 EST

From a story about Obama's days at Harvard Law from Politico.com:
...
> In the end, though, Obama's time on the Review mirrored other aspects of his
> life. Even in the staunchly liberal milieus in which he has spent his entire
> adult life, Obama has managed to lead without leaving a clear ideological
> stamp, and to respect--and even, at times, to embrace--opposing views. To
> his critics, that's a sign of a lack of core beliefs. To his admirers, it's
> the root of his appeal.
>
> "To understand what someone else is trying to say isn't just an editorial
> skill," said McConnell. "It's a life skill.²

The whole point is that Obama's politics, indeed his whole life, is
about respect for people and ideas. It isn't about ideology. Being
able to understand what someone else is trying to say is more than a
life skill. It is what distinguishes genuine leaders such as Gandhi,
King, and Mandela from politicians and demagogues.

This immediately causes trouble from those who believe that their own
ideology trumps thinking, facts, anybody else's ideology, or anything
else, whether on the Loony Left or the Religious/Rapacious Right,
terrorists, former revolutionaries still clinging to power, or
whatever.

The force of ideologies comes from a combination of genuine grievances
or desires and genuine fears with a plausible but fundamentally insane
program for dealing with them. As H. L. Mencken said, "For every
problem, there is a solution that is simple, obvious, and wrong." The
movement's followers can think, "If he's right about the problem, he's
probably right about the solution," a clear fallacy but a case where
logic is easily trumped by emotion.

Karl Marx was spot on about the problems of workers under Scroogian
Social Darwinism. His Communist economic and political theories are
supported only by the outrage about those problems, not by anything
else. This says nothing about the merits of European Social Democratic
policies, which have essentially nothing to do with Communism other
than a concern for humanity.

The Religious Right is correct that abortion is usually, in their
terminology, the sin of murder. However, their proposed solutions only
make the matter worse, just like the Inquisition before them.

Most of the rich are under a compulsion (explained by Thorstein Veblen
in The Theory of the Leisure Class) to demonstrate that they are
richer than others. These leads to the notion that the proper purpose
of politics and economics is to make the rich even richer, and keep
everybody else down. "All for ourselves, and nothing for other people,
seems, in every age of the world, to have been the vile maxim of the
masters of mankind."--Adam Smith, Wealth of Nations

German Newspaper: Yes, We can be friends !

Henk van Aalderen — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:28:35 EST

Dear Friends,

The largest German Newspaper Bild opend this morning on the first page with:

"YES. WE CAN BE FRIENDS !" , Yes, We can Freunde sein ! in the original tekst a mix of English and German language.

Germany is gratulating the new US-President.

Kommentar by Mr. Mathias Dopfner, chairman of the Board of Axel Springer AG, the owner of Bild Magazine:

Germany is in love with the new president of the USA, who represents the new, the good America. We have to be greatfull to the USA for the Marshal Plan, the Airbridge to Berlin, the united Germany, the peace in Kosovo, the defence against terrorists. Obama will ask his new German friends more help than Bush II did. Money for the War on Terror or soldiers in Afganistan. Our solidarity could become expensive. Perhaps not the bad Bush II will be the test for the friendship between Germany and the USA, but he nice Obama. You get to know your friends best when the weather is bad. Not in the flashlights of the TV crews.

Greetings from Metelen in Germany ,

Henk van Aalderen

Impact of US election on Dutch schoolchildren

Henk van Aalderen — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 04:17:57 EST

Dear Friends,
The effect of the US elections on Dutch schoolchildren is huge. This morning I showed Barack `Thank You` e-mail in the 4 grade of my 7 year old daughter Safira. (Dutch children go with 4 years in first grade).
The teacher told me that US elections have a huge impact on the Dutch children, even of that young age. She herself was very surprised about that.
All the children are excited about Barack election
But the also expect things from the next US President:
- bring peace to Irak and Afganistan
- help poor people special children in areas like Africa
- better understanding between USA and Europa and better listen to each other

Greetings from the Netherlands-Germany,
Henk van Aalderen

It's not over 'til it's all over

Edward Mokurai Cherlin — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 20:04:30 EST

The people (speaking charitably) behind the ultra-sleaze smear campaign, claiming that Vietnam veteran and triple amputee Max Cleland was a friend of Osama bin Laden, are at it again. Through the well-worn techniques of Republican vote suppression (http://www.gregpalast.com/the-steal-you-wont-see), Saxby Chandliss, winner of that "election", is ahead in this year's Georgia Senate race against Democrat Jim Martin.

But not enough ahead. He has fallen short of 50%, with the result that this contest is going to a runoff on Dec. 2. I don't know whether that is enough time to reregister those who were illegally thrown off the rolls, or to get a court to reinstate them, as in other states this year. I mean to find out, because Chandliss may well be the final obstacle to Democrats getting over 60 votes in the Senate and a filibuster-proof majority without Joe Lieberman.

This is where you come in. Just as we phonebanked all of the swing states in the Presidential election, now we have a new task:

Phonebanking Georgia

Bring the good ol' iPod folks! We'll sing another song,
Sing it with a spirit that will start the world along,
Sing it like we used to sing a hundred thousand strong,
While we were phonebacking Georgia

Hurrah! Hurrah! We bring the Jubilee.
Hurrah! Hurrah! The ballot makes you free,
So we sang the chorus from Atlanta to the sea,
While we were phonebacking Georgia.

"Barack's all-inclusive crew will never make the coast!"
So the saucy sleazeballs said and 'twas a handsome boast
Had they not forgot, alas! to reckon with the Host
While we were phonebanking Georgia.

So we made a thoroughfare for freedom and her train,
Sixty miles of latitude, three hundred to the main;
Oppression fled before us, for resistance was in vain
While we were phonebanking Georgia.

Interfaith Youth Movement

Ali F. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 11:34:20 EDT

Hello all,

I know we're busy helping get Sen. Obama elected to the White House. However, as Barack has said himself so many times, this movement isn't about him, its about US! In that vein, I wanted to let all of you know about an opportunity to build better communities by leveraging our diversity. As people committed to bringing positive change to our communities, I thought you'd be interested in the event below.

The Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy (www.vicpp.org) is bringing Dr. Eboo Patel to Richmond on Thursday Nov. 13th. Dr. Patel is a young Muslim intellectual who is active in the interfaith youth movement. I'm pasting his bio below FYI.

I want to invite you all to attend two events on Thursday Nov. 13th.
- 3:30PM Book Signing at VCU Barnes & Noble
- 7:00PM Va Interfaith Center Annual meeting at Library of Virginia

The reason I think this event is so important for us is because Dr. Patel's work focuses on interfaith community service. I believe this is the most important part of interfaith work, and really interfaith dialogue is totally irrelevant unless it results in joint action that improves the world around us.

Check out the video news clip below. It describes in detail what Dr. Patel's work involves and the message he brings:

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week1033/profile.html

Please forward to other people of faith you think would be interested!

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

Dr. Eboo Patel

is founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a Chicago-based international nonprofit that promotes interfaith cooperation. His blog, The Faith Divide, explores what drives faiths apart and what brings them together. He is the author of Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation. An American Muslim of Indian heritage, Eboo has a doctorate in the sociology of religion from Oxford University, where he studied on a Rhodes scholarship. He is on the Religious Advisory Committee of the Council on Foreign Relations, the National Committee of the Aga Khan Foundation and the Advisory Board of Duke University's Islamic Studies Center. Eboo is an Ashoka Fellow, part of a select network of social entrepreneurs with ideas that could change the world.

http://www.ifyc.org/about_core/staff

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

About the Virginia Interfaith Center

The Virginia Interfaith Center is a nonpartisan coalition of faith communities working to create change through education and public policy. We bring together people of faith in Virginia and unite the volume of their voices throughout the public square, including the General Assembly. By partnering with organizations and across the state and mobilizing our grassroots network, we empower faithful advocates to LEARN about the issues challenging our communities, PRAY for guidance and discernment, and ACT to make Virginia a more just and compassionate commonwealth.

pictures of DemsTurkey watching debates

isafakir — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 10:36:28 EDT

http://www.democratsabroad.org/node/6823

the Presidential Debates fotos, uploaded: Democrats Abroad Turkiye on Flickr:

The fotos of DATurkey's Presidential Debates fotos from the meet-up at Sek Sek on Saturday are uploaded: http://flickr.com/groups/demsabroadturkiye/

Democrats Abroad Turkey on Flickr: http://flickr.com/groups/demsabroadturkiye/

Rabbis for Obama!!

Nia "Hussein" J. — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:06:56 EDT

Rabbis for Obama Considered a First in American Politics
September 18, 2008

Eric Fingerhut
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
WASHINGTON

Saying it is their duty to "fight for the truth and against lashon hara," more than 400 rabbis have joined to back Barack Obama's presidential bid in what is believed to be a first-of-its-kind effort.
Rabbis for Obama, officially unveiled last week, is a grass-roots organization formed when two Chicago-area rabbis came to the Democratic candidate's campaign wanting to help counter the many false rumors that have been spread about him.
"What makes this unique is the lies and smears" were "targeted to the Jewish community," said Rabbi Sam Gordon of Congregation Sukkat Shalom of Wilmette, Ill., citing the e-mails that falsely claimed Obama was a secret Muslim and educated at a madrassa. "Those of us who knew him felt we had to respond."
"These attacks that he's not supportive of Israel are just not true," said Rabbi Steve Bob of Congregation Etz Chaim in Lombard, Ill.
Jonathan Sarna, the Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun Professor of American Jewish History at Brandeis University, said he believes Rabbis for Obama is a first in the Jewish community.
"I certainly can remember many newspaper ads that rabbis would sign" backing a candidate, Sarna said, but "I can't remember another organization with this kind of title."
Partisan Times
Given the increased mix of religion and politics that the United States has seen in the past 20 to 30 years, he added, it is much more likely for such a group to spring up now than it would have been early in the 20th century.
Bob said that he and other members of the organization are interested in publicly speaking -- under the Rabbis for Obama banner -- on behalf of the Democratic candidate across the country and are currently discussing how to become more involved in key swing states.
The letter the rabbis signed states that the group backs Obama because "he will best support the issues important to us in the Jewish community."
In addition to writing that the Democrat is "inspired by Jewish values such as Tikkun Olam and the pursuit of justice," it states that Obama's "longstanding, stalwart support for Israel is a testament to his own principles" and that "attempts by some to use Israel as a wedge issue against him -- unjustifiably -- is dangerous in that it politicizes the pro-Israel position" and has "completely distorted Sen. Obama's record."
"We are fully aware that a smear campaign against Sen. Obama has been waged in the Jewish community, and we feel it is our duty as Jewish leaders to fight for the truth and against lashon hara," reads the missive, using the Hebrew term for evil gossip.
"Sen. Obama has been viciously attacked using innuendoes, rumors and guilt by association, and we urge our fellow American Jews to judge Sen. Obama based on his own record and the clear statements he has made about his personal beliefs and principles."
A Republican Jewish leader found that passage of the letter particularly objectionable.
"It's irresponsible and unprofessional as rabbis to give a hechsher in accusing us of lashon hara," said Matt Brooks, the executive director of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
Brooks said the reference to "guilt by association" seemed to be referring to the RJC's criticism of Obama's links to his longtime pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, and some who have been listed as the Democrat's foreign policy advisers -- two topics that Brooks believes are fair game in the debate over Obama's record.
Rabbis for Obama membership includes rabbis from every denomination, although one independent observer said he noticed only a couple of Orthodox rabbis on the list.
More than 300 rabbis were part of the group initially, and Bob said another 125 signed on since it became public last week -- including Michelle Obama's rabbi cousin, Capers Funnye.
A number of rabbis from the Philadelphia have also lent their support.
The Democratic Party and the Obama campaign have made a special effort to reach out to faith groups, but Jewish Democratic operative Matt Dorf said the organization and its missive is better seen as part of another strategy.
The Democratic goal is to reach persuadable Jewish voters through the testimony of people in "positions of influence" in the Jewish community -- rabbis, Jewish members of Congress and other well-known Jewish figures, such as former New York Mayor Ed Koch.
Anti-Defamation League national director Abraham Foxman, who has been critical of mixing religion and politics, said he was okay with the group. Rabbis don't have to give up their rights, he said. As long as they're not endorsing candidates from the pulpit, Foxman said, "I don't have a problem with it."
Not all rabbis feel comfortable with publicly endorsing a candidate.
"I feel my personal political views are personal," said Rabbi Steve Wernick of Adath Israel in Merion Station, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia.
Wernick said he is happy to discuss his views with congregants privately, because he already has a relationship with them, but he doesn't feel it necessary to broadcast his views to those who don't know him. He stressed, though, that he has no problem with colleagues who signed the letter.
"It's the way our system is supposed to work," he said.
Church-State Conundrum
One Republican was critical of the rabbis for what he believed was a blurring of the church-state barrier.
"By linking their rabbinical position to a political campaign, they risk the charge of politicizing their positions and erasing the boundaries between church and state, which they typically seek to defend," said Noam Neusner, a communications consultant who served as liaison to the Jewish community during part of the Bush administration.
Neusner said the Bush campaign did not encourage such a letter or organization of rabbis "because of the sensitivity of the church-state issue."
Rabbis for Obama may be the first, but not the last, rabbinical effort backing a presidential candidate this election cycle.
Fred Zeidman, co-chair of the Republican Victory Jewish Coalition, said he spoke to some rabbis earlier this month -- and a few days before the unveiling of Rabbis for Obama -- who were interested in putting together a similar effort backing GOP candidate Sen. John McCain.

The truth about Sarah Palin

Tariq Moustapha — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:35:01 EDT

We're all used to seeing our inboxes fill up with emails that have been forwarded a million times. Well, rather than forwarding something stale, I've decided to write this myself. I hope to see it forwarded, as I've done my best to make in clear that Palin is absolutely the wrong person to have a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

I can't tell you how many emails I've received filled with false information about Barack Obama. Now that Sarah Palin has been nominated, I've seen emails filled with right-wing talking points claiming that she is the greatest thing to come along since sliced bread.

Any criticism of Palin has been shouted down as sexist, and although I'll admit that some critics have been out of line, the vast majority of critics have been asking legitimate questions. The information I'm going to put in this email is not manipulated or hearsay; this is all factual and I'm including citations to major newspapers to back everything up. I encourage you to forward this to your friends, especially those undecided voters.

Executive Experience
As Mayor
One of the McCain campaign's talking points has been that Palin has executive experience and that this trumps the experience of Obama, Biden, or indeed McCain himself. The truth is that Palin was mayor of a town of approximately 6700, and has been governor of one of the least populous states in the Union. Before Palin's name was mentioned in connection with the Vice Presidency, Karl Rove was asked about the possibility of Governor Tim Kaine of Virginia being nominated as Obama's VP. Rove's response was that Kaine's experience as Mayor of Richmond, VA (the state capital) and as Governor of VA was immaterial because the city and the state were small. The same standard has not been applied to Palin.

While Mayor, Palin chose to hire the first city manager in the history of Wasila. (http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/story/8334949p-8231037c.html) The city manager's job was to manage the day to day operations of the town. What's not clear is what Palin's job was if it wasn't to oversee management of the day to day operations.

When Palin was elected Mayor, she hired a Washington lobbyist to help secure earmark spending for her town. This lobbyist succeeded in bringing 27 million in Federal dollars to Wasila. That's approximately $4000 per resident in pork. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/01/AR2008090103148_pf.html).

Before Palin was elected, the town of Wasila had no outstanding debt and had a balanced budget. Palin pushed to build a professional grade hockey arena for the town of 6700, on land to which the city did not have a clear claim. Her failure to secure the claim for the land cost the town over 1 million in legal fees and the cost of construction left the town over $20 million in debt. (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0808/12987.html).

Under her administration, Wasila became the meth capital of Alaska. (http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/030805/sta_20050308002.shtml)

Palin terminated the city librarian after inquiring about the possibility of removing certain books from the shelves, specifically censoring a book about homosexuality. The librarian was reinstated only after a public outcry, and Palin was very nearly recalled over the matter.(http://www.frontiersman.com/articles/2008/09/06/breaking_news/doc48c1c8a60d6d9379155484.txt)

Palin terminated the city's police chief seemingly because she questioned his loyalty to her. (http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/510219.html)

Under Palin's administration, victims of rape were required to pay for their own “rape kit” forensic analysis. (http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/sarah_palin_rape_kit_wasilla.html)

As Governor
Despite her claims that she's been tough on earmark spending, Palin has continued to lobby Washington for earmarks. To date, she has received over 450 million in federal earmarks, and Alaska ranks first in earmark spending. (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/09/09/eveningnews/main4433129.shtml)

She continues to support Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens who has been indicted on corruption charges.

Early in her gubernatorial term, a state owned dairy was on the verge of failure, and the board of the dairy recommended that it be closed. Rather than listening to the board, she terminated the executive body responsible for appointing the board. They then terminated the board members, and rescinded the decision to close the dairy. Over $600,000 in state funds were infused to keep the dairy afloat, but it failed within two months. (http://dwb.adn.com/news/alaska/matsu/mat_maid/story/9261530p-9176496c.html)

Palin supported and defended the “Bridge to Nowhere”, and actively campaigned for the funds in 2006. She only withdrew her support when it became politically untenable, and only after she secured the funds for the bridge to be used in other state projects. (http://www.gannettnewsservice.com/?p=2448)

Palin is currently under investigation for possible abuse of power in terminating the state's Public Safety Commissioner after he refused to fire her ex-brother in law. The extent of her involvement in unclear, however after initially claiming that she had nothing to hide and that she would cooperate fully with the investigation, she is now refusing to cooperate and is attempting to have the matter heard before an ethics board that she appoints. (http://www.adn.com/monegan/story/513137.html)

Palin appointed a high school friend as the head of the Alaska Department of Agriculture. This high school friend had no agricultural experience other than “a childhood love of cows.” (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/national/stories/DN-palin_14pol.ART.State.Edition1.26e9372.html)

Personal views
I absolutely respect Palin's decision to give birth to her son Trig after finding out he would be born with Down's Syndrome. However, she would deny this decision to other women. She is strictly pro-life to the point of outlawing abortion even in cases of rape and incest. (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008176778_palin13.html)

Palin believes that some form of Biblical creationism should be taught in public schools as a valid alternative to the theory of evolution, even though teaching creationism has been ruled as an unconstitutional endorsement of a religious view and not science. (http://dwb.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html)

Palin's church has held some controversial positions, including the idea that homosexuality can be cured, and that Jews will face punishment unless they convert to Christianity. (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13098.html)

Palin believes that global warming is not caused by human activity, and has sued the federal government to have the polar bear taken off of the endangered species list.(http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/08/palin-global-wa.html)

In an interview with CNBC, Palin stated that she didn't know what the duties of the VP are. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4gkPXSDtGQ)

Foreign Policy

This is unquestionably Palin's weakest area. In her official capacity she has made one trip outside of the country; a visit to troops in Germany and Kuwait. She has claimed this trip included Ireland (which was only a refueling stop where she didn't deplane) and Iraq, even though she only traveled near the Kuwait/Iraq border and never crossed it. (http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/09/13/palin_camp_clarifies_extent_of_iraq_trip/)

In her interview with Charlie Gibson she did not know what the Bush doctrine was, and could not define it correctly. Now, the average person may not know what the Bush doctrine is, but I would expect a vice-presidential candidate to know what it is.

She has claimed that sharing a border with Russia gives her special insight into Russian politics, yet has been unable to name one special insight.

In a speech before the deployment of her son's brigade to Iraq, she stated that they would be going to defend the innocent from those who caused the deaths of thousands of Americans, repeating the lie that Al Qaeda and Iraq are connected and that Iraq had a hand in 9/11. Although a group calling itself “Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia” does exist in Iraq, this group did not arise until after the US invasion, and is independent from Osama bin Laden's organization. (http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/09/sarah_palin_connects_iraq_to_9.html)

Finally, she cites her work to build an Alaskan natural gas pipeline as a piece of foreign policy experience. However, she has only succeeded in approving funding in the Alaskan budget, and hasn't secured commitment from Canada. (http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080911.wdrohan0912/BNStory/robColumnsBlogs/home)

My friends, if you're like me you're upset. You're upset that our economy is in the worst shape of our lifetimes and that home foreclosures are at the highest rate since the Great Depression. You're upset that we're spending 12 billion a month in Iraq while bin Laden and the Taliban reconstitute in Afghanistan. You're upset that 47 million Americans have no health insurance.

The McCain campaign has said that this election is not about issues, but personalities (Rick Davis, McCain campaign manager, Sept 2, 2008 http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/09/03/obama-to-chide-mccain-camp-over-claim-election-is-not-about-issues/). Sarah Palin's personality is undeniably engaging, but do we want someone who has repeatedly made such poor judgments and put personal loyalty and cronyism ahead of national interest a heartbeat away from the nation's most powerful office? Do we want someone who holds such extreme personal views to have a chance at becomiing responsible for appointing judges who will decide our rights for the next 15 or 20 years?

It's imperative that we make this campaign about issues, because on the issues John McCain and Sarah Palin are wrong and Barack Obama has been right.

Don't Repeat History!

Jamilah — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:48:01 EDT

Over the last couple of days I've thought a lot about the presidential election of 1928. There are some striking similarities between that election and the one we're facing now. Like 2008, no incumbents were running and the field was wide open.

Herbert Hoover was chosen to represent the Republican party. Al Smith was the Democratic nominee. Two of the main issues of the day were Prohibition and religion. Religion was particularly important because Al Smith was Catholic and it was feared that his presidency would be ruled by the Catholic Church.

Hoover was in favor of keeping the Prohibition. Smith wanted to repeal it, though he chose a running mate who favored it. Compare that with the modern-day issue of abortion. Since shortly before choosing Palin, McCain has been adamantly "pro-life." Obama is "pro-choice," though he has said that he hopes to reduce the need and demand for abortions. Like Prohibition, abortion is a wedge issue that doesn't have much to do with the everyday challenges of most Americans but gets everyone riled up.

As we now know, Hoover won that election. Fear of Catholicism played a role, as well as Smith's stand on Prohibition. And what happened next?

In October 1929 the stock market crashed, bringing about the conditions for the Great Depression. Camps for the homeless went up in some cities and were called Hoovervilles. Grown men stood in bread lines to feed their families. Many lost everything.

While America starved, Hoover dined comfortably in the White House. He refused to meet with the World War I soldiers who insisted on receiving their promised bonus. He wasn't personally affected. But his name will always be associated with the Great Depression.

To be fair, it wasn't only Hoover's fault. Harding led a corrupt administration for three years before his mysterious death and Coolidge was known as a do-nothing president who gave business free rein. He was a Republican, after all, and opposed to regulation.

As I write, the conditions for the next Great Depression may already be in place. But we still have a choice.

On November 4 we can elect the Republican candidate who argues that the fundamentals of the economy are basically strong. He owns seven or nine houses and will survive any downturn. He is against regulation of business and favors continuing many of the policies, including tax cuts for the rich, that were implemented by Bush.

Or we can elect the Democratic candidate. He faces some real obstacles because of his race and because of the persistent lies about his religious beliefs. But he wil regulate businesses and take care of the middle class while increasing taxes for the rich.

Do we really want another Great Depression? My vote is for Barack Obama.

To all Democratic worrywarts

Edward Mokurai Cherlin — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:33:02 EDT

Is it better to curse the darkness, or to teach people to make candles?

Here is my idea of what we should be doing. Would you care to join me?

I just submitted an earlier form of this ad idea to DFA at https://democracyforamerica.com/contribution_pages/67-video-ideas/contributions.

Why don't you send them an idea, and maybe a contribution at the same time?

[Video: jobless workers waiting in lines. Church food and job training programs.]

Voice over: Barack Obama took a job on the South Side of Chicago, working with the churches there. He saw the problems that the community faced first-hand, when steel mills closed and thousands lost their jobs. He did something about it then, and in the Illinois legislature and the Senate. He is ready to do much more about it today, if we support him doing it. But some people don't want us to do that.

[Video: Rudy Giuliani at Republican Convention]

Giuliani: He was a community organizer. (laughs) What's that?

[Video: Delegates pumping fists and jeering]

Republican delegates: Ze-ro! Ze-ro!

[Video: Obama bio, selections]

Voice over: Senator Obama has indeed been a community organizer, like millions of other Americans concerned about their communities and their country. He was a practicing lawyer, a professor of Constitutional law, and a State senator, too, before he was elected Senator from Illinois.

[Video: Giuliani scandal headlines, "rich get richer, poor get poorer" headlines, cutting veterans' benefits and vetoing children's programs, Katrina,...]

Voice over: The Constitution, the community, and the country. Those are jokes to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the Republican party's elite. When they laugh and jeer at Senator Barack Obama's record, they are making fun of you, your friends, and your neighbors. They have no interest in your hopes and aspirations for yourself and your children. They don't want you to know this, but they just said, out loud in public, that they aren't going to give people in your community a shot at the American Dream.

You figure it out.

Life Experience

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:04:11 EDT

Recently, there have been some questions raised about what a community organizer does, and why that experience is relevant. Senator Obama has been candid about his time organizing in the South Side of Chicago after steel plant closings devastated those communities. He worked alongside Christian churches that were experienced in bringing about bottom-up change and true reform. In addition to improving the living conditions for these communities through job training programs, Barack empowered people to take ownership of the political process by organizing meetings with officials and orchestrating mass voter registration.

David Plouffe, Campaign Manager for the Obama campaign, made this statement on community organizing:

Community organizing is how ordinary people respond to out-of-touch politicians and their failed policies … Community organizing is the foundation of the civil rights movement, the women's suffrage movement, labor rights, and the 40-hour workweek. And it's happening today in church basements and community centers and living rooms across America.

Senator Obama often says that community organizing was “the best education I've ever had.” It's relevant in that it offers insight as to why Obama's in this race, and how he intends to govern from the bottom up, drawing upon the energy and ideas of the American people. But that's not the only education and experience he's had; to put things into perspective, Obama was a community organizer for three years after college.

After serving as a community organizer, Obama went on to pursue a diverse body of work, spanning law, education, and public service. He made history as the first African-American to serve as Editor of the Harvard Law Review, where he caught the eye of a professor at the University of Chicago. Eventually, Obama would teach constitutional law at the university, where he demonstrated a reverence for our founding document, and was well-respected by people of all political persuasions. As a civil rights lawyer, Obama litigated against employment and housing discrimination. These varied experiences motivated Obama to work for steady change in the state legislature. While in the Illinois State Senate, Obama helped reform a broken death penalty system, develop the Earned Income Tax Credit, and expand early childhood education. After serving for 8 years in this capacity, Obama broke new ground by becoming a United States Senator. While there, he fought for more government transparency, ethics reform, veterans care, the secure of deadly weapons, and energy independence. It doesn't take too long to notice that there's a broadness and depth in Senator Obama's background. While Obama is running to effect large-scale change, his life experience demonstrates that he is ultimately rooted in people and communities. As Harry, an Obama supporter, observed, “Obama is a fellow pilgrim with us.”

Help fundraise for funny and effective Obama commercials

Lena from Rancho Cucamonga, CA — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:49:49 EDT

Dear fellow Obama supporters,

To be quick: I am shooting a set of 10-12 Obama commercials, loosely modeled after the Mac vs. PC commercials.

My last film got over a million viewers, was a viral hit on youtube, and was licensed by the State Department. I am confident these videos--by nature of their content and their entertainment value--will also be successful and influence hundreds of thousands of people.

I am requesting any support in terms of funding or distribution that you can offer. I am in need of about $2,000 for 10 commercials, but anything would help.

I am a graduate of UCLA Film School and have worked at prestigious production companies such as Participant Productions and Valhalla Motion Pictures. The donations are not yet tax deductible, but I can provide a receipt for what the money was used for if requested.

This may sound informal, but this is the type of grassroots effort I believe is necessary to help Obama get elected and to help our country. Media like this offers information on 10 different issues (at least) in an easy to understand format and in an entertaining way that entices people to see it. I will be spending two weeks after the videos are made (early October) doing nothing but publicizing them online and through alternative media outlets everyday - I will be treating this as my regular job and will not be working during that time.

If you cannot support as an organization, please at least forward this email to your membership. They can privately donate by sending money to lenakhan@gmail.com through paypal, or by emailing lenakhan@gmail.com a pledge amount and then sending a check to Lena Khan/ Regarding:"Obama vs. McCain", 10247 Wilson Ave., Alta Loma, CA 91737-2317.

I am hoping we can work toward this similar end together.

Thank you, Lena Khan

Logistics, Strategy, and Tactics

Edward Mokurai Cherlin — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:08:39 EDT

A good question, one that deserves discussion on the list.

On Wed, Sep 3, 2008 at 11:55 AM, Eric C <esoteric103@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Edward,
>
> Thanks for the response;
[private communication removed]

> Could you clarify how you differentiate "strategy" and "tactics"? I believe they go hand in hand, but am curious to know how you conceptualize them. Maybe you could provide a rough breakdown of topics or keywords that fall under "strategy" so I have some examples to keep in mind moving forward.

In military matters, they are fairly clearly distinguished conceptually, but they are always intertwined. We can distinguish among troops, equipment and supplies in a similar way, but each is heavily dependent on the availability of both others. Infantry needs combat weapons (rifles, grenades, machine guns...), artillery and air support, and of course food and ammo. Tanks need crews, ammo, and fuel. And so on. Ammo, fuel, spare parts, tools and the rest require transport, which requires more men and more fuel, air cover and ground support, and so on again. Everybody depends on engineers to build camps, roads, and bridges; cooks; medics; and mathematicians (to break codes and solve the Operations Research problems about the most efficient use of resources).

Strategy is about what we want to accomplish on the battlefield in order to win the war, and what resources to apply. Tactics is the detailed Howto for the fighting. In particular, tactics is about making adjustments when strategy meets battleground reality. Logistics is how to supply the needed resources, including the supplies (food, fuel, ammo) to support the main resources (troops, equipment). Logistics, strategy, and tactics all feed back into the issues of keeping supply lines open and having sufficient materiel and transport capability to achieve the logistical goals determined by the overall strategy and the tactical situations that result.

Robert E. Lee had a strategy of not confronting Northern forces head on, except when the North suicidally attacked fortified positions. He made a major error at Gettysburg, when he ordered Pickett's Charge in violation of that strategy. The South had the masters of cavalry tactics, but Southern cavalry leaders sometimes made major tactical errors, such as losing contact with Lee too long.

There is overlap when new technology or new methods of organization enables tactics that in turn enable new strategies and invalidate old ones. Hitler's blitzkrieg strategy using tanks and other highly mobile forces was based on the tactic of bypassing the French Maginot Line, designed on the basis of WW I strategic thinking. Tactics based on Operations Research enabled a major strategic realignment in anti-submarine warfare in WW II.

Tank strategy and tactics are always dependent on the logistics of supplying fuel, ammunition, and other materiel. Patton had to hold up his rapid drive toward Germany when supply lines became stretched, or when fuel was diverted to Monty's forces. Some German tank units ran out of fuel completely and had to surrender during the Battle of the Bulge, when Patton's forces closed the supply lines behind them. The first great failure of Hitler's Russian campaign was that the strategy of gaining the Caucasus oil fields in a blitzkrieg ran up against the sheer size of the Russian forces long enough for the Russian winter to take control of logistics, strategy, and tactics. So in addition to German soldiers freezing and starving to death, there was not enough fuel for the German tanks.

Strategy also depends on production logistics. It was hard for the public to tell in the early years of WW II, but the Allies were winning both the air and sea wars against Germany, in spite of heavy losses. The British were able to shoot down German planes and sink German submarines faster than the Germans could replace them, while the US was able to build ships and planes to send to Europe faster than the Germans could destroy them, even before the US officially entered the war.

One of the great Chinese generals of antiquity was running out of arrows. This is normally a logistical problem of supply. This general looked at it as a strategic problem instead, and came up with a tactical solution. He arranged for a number of boats to travel at night during a heavy fog, up and down the river separating the forces, loaded with hay. The enemy fired all night, and in the morning the general's troops collected the arrows from the hay and returned to their previous strategy, well-supplied.

This strategy is to get the enemy to supply you. The tactics have to do with boats, hay, fog, gloom of night, and so on. Also what Terry Pratchett calls "headology".

In our political campaign, logistics has to do with matters such as state-by-state organization, shoes on the ground, phone banks, signs, and continued fundraising. Obama is far ahead of McCain on all of these.

Strategy has to do largely with message, including overt messages (platform issues, speeches, position papers) and the messages sent by behavior.

Strategy also has to do with which states to target, based on closeness in the polls and on other information. Thus FL, NC, OH, VA are large tossup states, but we do not neglect smaller tossup states, nor do we neglect states that lean toward Obama, but with thin margins, like MI and PA, or even the reddest of red states. (Howard Dean is quite right in his insistence on a 50-state strategy for the party overall.)

Tactics have to do with delivering the message to specific target audiences, and staying on message. Speechwriting, scheduling events, ad buys, rapid response to attacks...Encouraging Joe Biden to answer Yes or No more often, as he has been, and not to launch into unnecessarily detailed explanations.

Tactically, Obama is unsurpassed in turning attacks back on the attacker.

The question here is not how the base perceives these matters, but how many new voters the campaigns can bring in, and how many swing voters they can bring over to our side. The Obama campaign is unequaled on registering new voters and recruiting them as campaign activists, while McCain has turned off many in the Christian Right and the Center both, and can't find anything new that will please both groups. The Christian Right loves Palin, but the Center doesn't.

Obama is well ahead with the swing voters, but this is where the remaining uncertainty lies. Some people are worried about a Bradley effect, where white voters lie to black pollsters about their intentions in an upcoming election, while others predict a "reverse Bradley effect" because the pollsters can't contact young people who have only mobile phones. History will be made, one way or the other, as we wait to see how much Obama wins by, and how many Senators we can pick up. In the meantime, we need to continue think strategically and execute our well-planned tactics, and don't sweat the small-minded stuff from McCain & Co.

The analyses of the polls show Obama leading by 32-107 (averaging to about 60) in the Electoral College in the last week, and by 6-10% in the popular vote in all but one poll, Zogby at +2%. The average of the results of the last five days summarized at

http://3bluedudes.com/ProjectDatabase.htm

show

Obama 285
McCain 216
Tossup 37

Obama is up significantly from the week before.

Democrats and Republicans are both subject to rumor. But the Republican party leadership and the Rovists in the McCain campaign encourage scurrilous rumors (OK, smears) about the opposition as a matter of overt strategy (Obama is a Muslim, the AntiChrist, a supporter of the terrorists, the most liberal member of the Senate, a flip-flopper, a demagogic partisan, an elitist, too Black, not Black enough, too much of a celebrity...), while the Democratic party and campaign leadership scuttle them (Sarah Palin's Down syndrome baby is not her daughter's [actually unborn] baby, and in fact ad hominem attacks on Palin's family are "off limits",...). You will notice also that there are many fewer scurrilous rumors about McCain and Palin to begin with, because they arise as real rumors, not as campaign dirty tricks. Some on the Right will seize on these numbers to use against Obama, but they are not getting traction in the Center.

> Eric C.
>
>
> --- On Mon, 9/1/08, Edward Cherlin <echerlin@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> From: Edward Cherlin <echerlin@gmail.com>
>> Subject: Strategy and Logistics (was Re: [CitizenStrategyThinkTank] Re: Re: ADMIN: Enough about Sarah Palin rumors...)
>> To: esoteric103@yahoo.com
>> Cc: "Citizen Strategy Think Tank" <CitizenStrategyThinkTank@groups.barackobama.com>
>> Date: Monday, September 1, 2008, 9:03 PM
>> On Mon, Sep 1, 2008 at 3:39 PM, Eric C
>> <esoteric103@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> > A little late to the game here, but I completely agree
>> that remaining focused on tactics
>>
>> Officially, it's strategy, on this list, but I have no
>> complaint about
>> discussing real tactics. However, there are a number of
>> versions of
>> the following saying:
>>
>> http://www.mackenzieinstitute.com/2004/terror030304.htm
>> Military officers have a saying: "Amateurs talk about
>> strategy,
>> dilettantes talk about tactics, and professionals talk
>> about logistics."
>>
>> I first heard it as "Amateurs talk about tactics,
>> dilettantes talk
>> about strategy, and professionals talk about
>> logistics," but never
>> mind.
>>
>> The Obama campaign has had the logistics down for well over
>> a year,
>> having absorbed the lessons of the Howard Dean campaign
>> four years ago
>> as well as the lessons of Chicago and Illinois politics.
>> This includes
>> sufficient shoes on the ground as well as interstate
>> phone-banking,
>> excellent Internet resources, and fund-raising.

--
Silent Thunder [ 默雷 / शब्दगर्ज / شبدگر ج ] is my name,
And Children are my nation.
The Six Worlds are my dwelling place,
And Truth my destination.

Ramadan Greeting from Barack Obama

Muslim Americans for Obama08 - MuslimsforObama08.com — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:17:47 EDT

In honor of the month of Ramadan, Senator Obama made the following statement:

Today marks the beginning of Ramadan, a special time for American Muslims. This is not only a month of fasting and prayer -- it is also a time to reflect on the needs of those who are less fortunate. In the weeks to come, Michelle and I want to wish all American Muslims our very best wishes. We hope Ramadan brings you happiness, good health, and a sense of renewal.

Barack Obama on Ramadan

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:48:07 EDT

In honor of the month of Ramadan, Senator Obama made the following statement:

Today marks the beginning of Ramadan, a special time for American Muslims. This is not only a month of fasting and prayer -- it is also a time to reflect on the needs of those who are less fortunate. In the weeks to come, Michelle and I want to wish all American Muslims our very best wishes. We hope Ramadan brings you happiness, good health, and a sense of renewal.

Progressive Journalists Arrested at RNC for covering events- Calls Needed

Rev Renee Levant, Ph.D — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:36:31 EDT

Progressive Journalists Arrested at RNC for covering events- Calls Needed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
www.democracynow.org

September 1, 2008

Contact:
Dennis Moynihan
Mike Burke

ST. PAUL, MN—Democracy Now! host Amy Goodman was unlawfully arrested in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota at approximately 5 p.m. local time. Police violently manhandled Goodman, yanking her arm, as they arrested her. Video of her arrest can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ

Goodman was arrested while attempting to free two Democracy Now! producers who were being unlawfuly detained. They are Sharif Abdel Kouddous and Nicole Salazar. Kouddous and Salazar were arrested while they carried out their journalistic duties in covering street demonstrations at the Republican National Convention. Goodman’s crime appears to have been defending her colleagues and the freedom of the press.

Ramsey County Sherrif Bob Fletcher told Democracy Now! that Kouddous and Salazar were being arrested on suspicion of rioting. They are currently being held at the Ramsey County jail in St. Paul.

Democracy Now! is calling on all journalists and concerned citizens to call the office of Mayor Chris Coleman and the Ramsey County Jail and demand the immediate release of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar. These calls can be directed to: Chris Rider from Mayor Coleman’s office at 651-266-8535 and the Ramsey County Jail at 651-266-9350 (press extension 0).

Democracy Now! stands by Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar and condemns this action by Twin Cities law enforcement as a clear violation of the freedom of the press and the First Amenmdent rights of these journalists.

During the demonstration in which they were arrested law enforcement officers used pepper spray, rubber bullets, concussion grenades and excessive force. Several dozen others were also arrested during this action.

Amy Goodman is one of the most well-known and well-respected journalists in the United States. She has received journalism’s top honors for her reporting and has a distinguished reputation of bravery and courage. The arrest of Goodman, Kouddous and Salazar is a transparent attempt to intimidate journalists from the nation’s leading independent news outlet.

Democracy Now! is a nationally-syndicated public TV and radio program that airs on over 700 radio and TV stations across the US and the globe.

Video of Amy Goodman’s Arrest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjyvkR0bGQ

Filed under News

The frightening covert racism of McCain

de Marothy — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 09:18:01 EDT

A recent story in the Boston Herald, takes a look at John McCain's frequent (and distressing) use of the phrase "Judeo-Christian values".

The article does well in explaning the benign history of the term, so I won't repeat that here. But I'll just concentrate on a couple of examples cited of McCain's usage of the term:

Last year, when he was criticized for telling the website Beliefnet that America was founded on Christian principles, McCain's defense was that he meant to say "Judeo-Christian." (When pressed, he said he believes a Muslim could serve as president.)

And secondly:

At the end of a long list of reasons to be suspicious of the Iranians, McCain declared: "And they sure don't share our Judeo-Christian values."

THE OBAMA NATION, JEROME CORSI

nii — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:26:38 EDT

I have finally read the book ( the obama nation). well what i can tell you now is that this book is full of smearS, lies, non factual events.

DO PEOPLE HAVE TO BE THAT LOW TO WIN AN ELECTION? i cant understand.

BASICALLY THIS BOOK IS FULL OF BS, PERIOD.

NO FURTHER COMMENTS............. I WAISTED MY TIME AND MONEY BUT IT WAS WORTH READING IT BECAUSE I NOW KNOW THE TRUTH FROM THE LIES.

AND THIS BOOK IS THE OPPOSITE FROM THE TRUTH....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Patriot Games

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:56:44 EDT

Barack called it once before: “It’s silly season in politics, folks.” While Obama continues to press his case for President, speaking to foreign policy and a host of domestic challenges, he has been accused of not loving his country enough, which reeks more of games and “gotcha” politics than genuine progress. That’s why Senator Obama wants to restore integrity to our political process as well as have integrity reflected in our policies.

Speaking to the group Veterans of Foreign Wars, Senator Obama asserted:

“If we think that we can secure our country by just talking tough without acting tough and smart, then we will misunderstand this moment and miss its opportunities. If we think that we can use the same partisan playbook where we just challenge our opponent's patriotism to win an election, then the American people will lose. The times are too serious for this kind of politics.” […]

“One of the things that we have to change in this country is the idea that people can’t disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism. I have never suggested that Senator McCain picks his positions on national security based on politics or personal ambition. I have not suggested it because I believe that he genuinely wants to serve America's national interest.”

When people impugn his character or patriotism, Obama will respond directly: “I will let no one question my love of this country. I love America, so do you, and so does John.” Obama extends the same good faith to his opponent, a mark of true integrity no matter how small the politics. Obama closes with this injunction for civility: “So let’s have a serious debate, and let's debate our disagreements on the merits of policy – not personal attacks.”

Islam Hater: #1 New Times Bestseller

Doc from Orlando, FL — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:30:43 EDT

>>>>> Forward this message to your friends and family or use this online form to push back with the truth: http://my.barackobama.com/bookofliesJerome Corsi's new smear book, "Obama Nation" is No. 1 on The New York Times' hardcover nonfiction best-seller list.
Corsi on Islam: "a worthless, dangerous Satanic religion"
Corsi on Muslims: "RAGHEADS are Boy-Bumpers as clearly as they are Women-Haters -- it all goes together""The Obama campaign picked apart the book's claims in a rebuttal titled "Unfit For Publication," to be posted on the Obama campaign's rumor-fighting Web site, FightTheSmears.com."
http://www.newser.com/article/d92ic2to0/barack-obama-campaign-sends-out-40-page-rebuttal-to-best-selling-book-that-argues-hes-radical.html

John McCain's reaction to Corsi's Book: "Gotta keep your sense of humor"

On the other hand, in case you missed Senator Obama's must-see interview on Larry King Live last month, please check it out here:
http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2008/07/15/lkl.obama.long.cnn?iref=videosearch

To quote Obama from the transcript:  "One last point I want to -- I do want to make about these emails, though. And I think this has an impact on this 'New Yorker' cover. You know, this is actually an insult against Muslim Americans, something that we don't spend a lot of time talking about. And sometimes I've been derelict in pointing that out. You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the country who are doing wonderful things. And for this to be used as sort of an insult or to raise suspicions about me I think is unfortunate. And it's not what America is all about."

Corsi and his right-wing backers are counting on you not to fight back. Spreading these lies about Barack Obama and Muslims is their best chance to elect John McCain and continue George Bush's failed policies for another four years.

>>>>> Forward this message to your friends and family or use this online form to push back with the truth: http://my.barackobama.com/bookoflies

The latest research on Jerome Corsi's writings:

HATRED AND INTOLERANCE TOWARD ISLAM
"Let's see exactly why it isn't the case that Islam is a worthless, dangerous Satanic religion? Where's the proof to the contrary?"
"Islam is like a virus -- it affects the mind -- maybe even better as an analogy -- it is a cancer that destroys the body it infects."
DESPICABLE WRITINGS ON ISLAM SHOW BLIND HATRED

"The only good Mullah is a dead Mullah." [12/21/01]
"Forget about democracy. Just get out the checkbook and put everybody in Iraq on the payroll. That's all they want. Pay them first, democracy (or some b.s. Islamic version of it) will follow." [6/18/03]
"Mohammed-al-Mohammed proclaiming guidance from his hate-god allah-i'll-be-da*ned-allah kills another dozen women and children by convincing a teenager to blow him/her/self up for victory in another world. Haven't we all had enough of this stupid "religion"?" [5/17/03]
"Another Mohammed-al-Mohammed Islam religion of hate maniac bites the dust. (Top Iraqi army official surrenders") [5/17/03]
"Certainly can't be one of the Islam is a Religion of Peace hijackers?" [Bus Hijacking Near Bremen, Germany] [4/25/03]
"One more Mohammed al-Mohammed el-Mohammed Mohammed iced -- great. " [Car Bomb Kills Egyptian Islamist in Lebanon Camp] [3/1/03]
"Let them build mosques -- seems about all the Germans are worth these days."( Germany's Economic Woes) [2/6/03]
"Islam - the Legacy of Clinton." (AFP: Two Chechens with belts of explosives stopped in Moscow) [12/24/02]
"Islam is like a virus -- it affects the mind -- maybe even better as an analogy -- it is a cancer that destroys the body it infects. A throwback, Medieval, anti-modern, anti-science, anti-knowledge doctrine." [11/26/02]
"Forget it -- the only thing these Islamonazis understand is force -- time to nuke the Temple of the Dome and send this "religion" back to Hell, the place it came from. " [11/17/02]
"Go for the Oil Fields. Set the mad dog lawyers loose!!! Let's ROLL!!! Take even the diapers from their heads. Remember -- according to the Koran, Islam approves of lying as long as it is to non-believers. Saudis are lying killers who harbor killers." [11/17/02]
"All-ah be damned. What took him so long?" [11/14/02]
"Islam is like a virus -- it infects the minds of the believers. Islamonazis are, unfortunately, the logical extreme of the "religion."" [11/13/02]
"Good plan -- raise OBL from the dead every time we get ready to ice another Islamonazi -- ON TO BAGHDAD. LET'S ROLL !!!" [11/13/02]
"Nuke the ISLAM-nazis and let's move on. No more MUSLAMO-fascists!!" [11/10/02]
"Islam has declared World War III against everything non-Muslim. " [10/28/02]
" When will the liberal media wake up to see that Islam has declared a World War against everyting non-Muslim. May Allah be damned to the hell Muslims wish to create on earth." [10/25/02]
" Are there any Islamic "clerics" who aren't violent?" [10/20/02]
" May Islam join the garbage heap of worthless religions we have grown beyond. Any believers of Hermes out there?" [10/13/02]
"Muslims regularly trash religious sites holy to others. Jerusalem has a series of sites the Muslims have wrecked (e.g., the bus station they placed below the "Golgatha" site honored by many as an alternative location for the Christ's crucifixion). Seems like the Muslim principle that it is okay to lie to infidels. Very different mindset -- no respect for anything non-Muslim" [9/30/02]
"ALL Arab MUSLIMS lie (the Koran endorses lying to infidels, namely us) -- none of these names are real -- Abdallah is really Mohammad Mohammad Mohammad readily altered to include Atta or Haj or whatever else they decide to call themselves for the moment." [7/10/02]
"Gotta love this stupid religion, ISLAM -- Makes the Nazis look like a Sunday stroll in the park. ISLAM -- it's gotta be straight from HELL. Just the Devil in disguise -- that seems to about sum it up." [6/14/02]
"Arabs lie. ISLAM preaches lying to Infidels. Fingerprints don't lie. Boo-hoo -- time to demand IDs to check into hotels and passport registration for all foreign nationalists who want hotel rooms. Also, ID checks and passport registrations for anyone renting an apartment." [6/5/02]
"Let's get rid of all the Saudi Arabians -- that would have gone a long way to preventing Sept. 11." [6/5/02]
"Yet another violent raghead named Mohammad. What's new? Islam looks like a cancer, a plague, a deadly virus. No doctor worries about the free speech rights of cancer cells." [6/5/02]
"Yet another Little Islamic Man of Hate. Is there any other kind?" [5/31/02]
"The only thing the Islamic world understands is force. Let's destroy a few of these hate schools and start targeting these mad preachers of hate." [5/22/02]
"Let's see -- who is it not politically correct to profile? Islam the "Peaceful Religion" whose Fundamental believers are insane, suicidal killers that hate America and all democratic societies? Or Arabs whose racial hatred of Jews drives them to create secret societies of terrorists sworn to eliminate Israel and all states who support Israel?" [5/20/02]
"Finally a way to end Jihad. Maybe the whole Arab world will blow itself up -- live by the sword, die by the sword -- seems an ancient formula. Bye, Bye Jihad." [5/20/02]
"I repeat: Muslims, cancer cells. It's hard to tell the difference. No doctor worries about the First Amendment rights of cancer cells. The therapy is to eliminate cancer cells so the body can go on living. Great to repeat it -- keeps the thread going. Let the Muslims stop preaching terror and I'll revise my view. Meanwhile, Muslims, cancer cells is an equation that works." [5/20/02]
"May all these Arab maniacs explode and kill themselves -- next time, maybe they will take Arab*RAT with them. Best solution to the homicide bombers is that they eliminate themselves, with as little loss to civilians as possible." [5/20/02]
"I repeat: Muslims, cancer cells. It's hard to tell the difference. No doctor worries about the First Amendment rights of cancer cells. The therapy is to eliminate cancer cells so the body can go on living." [5/19/02]
"Muslims, cancer cells. It's hard to tell the difference. No doctor worries about the First Amendment rights of cancer cells. The therapy is to eliminate cancer cells so the body can go on living." [5/17/02]
"File under the category "Islam is a worthless, violent CULT, not a Religion."[3/28/02]
THE WRITINGS OF A PARANOID AND HATEFUL MAN

To read more of his posts, follow this link: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/user-posts?name=jrlc MEDIA MATTERS FOR AMERICA:http://mediamatters.org/items/200408060010Corsi on Islam: "a worthless, dangerous Satanic religion"Corsi on Muslims: "RAGHEADS are Boy-Bumpers as clearly as they are Women-Haters -- it all goes together"
On Islam and Arabs
CORSI: Let's see exactly why it isn't the case that Islam is a worthless, dangerous Satanic religion? Where's the proof to the contrary? (04/24/2004)
CORSI: Islam is like a virus -- it affects the mind -- maybe even better as an analogy -- it is a cancer that destroys the body it infects... No doctor would hesitate to eliminate cancer cells from the body. (11/26/02)
CORSI: Islam is a peaceful religion as long as the women are beaten, the boys buggered, and the infidels killed. (11/22/2002)
CORSI: How's this as an analogy -- the Koran is simply the "software" for producing deviant cancer cell political behavior and violence in human beings. (02/15/2002)
CORSI: Think the liberal press will ever let out that these 2 were lovers -- typical Islamic boy-buggering -- older man, younger man -- black Muslims? I doubt it. Not a pretty picture, but one certain to be hidden by PC media. (11/08/2002)
CORSI: Isn't the Democratic Party the official SODOMIZER PROTECTION ASSOCIATION of AMERICA -- oh, I forgot, it was just an accident that Clintoon's first act in office was to promote "gays in the military." RAGHEADS are Boy-Bumpers as clearly as they are Women-Haters -- it all goes together. (11/18/2001)

TOO CRAZY EVEN FOR SWIFTBOAT LIARS

Corsi Was Dropped From Unfit for Command Promotions Because of His Anti-Muslim, Anti-Catholic Comments. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote in an editorial, "Corsi not only considers Muslims to be pederasts, but he took the trouble to slam Catholic priests and refers to the pope as senile. Rather than wonder whether a book written by such a man can be trusted, the marketing tactic has shifted to pretend Corsi doesn't exist." [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pennsylvania), 9/19/04]

John McCain's reaction to Corsi's Book:

What was McCain's reaction when a journalist asked him today about Corsi's book? As CNN reports:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/08/15/mccain-meets-with-t-boone-pickens/#more-12728
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/15/mccain-on-anti-obama-book_n_119203.html

"Gotta keep your sense of humor," McCain responded, before his aides shuttled reporters away.

Corsi and his right-wing backers are counting on you not to fight back. Spreading these lies about Barack is their best chance to elect John McCain and continue George Bush's failed policies for another four years.

Check out some facts about Corsi and his desperate fabrications in the DNC research document below. Forward this message to your friends and family or use this online form to push back with the truth:

http://my.barackobama.com/bookoflies

Together we'll show Corsi and the right-wing smear machine that we won't back down from a fight.

Thanks,

Obama Action Wire.

Contact Jerome Corsi: jcorsi@worldnetdaily.com

When contacting the media, please be polite and professional. Express your specific concerns regarding that particular news report or commentary, and be sure to indicate exactly what you would like the media outlet to do differently in the future.

McCain vs. Obama

Nadia — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 22:19:44 EDT

How crazy we are as people...

Everyone is talking about how wrong McCain is for attacking Barack but yet his number have gone up in surveys and polls...What the hell kind of democrazy is this??

maybe I need to wake up and realize that people are just not all going to embrace Barack but gosh does that suck as a thought...PEOPLE, do you realize McCain most likely hates you?

I can't understand why people are like I don't know about Barack, what other option do you have, unless you ARE trying to get your ass blown off in Iraq!!!!!!! literally....

If you don't like Barack, pick the lesser of 2 evils if you do then get others to like him too. We only have 60 more days to register voters...

Maybe this a rant or maybe this is to the poor, Black, Hispanic, Latino, Asian, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (all LGBTA), Muslim, non-Evangelist Christian, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, lower middle class. If that's you then McCain DOESNOT like you and to the people around you remind them, some things just don't change.

Subhanallah Slms Chanel N.

John McCain: "There will be Other Wars"

Doc from Orlando, FL — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:58:38 EDT

John McCain: "There will be Other Wars"Pat Buchanan worries that McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."MUST SEE VIDEO: http://www.youtube..com/watch?v=PdJUCU1UH2w

Lost the Muslim Vote

Nizamuddin from Chicago, IL — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:20:27 EDT

I think Steve Clemons does an excellent job explaining Obama's latest gaffe with the Muslim community, so I won't go into detail here.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-clemons/wrong-wrong-wrong-obama-l_b_117270.html

Mazen's ties to the muslim brotherhood or extremism are about as credible as Iraq having weapons of mass destruction.

From the kicking of two women wearing hijab and now this, Obama has effectively alienated muslims from his campaign, with many of us now looking at Senator John McCain as a leader who is not going to throw someone under the bus for quick political gain.

In Your Words -- Engaging With People of Different Faiths

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:57:01 EDT

Moushumi, a prominent Muslim lawyer and community activist, recently talked to me about her experience in connecting with people of different faith backgrounds:

I have always believed that to be Muslim is to engage with people of different faiths or no faith. I learned a great deal from these interactions – mostly that every faith reinforces the principle of do unto others as you would have them do unto you. My most important interfaith learning experience came from being the first Muslim Manager of my college’s Kosher-Hallal Kitchen. Mount Holyoke’s Kosher-Hallal Kitchen was unique in that it was the first of its kind to combine the dietary needs of both the Muslim and Jewish students, as it was jointly run by a Muslim and Jewish Manager. Every Wednesday, we had a dairy meal where we discussed topics like women in Islam and Judaism, and Islamic / Jewish spirituality. On Fridays, we had a Shabbat meal where I learned to love matzo ball soup and appreciate the deep Jewish heritage. This Kitchen opened in 1989 during the first Palestinian Intifada, so it was a formative experience in teaching me the importance and possibility of literally breaking bread despite our differences. I feel very fortunate to have had this positive experience so early on as it shaped my fundamental belief that no matter how intractable religious or political differences may seem, at the end of the day we are all human beings with the same basic needs and feelings.

If you are interested in reading more about what American Values Voters for Obama have to say, make sure to check out this week’s issue of the American Values Report. If you would like to sign up for the Report, please email the Religious Affairs dept. at Faith@BarackObama.com.

Young Evangelical Christians Uniting Behind Obama

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 16:58:46 EDT

Senator Obama is making confident waves among the evangelical community. Young evangelicals have been particularly receptive to his message, as they are increasingly concerned with issues like poverty, the Iraq War, climate change, genocide in Darfur, human trafficking, and religious freedom at home and abroad.

A recent Pew Forum poll of evangelical voters found McCain's lead among evangelicals smaller than Bush's in 2004, and this has many Republicans strategists worried. U.S. News and World Report recently quoted a “major McCain fundraiser” as saying, “The evangelical movement is changing … It's moving to a bigger place.”

I’m personally excited to announce that young evangelicals will be able to carve out a “bigger place” for themselves in the Obama campaign via a website project that boldly proclaims: “Young. Evangelical. For Obama.”

The site will allow young evangelicals to unite in their support for Obama and his broad moral agenda. In addition to showing their support, the group will engage in community service projects and American Values house parties geared toward youth.

For more information, see David Brody’s preview of Obama’s Young Evangelical Outreach.

Senator Obama called on youth to rise and overcome the challenges that still obstruct us:
The previous generation, the Moses generation, pointed the way. They took us 90% of the way there. We still got that 10% in order to cross over to the other side. So the question, I guess, that I have today is what's called of us in this Joshua generation? What do we do in order to fulfill that legacy; to fulfill the obligations and the debt that we owe to those who allowed us to be here today?"

A Response to the Politics of Fear

Kareem Shora — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:29:29 EDT

There has been some pressure on Arab- and Muslim-American groups to respond to the recent cover of The New Yorker, which satirizes the bigotry and fear-mongering at the heart of anti-Obama media campaigns that seek to “smear” the candidate by implying that he is Muslim. The cover depicts presidential hopefuls Barack and Michelle Obama in the oval office. Barack, dressed in traditional Muslim religious clothing while Michelle sports a 60’s afro alá Angela Davis, fatigues, combat boots, and a machine gun slung Rambo-style over her back. A portrait of Osama Bin Laden holds a place of honor over the mantel while the Stars and Stripes crackle in the fire place.

Do we understand that this cover was intended as a satirical commentary on vicious racially and religiously motivated hate campaigns intended to frighten white America away from a minority candidate? Yes, we do. Do we believe that regardless of the artists’ intentions there is some concern that the imagery could overpower the commentary and reinforce the fears and prejudices it was meant to critique? Yes, we do. But can we look past the noise about whether or not The New Yorker cover is offensive, a red-herring issue with fairly predictable responses on all sides, to deeper questions such as “Why is the label, ‘Muslim,’ such a powerful and popular a weapon against Obama” and “What should the Obama camp be doing, rather than denouncing a magazine cover?” Yes, we can.

American Values Report

Alyssa Martin — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:03:13 EDT

The Religious Affairs department has put together a newsletter called the “American Values Report,” which contains top news stories, interviews with people of faith, and commentary on faith and politics. We’re excited to bring you this week’s issue as it addresses a range of social and moral issues. Other highlights include:

How Barack Obama plans to move forward on the foreign policy front with his briefing on “A New Strategy for a New World”
Insight into Obama’s faith and the faith outreach program
An interview with Naomi, who is from a Reform Jewish background. She wonders why those who often quote scripture in the public square tend to bypass the parts about immigration: “The stranger among you shall be to you as the native born, for you know the ways of the stranger, having yourselves been strangers in the land of Egypt.”
An interview with Jason Herron, who is from a Pentecostal Assembly of God background. A former “one issue,” single party voter, he now urges, “challenge your own thought process. Be confident in your ability discern what’s right and wrong without relying on what the people around you are saying.”
Responses to the Values Question of the Week on the country’s moral agenda
Ways to get further involved in the campaign as an American Values supporter!

If you are interested in subscribing to the American Values Report, please send an email to Faith@BarackObama.com. This is the most comprehensive report we have for all values news as they relate to the Obama campaign.

Extending An Olive Branch

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:10:00 EDT

In an article appearing in USA Today, Tom Krattenmaker uses theological and practical evidence to show the peaceful side of religion. Elements of “just war” theory – just cause, right intention, last resort, proportionality – exist in many religious traditions. Peacemakers are extolled. In practice, initiatives like Interfaith Youth Core, Seeds of Peace, and “A Common Word Between Us and You” are all about embracing the humanity of everyone, regardless of faith background. They inspire Christians like Greg Mortenson to venture into the Middle East bringing “books not bombs,” as his initiative builds schools in poor areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Religion can help end wars, too

Faith is sometimes the fuel that feeds conflict and spreads strife. History is a witness to this. But lest we forget, believers also can be the salve to bring people and religions back together.

Religion — a solution to the problem of religiously motivated conflict and violence? Yes, actually. Because in their best traditions, the world's two dominant faiths do promote peace, both through their central teachings and the lessons-by-example taught every day by innumerable Muslims and Christians who take their scriptures seriously.

Yet if skeptics are going to hold religion accountable for the atrocities committed under the banners of faith, so, too, must they credit religion for the unifying and uplifting deeds performed in its name. We cannot dismiss the countless acts of compassion and peace-making by devout believers — acts that are central to the teachings of the Bible, Koran and other holy books.

So how we will know religion in the final analysis? By its peace or by its violence? The scriptures have had their say. It's now up to the believers — through their words and works — to settle the account.

Colorado House Party

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:38:35 EDT

In Colorado Springs, Terri and Debbie hosted a successful, albeit atypical, house party – an American Values House Party.

It began as a group of 20 curious guests gathered in their living room. In addition to being Terri and Debbie’s home, Colorado Springs is home to a large military apparatus of Air Force and Army bases. This backdrop helped influence the nature of discussion, as Karen and John drew upon their military experience when talking about their story.

Part of the way the American Values House Party encourages discussion is by focusing on stories instead of just issues. How do media-driven issues play out in our daily lives? Karen and John expressed their unique story on the issue of health care. Their son has a health disorder, and they are concerned that as he gets older, how will the benefits for retired military be set up? Their son will need long-term care. They are worried that they may not be able to afford it or be able to take care of him themselves, as any devoted parent would want. This affects them dearly in the context of their faith and values, which taught them about taking care of your own.

The guests felt comfortable talking in a large group. They did not feel compelled to break into small groups when discussing topics like “What can the next President do for your faith?” This question caused guests to contemplate their values in relation to politics, as they took turns in responding. Honesty. Listening. Unity. In effect, the goals of the house party were reflected in what the people said they want from their next President. They spoke of changing the tone in Washington, which tends to be combative and fractured.

Based on the discussion, the participants also wanted a change of policy in Washington. As Barack Obama once stated, “We’ve had politicians in Washington talk about family values, but we haven’t had policies that value families.” How can the next President help your family? One woman talked about reinvigorating education in this country by paying teachers who demonstrate a willingness to work and improve. She also pushed for more parental involvement in the education system. Teachers should enfranchise parents, bringing them into the fold of their children’s learning.

On a final note, the guests contemplated how they can take personal responsibility for some of our country’s challenges. When the recent increase in gas prices was brought up, the people did not jump to assign blame or find a scapegoat. Instead, they talked about the value of self-discipline through staying at home more often and saving energy.

We would like to thank the hosts and guests for making the American Values House Party in Colorado a meaningful experience, and for providing a sterling example for future house parties. If you would like to add to this already growing discourse by hosting your own American Values House Party, email us at Faith@BarackObama.com.

Greetings

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:00:12 EDT

Hello, all!

My name is Alyssa Martin, and I will be providing regular updates on the Faith-Action-Change blog as an intern with the Religious Affairs dept. of the Obama campaign. I am enthusiastic about this role because I believe we urgently need to foster an open dialogue among people of faith and conscience. This belief stems from my own multifaceted experience with religion. Raised Catholic, I've encountered Hinduism in my grandparents, and have formed close bonds with fellow Jewish, Muslim, and Protestant students at Stanford University. In addition, I have promoted dialogue among those with a purely academic interest in religion via a seminar entitled "Politically Incorrect: Let's Talk About Religion."

I encourage you to check out the Faith-Action-Change blog for news of faith in politics as it relates to the Obama campaign. I look forward to your responses!

Warmly,

Alyssa Martin
Religious Affairs Intern
Obama for America

Community Organizer, Inside-Out

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 19:11:46 EDT

Words, words, words, some say. Change, unity, hope. Where's the meat? When people ask me something to that effect, I point them to Senator Obama's life experiences, and the very human principles he embodies as a result of those experiences. The stirrings of change, the roots of unity, and the buds of hope often can be traced to Obama's formative years as a community organizer in Chicago. In his book "Dreams from My Father," we see some themes emerge from this "searing" experience: change is bottom-up; better to build alliances than alienate people; hope does not overlook hardship. For those seeking concrete evidence of "change we can believe in," look at what he believes in, and look how he translates that belief into action – connecting with people from all walks of life.

In Organizing, Obama Led While Finding His Place

The year was 1985 and Gerald Kellman, a community organizer, was interviewing an applicant named Barack Obama to work in the demoralized landscape of poor neighborhoods on this city's South Side. He liked the young man's intelligence, motivation and acutely personal understanding of how it felt to be an outsider. He also remembers that Mr. Obama drove a hard bargain.

"He challenged me on whether we could teach him anything," Mr. Kellman recalled. "He wanted to know things like 'How are you going to train me?' and 'What am I going to learn?'"

Mr. Obama's three-year stretch as a grass-roots organizer has figured prominently, if not profoundly, in his own narrative of his life. Campaigning in Iowa, Mr. Obama called it "the best education I ever had, better than anything I got at Harvard Law School," an education that he said was "seared into my brain." […]

In recent days, Mr. Obama has imbued those years with even greater significance, invoking them last week as inspiration for his plan to deliver social services through religious organizations. He told a conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church on Saturday that as a community organizer he "let Jesus Christ into my life" and "I dedicated myself to discovering his truth and carrying out his works."

In Your Words -- Why Do You Support Senator Obama?

Alyssa Martin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:14:45 EDT

Grant Gallicho, Associate Editor of Commonweal Magazine – a Catholic review of “religion, politics, and culture”:

Why do you, as a person of faith and conscience, support Senator Obama?

“Charity. Without sacrificing the toughness a successful political campaign must show, Sen. Obama has demonstrated that a candidate need not demonize his or her ideological opponent in order to win votes. The virtue of charity, as any cable-news watcher knows, is in short supply in our political culture. Sen. Obama's remarkable 2006 speech about faith and politics may prove to be a watershed moment for the post-Bush Democrats. I can't count the number of friends and family members who contacted me with something approaching awe that a Democrat would speak so movingly and authentically about the legitimate role of religious values in our political discourse. A lot of Catholics I know hadn't heard a Democrat speak so, well, charitably about religion in decades.”

Photos from Eastside Community Ministry, where Obama spoke on Faith-Based Initiatives

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:24:14 EDT

Senator Barack Obama appeared today at Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, OH. Before speaking on the subject of faith-based initiatives, Obama toured Eastside Community Ministry, a group that seeks to "break the cycle of poverty" through individual and community assistance. Smiles were in large supply as Obama interacted with children at the Ministry. Obama also conversed with Ministry leaders, who he believes should become active partners with the government in meeting the challenges of the 21st century.

Senator Obama Addresses Faith-Based Initiatives

Alyssa Martin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:53:52 EDT

Today, Senator Obama gave a momentous and timely speech on the future of faith-based initiatives. Obama spoke with immense personal experience and conviction, arising from his work as a community organizer. Senator Obama notes:

I believe that change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up, and few are closer to the people than our churches, synagogues, temples, and mosques. That’s why Washington needs to draw on them. The fact is, the challenges we face today – from saving our planet to ending poverty – are simply too big for government to solve alone. We need all hands on deck.

Senator Obama does not intend to diminish the work of secular initiatives, but instead wants to unite all forces – all hands – in rising to the challenges of the 21st century.

While President Bush may have established the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives with these intentions in mind, the Office has not lived up to its promise. Senator Obama affirms:

Support for social services to the poor and the needy have been consistently underfunded. Rather than promoting the cause of all faith-based organizations, former officials in the Office have described how it was used to promote partisan interests.
Well, I still believe it’s a good idea to have a partnership between the White House and grassroots groups, both faith-based and secular. But it has to be a real partnership – not a photo-op. And that’s what it will be when I’m President.

However, as a former constitutional law professor, Senator Obama will not trespass on the separation between church and state. He appreciates the separation as preserving not only the integrity of the state, but also and more essentially, the integrity of religious practice. As such, he lays down some ground rules for future faith-based initiatives:

First, if you get a federal grant, you can’t use that grant money to proselytize to the people you help and you can’t discriminate against them – or against the people you hire – on the basis of their religion. Second, federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples, and mosques can only be used on secular programs. And we’ll also ensure that taxpayer dollars only go to those programs that actually work.

Senator Obama wants to renew our commitment to faith-based partnerships by creating a new Office, which will have moral authority and the ability to empower, from the grass-roots up:

I’ll establish a new Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The new name will reflect a new commitment. This Council will not just be another name on the White House organization chart – it will be a critical part of my administration.
And my Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will also have a broader role – it will help set our national agenda. Because if we are going to do something about the injustice of millions of children living in extreme poverty, we need interfaith coalitions like the Let Justice Roll campaign standing up for the powerless. If we’re going to end genocide and stop the scourge of HIV/AIDS, we need people of faith on Capitol Hill talking about how these challenges don’t just represent a security crisis or a humanitarian crisis, but a moral crisis as well.

In addition to its broader moral role, this Council will also strengthen faith-based groups by “making sure they know the opportunities open to them to build on their good works.” Senator Obama will empower already established and successful organizations to “pay it forward” and train smaller organizations in order to create real, bottom-up ‘armies of compassion.’

John DiIulio, the first Director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, had this to say about Senator Obama’s proposed reforms:

Senator Barack Obama has offered a principled, prudent, and problem-solving vision for the future of community-serving partnerships involving religious nonprofit organizations. He has focused admirably on those groups that supply vital social services to people and communities in need. His plan reminds me of much that was best in both then Vice President Al Gore's and then Texas Governor George W. Bush's respective first speeches on the subject in 1999. Especially in urban America, all the empirical evidence continues to show that local faith-based organizations can make a measurable civic difference. His constitutionally sound and administratively feasible ideas about community-serving partnerships hold special promise for truly disadvantaged children, youth, and families. Many good community-serving initiatives can be built, expanded, or sustained on the common ground that Senator Obama has staked out for us here.

We invite your comments on the Senator’s address.

Global Leadership

Alyssa Martin — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 19:47:15 EDT

Senator Obama plans to prove his presidential mettle by embarking on a foreign tour of Europe and the Middle East. One hopes that the next President will understand the religious and ideological climate of the regions he visits.

Obama Plans Trip to Europe, Mideast

“Senator Barack Obama will make his first foreign trip as a presidential candidate next month when he travels to the Middle East and Europe, his campaign announced today.

Mr. Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, will visit Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom. On a separate trip, he is also planning to visit American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, but aides declined to disclose those details for security reasons.

‘This trip will be an important opportunity for me to assess the situation in countries that are critical to American national security,’ Mr. Obama said in a statement, ‘and to consult with some of our closest friends and allies about the common challenges we face.’”

Senator Obama’s worldly background gives him a unique ability to engage with other countries. As he often quotes from John F. Kennedy, “Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate.” On matters of national security, it becomes all the more critical for a leader to understand the social environment in which he is dealing. Meeting the challenge requires knowing the turf. Especially when the turf is largely carved by religion.

Values Question of the Week

Alyssa Martin — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 14:57:30 EDT

I received many wonderful and thought-provoking responses to the Values Question of the Week:

"What sacrifices should be made in order to have fruitful interfaith dialogue (including people of
non-faith backgrounds)? Should we even make a sacrifice, or does sacrifice for dialogue's sake
dilute our faith?"

Ms. Jacqueline Jill Rito of East Meadow New York took a philosophical approach:

"No sacrifice made in earnest is wasted. If the goal of dialogue is understanding, peace, and acceptance, then working towards this end from an interfaith standpoint is an objective worth pursuing. It is important for each of us representing various faiths to embrace that part of each faith that seeks to unify rather than divide, and create alliances and understandings rather than adversity and division. There are principles within each organized religion, within each religion's interpretation, for this kind of connection.

The sacrifice is sometimes being willing enough to look into the eye of your brother and sister and therein see your own reflection."

Mr. Michael Mills of Midland Texas took a personal approach:

"The sacrifice that I would see for me is a sacrifice of self, with my ego and insatiable need to be right. I am discovering that I seek to have others around me justify my existence and sense of worth in that I want to surround myself with people who think like I think and who have views on life and faith that justify my correctness.

For too many years I could not have a genuine interfaith dialogue! Why? Because I was personally threatened by someone who had views that are different than my own or different than the culture I was living in at the time. To accept their difference was to dismantle my identity and my own sense of values and purposes.

Interfaith dialogue for me is actually a step of faith and growth. It reflects an attitude of humility in realizing that I do not have God and faith all figured out. It allows me to see things from a totally different perspective, and it stretches me by placing me where I do not always feel safe and secure. Personally, this journey has been an amazing one of release, trust and learning to love!"

The responses I saw tended toward a common theme: the tension between unity and diversity. While many praised interfaith dialogue as a means to promote unity and mutual respect, some expressed concern that this would result in "sameness," or a loss of individual identity. In effect, we would have to sacrifice a bit of diversity of belief. Nonetheless, several people did not view this is a sacrifice, but saw it as a positive step toward peace and reconciliation.

Here's the rub: how do we promote an idea of unity without drifting toward sameness? How do we affirm unity while preserving valuable differences?

My Wonderful Experience at the Barack Obama Rally in Detroit, As A Muslim Woman who Wears A Headscarf

One Hundred Percent American — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 02:17:04 EDT

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 My Wonderful Experience at the Barack Obama Rally in Detroit, As A Muslim Woman who Wears A Headscarf I am a Muslim woman who wears a headscarf.

The funny thing is that my son and I were also there but we had the exact opposite experience.Read more at : http://americanmuslimah01.blogspot.com/2008/06/my-wonderful-experience-at-barack-obama.html

Primary Watch Party Fox Grill, Atlanta, GA

Jasmine from Augusta, GA — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:51:26 EDT

http://www.rockyou.com/show_my_gallery.php?source=ppsl&instanceid=114258497

Obama seeks Hanuman's blessings for victory

Luth-fi Khakad — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:01:10 EDT

Obama seeks Hanuman's blessings for victory

New York: Barack Obama, the Democratic party's presidential nominee, is seeking the blessings of Hindu God Hanuman in his battle for the White House.

The 46-year-old senator from Illinois, who defeated his rival Hillary Clinton in an epic 17-month long electoral battle for Democratic party nomination, carries a 'tiny monkey God' apparently representing Hanuman with him for good luck.

A recent photo posted on Time's White House Photo of the Day collection shows that the first ever Black-American nominee of a major US party for the Presidential elections carries with him a bracelet belonging to an American soldier deployed in Iraq, a gambler's lucky chit, a tiny monkey God and a tiny Madonna [Images] and child.

That 'tiny monkey God,' of course, appears to be a statue of the Hindu monkey God, Hanuman, says the posting but editors and the photographer have not identified it as such.

Obama, whose father was a Kenyan and mother a white woman from Kansas, spent initial days of his life in Indonesia where Hinduism is a popular religion.

In addition to a lucky penny, Republican candidate John McCain carries a lucky nickel, and a lucky rubber band, which he wears around his wrist. He also has a lucky sweater and a lucky hotel room in New Hampshire, says the caption on his photo.

"People give Clinton lucky items all the time on the campaign trail," said a Clinton spokesman.

"Recently, for example, she's received a lucky coin, a lucky handkerchief that a woman in Texas gave to her that she sometimes keeps in her pocket, and a lucky bracelet that a woman in Ohio gave her that she wears every day. She keeps all of them," he added.

http://news.in.msn.com/international/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1442651

Letter from Irani girl

Luth-fi Khakad — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:37:56 EDT

As salam alaikom, I can't say I have assiduously ensued the US election, but I have a sweeping idea as to who is leading and all. I adulate the points brought up by Luth-fi; very well said and summarised. I acquiesce with all that he mentioned in his blog and just wanted to magnify a little regarding the atrocious deeds of the Bush administration based on some actual experiences.President George W. Bush seems to be one of the most preposterous presidents of the US. And his deeds of insensate foolishness have cost the lives of many innocents. His various invasions make him seem like a madman wielding a gun. Apart from creating mayhem in the lives of millions, he has not given anything substantial to his countrymen to chew on; apparently the US occupation of Iraq costs $3,845 per second. (Read this somewhere, not sure how far this is true)As we all know US backed by British forces invaded Iraq. Their aim was to end Saddam's rule as he was branded a terrorist, disarm Iraq from the supposedly weapons of mass destruction it had and to free the Iraqi people. It is known by all that Saddam was nothing but a pawn of the US, hence the first step was a facile victory and he was easily taken care of. Inspections by the UN in Iraq did not turn up any evidence of weapons of mass destruction. This lead to accusations that the United States, its President George W. Bush in particular, had deliberately inflated intelligence or lied about Iraq's weapons in order to justify an invasion of the country; which is very true. And finally the people, are they free now? The answer is an emphatic NO!My father's native place in Iran is only around a four hour drive from Iraq. Iran along with other countries like Jordan, Syria and Lebanon has been sheltering refugees from Iraq right from the Iran-Iraq War (in which Iraq was instigated by US against Iran) till this day. Having seen the Iraqi refugees personally, made me actually feel and know how much more distress this invasion has caused them. When Saddam fell in 2003 many of them returned to Iraq. But in 2004 they changed their minds and came back to Iran. Despite a decline in violence in the second half of 2007, only a small number have gone home, often because their resources have been exhausted. Of those who returned to Iraq, many found their property occupied and suffered secondary displacement. Many of them have come back to seek asylum and scores of them daily visit the visa office. Their lives are in a big chaos. Many of these refugees resort to anti-social activities which is again a hornets' nest for the host countries. I personally have sampled this one.It is a known fact that the US administration has always been pro-Israel, supporting them financially, While the woes of the Palestinian people has been ignored. It is sad to note that the American administration has always resorted to double standards for the benefit of Israel. I have a Palestinian family friend, who has been quiet active in the movements of Palestinian liberation. Of what I have seen from her, her family and several other Palestinians; they do not really care who the next president of the US is, all they want is someone who pushes the peace process and ends Israel's occupation of the Palestinian land. This least they can get in return for several years of oppression coupled with massive loss of loved ones. If Obama can bring on some change and improve the American situation it would be good for the entire world as Luth-fi rightly mentioned: "USA's policies got its implication all over the world therefore this is not just an election of USA but an episode whose consequence and outcome has replications all over the world."Let's hope and pray for the best interests of the Moslem Ummah all over the world Inshallah. Regards,Zainab

Great lesson for our day to day life to be learnt

Luth-fi Khakad — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:11:24 EDT

My dear freinds,

I strongly believe there is great lesson for our day to day life to be learnt from the on going Election.

It would be great that we all can extract from this epic election, what are the lessons to that can be learnt. First of all I would contribute with analyzing why Clinton lost though she was poised to win without any hindrance.

She had hinted way back in year 2000 when Bill Clinton term was coming to end that she may go for the Oval office in 2008. What went wrong??

The things I think went wrong are

· Underestimating your competitor (Obama, The rookie guy)

No matter how superiors you product is never underestimate your competitor's product.

· Judge your customer want, need & moods ( They want change)

We have to understand what our customers' want rather than what we can give.

· Treat all customers adequately ( Big states and caucus states)

Never run after ONLY big customers, they are like jam the small are the ones are your bread and butter of business.

· Ignorance and attitude

No matter how big your brand (Clinton), people hate Ignorance and attitude

· Plan your budget (Clinton is in 30 million debts)

Always plan for long haul, you never know you have to move your break-even point to higher side.

· Organization (Clinton's grass root supports)

No matter how strong your hierarchy is at top, what matter most is foundation on which your Organization stands on.

· Directors and mangers (Strategist and aides)

Old friends and relative are yours most trusted people but only professionals and experiences people can run business more appropriately.

· Directional plan (issues)

Be flexible in your plan see the trends in market and change accordingly.

· Media (Websites)

Chose your main media of propagation accordingly you’re your product. Treat the press as you’re your face and mouth.

I will be very glad if group members add their inputs analyzing the election.

Thanks & regards

Luth-fi Ahmed

Someone is matching my fundraising goal! Donate today!

Christina — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 21:39:29 EDT

Hello friends,

I have created a personal fundraising page for Senator Barack Obama. Thus far, $590 have been donated by family and friends. If you'd like to make a donation, please click on the link below or check out my profile.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/BarackGrl08

If you cannot access the link, please copy and paste it onto your web browser. Please help me reach my goal.

In solidarity,

Christina

We did it!

Christina — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 19:50:24 EDT

I am overcome with so much joy and happiness! To think that this journey began 15 months ago and that we can now rejoice in our triumph is overwhelming! I am so proud of the thousands of young people who have become involved in this historical movement. We need to prepares ourselves for what is up ahead; it will be a tough fight, but if we all commit ourselves to this campaign, we can and will win in November!

Yes We can!

Fire it up!

With much love,

Christina

American's misconception part II

Luth-fi Khakad — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:13:29 EDT

Dear Americans, In Part one I tried to clarify the statements made by my American friends " Our gas dollars at work----in Dubai!!. & Dubai, Oil Barrons"

In part II I would try my level best to get our minds clear of this ignorance and misunderstanding about the statements "The Saudis are boycotting American goods"

It is 100% true that Saudi Arabia is largest exporter of oil in world but when it comes to trade with USA it the one of largest trading partner. What ever oil Saudi sells to USA, USA inturn sells its goods to Saudi and the trade difference is on beneficial side to USA(http://www.sabb.com/Attachments/Publications/SABB-Saudi-US-Trade-Relations.pdf & http://www.buyusa.gov/saudiarabia/en/). It would have been no problem if USA covered the trade deficit with commodities but it sells Saudi military items and services to such an extent that Saudi doesn't even have armed servicemen to operate all the military items it purchases from USA. The funniest part is, USA sells its Military items to countries and regimes that are in confrontation to Saudi.

It is almost 75 years since oil was discovered in gulf but to what extent have they benefited from it. In net shell, Gulf countries sell oil by which USA economy prospers wherein USA sells military items by which there are wars destruction and ruined economies.

Today this part of the world is most volatile part of earth, who is responsible for this???

Who created the monster Sadam Hussain out of local thug & supplied him with all the military hardware and chemicals?
Who created Frankenstein by name Osama out of a collage student who went UK to complete his civil engineering?
Initially who supplied ammunition to bunch of villagers in most backward country and made them uncontrollable movement by name Taliban?

This list can go on and on

My dear Americans, we also are human beings, see from our perspective.

Study what are the effects of your government's foreign policy on other nations.

Today I whole heartedly support Sen. Obama for president ship the reason is he is ready to make changes in Americas foreign polices that are better to both USA and this part of world. View my blog http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/luthfiahmed

Therefore stop circulating hate mails; it is high time we reconcile our difference on table rather in battle field.

Love & regards

Luth-fi Ahmed

luthfe@hotmail.com

American's misconception Part I

Luth-fi Khakad — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 01:09:48 EDT

Dubai, Oil Barrons (Baron), - Joke of the day!!! Dear Americans, When I got this forwarded mail I was really amused and sad for the ignorance of my Americans.Thanks to this ignorance, today our culture and society is such an odd difference that it is making way to all this killing, destruction and misery. I would try my level best to get our minds clear of this ignorance and misunderstanding in two parts. Part I Dubai

Writers of the statement "Our gas dollars at work----in Dubai!!. & Dubai, Oil Barrons", the biggest joke and ignorance is Dubai importer of oil not exporter. Please verify this info from Department of Energy (http://www.energy.gov/)

Dubai was always a trading hub through out the history. Today apart from trading hub it is transforming itself into world's leading financial and leisure hub.

Is it based on petro-dollar?

It is providing a business atmosphere that is second to none.

No Income tax, no wealth tax & other taxes negligible to speak off.

They have created multiple free zones where investors have 100% ownership of business, No questioned asked on investment brought in country, No questioned asked on investment taken out of country. 100% profit can be taken out side the country. (www.emiratesfreezone.com)

Total safety of life, fully tolerant society, Swift and fair justice. An almost crime free country. Visa is available on arrival at airport (ww.dubaitourism.com)

Now coming to the pictures and illustrations provided of the buildings in the mail.

Who can and who are investing in Dubai's Real Estate?

Anybody can invest. Even without coming to Dubai.

Dubai government and real estate developers are just making plans, illustrations of the building and marketing it heavily all our the world.

Four to five years before the building is constructed it is brought by Americans, Europeans, Russian and anybody who can afford them.

The last survey which was conducted showed that there are expatriates from 202 countries who have made Dubai their second home. There are 82% of expatriate and 12% of Dubai citizens.

Thanks & regards

Luth-fi Ahmed

luthfe@hotmail.com

San Juan Rally and Request for PR campaign supplies NOW !

ALI, Rimaah/ Latina-Muslima — Wed, 28 May 2008 01:11:01 EDT

Hi Obama Folks !

Yesterday, May 25 was my Mother’s Flory Birthday. She really is 76 years young. What a greater gift can she receive than to have shaken our next President's hand Saturday and possibly have her picture in the newspapers, maybe even a quote explaining her support ! Saturday’s rally was an inspiring event for her as well as my brother Carlos and both drew attention wearing their Obama gear of baseball caps and T-shirts I had sent them. She estimated the crowd at perhaps 1,000 by the Atlantic sea and many media on the scene However, the stateside media broadcasters presume Clinton” will take the Island” ?!

Well, lets show them otherwise by phone banking and radio/news/blog polling or by sending supplies. A friend is going to San Juan Wednesday. If you have any leftover primary campaign items such as Obama o8 buttons, bumper stickers, T shirts, yard signs to banners you can donate, please contact to arrange pick- up ( or drop off ) in Maryland or Virginia. Addie is at >antaddie@aol.com< or cell number 703-901-1904 Si se pude, Gracias.

Citizen of world for Obama

Luth-fi Khakad — Sat, 24 May 2008 14:58:30 EDT

Greetings of the day!!!

I joined Sen. Barack Obama's campaign for president. You must be wondering what I a non- US citizen doing on America's election campaign, well you believe this or not but today, USA's policies got its implication all over the world therefore this is not just an election of USA but an episode whose consequence and outcome has replications all over the world. Therefore right president of USA beneficial to the whole world as such. I find President designate Sen. Barak Obama, a person who can bring about change in American foreign policies by which we get peace and prosperity.

The key points which made me go for Sen. Obama are,

Sen. Obama stand on Iraq from day one he put his political career on the line to oppose going to war in Iraq on the other hand Sen. John McCain defended President Bush's Iraq plan and still have hard hand military options for Iraq's solution

Sen. Obama is ready initiate the dialogue process with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and end the relationship impasse that US has with Iran for decades together. Wherein Sen. John McCain when asked in a forum when the United States should send “an air mail message” to Iran in the form of bombs, McCain replied by singing the Beach Boys song, “Bomb Iran, Bomb Iran, Bomb Iran.”

Sen. Barack Obama is possibly the most pro-Palestinian potential Presidential candidate, but whether he acts on his feelings depends on his desire to keep himself and his party in the White House. Where as Sen. McCann writes that US provide needed military equipment and technology and ensuring that Israel maintains its qualitative military edge.

Sen. Barack Obama has courage to make a statement "We've got to get the job done there 9Afghanistan) and that requires us to have enough troops so that we're not just air-raiding villages and killing civilians, which is causing enormous problems there." Where as Sen. McCann wants to send more NATO troops and "finish off the unfinished job".

Sen. Barack Obama has not taken a dime from PACs or federal lobbyists, so when he is President he is not going to play in the hands of PACs or federal lobbyists. On the other hand Sen. John McCain is big time lobbyist. At the time US heading towards big time recession Sen. McCain have leveraged his connections to get deal for EADS against Boeing.

That means if the defence companies want wants war so that their companies can make billions of dollars then Sen. John McCain is their man.

If you want WORLD WAR III rally for Sen. John McCain.

Regards

Luth-fi Ahmed

luthfe@hotmail.com

Flip Flopper of Millenium

One Hundred Percent American — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:15:06 EDT

THE MAVERICK SHOWS HIS TRUE COLORS There was a time when I really liked and respected John McCain, in fact both my husband and I really liked him during the 2000 election and had even thought that we would have voted for him had he been the Republican nominee. But the John McCain that has emerged as the 2008 Republican nominee is a someone who seems to be suffering from a multiple personality disorder. I am just blown away at the level of hypocricy this man has shown. The likes of Pat Buchanan, Hannity, and O'Reilly and yes even Dick Cheney have one positive over McCain in that at least they have stucked to what they believe and that in fact we know where they stand. McCain, I dare say may be a far more radical and dangerous threat to the original and true premise of the United States, the stability of Americans, and any chance of achieving peace in the world.

Yesterday McCain laid out his utopian view of where America would be at the end of his first term, but I fear that in reality that were we to be suckered into putting McCain in the White House it will be a grave mistake. If we think George Bush has taken the country in the wrong direction, McCain will have us grappling our senses and struggling much like a fish being pushed onto the shore.

The man has admitted not knowing anything about economy. He tries to fool us into thinking he is different than Bush highlighting issues like the environment and relations with Europe which basically are the issues that extreme conservatives do not really politicize. And frankly these are not the primary issues that have led millions of Americans scrambling for just the basic necessities of life; the price of gas for transportation is outrageous and has left people unable to freely go about their daily lives; food prices are through the roof leaving millions to prioritize as to what food item they should purchase; and God forbid should anyone get sick or hurt, practically no one has any peace of mind in seeking medical care or treatment.

Please if should anyone who might read this actually still be thinking that McCain is the "Maverick", or the one Republican unlike the true brand, lets make this easier for you to understand: The root of the doom that is hanging over the future of this great nation are the very issues on which McCain not only agrees with Bush but furthermore embraces in a bear hug. Is the economy bad? Are you worse off than before Bush came into office, are you one of the 80%+ of Americans who believe that the nation is heading in the wrong direction? Then why do you think this is so? ITS THE ECONOMY AND THE WAR (I'm tempted to add in stupid but will refrain)

If when Pres. Clinton was elected it was the "economy stupid" after the President Bush Sr., now after the President Bush Jr. it's the economy and national security. And I dare suggest that this administration has been as destructive as the extremists we are supposedly trying to defeat. How you may ask? Well think about it, as we all are well aware now, it was simply false that there were any weapons of mass destruction or any connection between Iraq and the trajedy of 911 for which we were going into Iraq to rescue the Iraqis and assure the safety of Americans and the United States. And as many of us believe that the actual true purpose was for the oil, and not for the oil for Americans but for the people involved in planning this war who happen have a major stake in profitting from the results of having a war with Iraq. So given that, would it be so far fetched to suggest that this administration has actually used the sentiments of the Americans, of the emotions and fear that the terrorist attacks of 911 left all of us with, to their benefit? That they went into Afghanistan and bombed that country but instead of going after the exact people responsible for the attack on our nation, they shrugged their shoulders and said it was too hard and carried on with their own agendas. That they seized the opportunity and in a sense abused the tender and sensitive state of the nation for their own personal gains?

And for those who point to there having been no terrorist attack in the United States as proof of the success of the policies are really supposing that we are stupid. Of course their hasn't been any attack here, because the administration sent over our men and women over there. This adminstration enabled the terrorists, through the utter mishandling of the debacle they created, to make them the focus and subject of their attacks.

Now I don't know if McCain was part of the initial plan, but nevertheless the fact is that this man has literally changed all of his opinions on the crucial issues and has alligned himself with Bush and Cheney. And for what? To get elected? Whats he going to do if he is elected? He doesn't know economics very well, so he'll leave that in the hands of those who are in dealing with that now, and he'll come out and read a nice speech they'll write for him with emotions placed where he would have been directed to. And he'll focus on what he thinks he knows best which is foreign relations. And what do you think a person who wants so passionately, like McCain exudes, to become president only to be in charge and in a position of power to deal with foreign relations, would want? He thinks he can take over the world, and in order to do that he must invade and attack (since he now doesn't believe in negotiating with them) and probably justifies it in his mind by rationalizing that he is doing a historical service by trying to rid the world of the brutal Islamic extremists.

So whose the real appeaser? Chamberlain appeased by giving over half of Czeckoslovakia, so how about McCain appeasing the Neo-cons by giving up his original positions on everything they disapproved in order to get their approval. Tax cuts for the top earners, immigration reform, women's right to choose, even on foreign policy revealing the irony of all ironies, he originally held the belief that the administration should negotiate directly with Hamas.

Alas, I hope my fellow Americans are not to be fooled this time or side-tracked, for many if not most it would probably be hard to be led astray because the struggles of their daily lives will be staring them in the face with the hard reality. Afterall once bitten twice shy. My fellow Americans during the general election season when the Republicans start spilling out the the same old tricks and try to take the attention off their own failures and the doom that we are headed for if they are allowed to continue though McCain : Beware!

Introspection for the so called " Super-delegates"

ALI, Rimaah/ Latina-Muslima — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:26:51 EDT

Letter to the Democratic Super-delegates…

Earth Day

Tuesday, 22 of April 2008

Esteemed United States Senators, Congressional House Representatives and Democratic Party Officials,

These two passages are meant to convey to you a set of questions on character and principles that only you may ponder upon, and answer.

“It is not the critic who counts nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or how the doer of deeds could have done better . The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena: whose face is marred by sweat and dust and blood ; who errs and comes short again and again ; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in worthy causes ; who , at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement ; and who at the worst IF he fails , at least fails while daring greatly , so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knows neither victory nor defeat.

“The Man in the Arena “ are words by Theodore Roosevelt, a Progressive Republican, and the youngest president at age of 42. This “trustbuster” and environmental conservationist also stated the following with conviction upon being urged to withdraw an appointment he made of a post to Dr. William Crum, an African American, “I do not intend to appoint any unfit man to office. So far as I legitimately can, I shall always endeavor to pay regard to the wishes and feelings of the people of each locality; but I cannot consent to take the position that the doorway of hope - the door of opportunity - is to be shut upon any man, no matter how worthy, purely upon the grounds of race or color. Such an attitude would, according to my contentions, be fundamentally wrong”. The year: 1903!

Respectfully Submitted,

Maria (Rimaah) Garcia-Ali, RN

My.BarackObama.com>Ali, Rimaah/Latina-Muslima<

It's alleged that Mrs.Clinton was fed the Q & A for 4/19 by her former lover (?!) Stephen O.Polous

ALI, Rimaah/ Latina-Muslima — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 23:21:16 EDT

http://pol.moveon.org/enoughdistractions/?rc=homepage
Hi,
If you missed the Democratic presidential debate on ABC Wednesday night,
Editor & Publisher called it "perhaps the most embarrassing performance by
the media in a major presidential debate in years."
Moderators George Stephanopoulos and Charlie Gibson spent the first 50
minutes obsessed with distractions that only political insiders care
about--gaffes, polling numbers, the stale Rev. Wright story, and the
old-news Bosnia story. And, channeling Karl Rove, they directed a video
question to Barack Obama asking if he loves the American flag or not.
Seriously!
I just signed a petition to ABC and other media that says: "Debate
moderators abuse the public trust every time they ask trivial questions
about gaffes and 'gotchas' that only political insiders care about. Enough
with the distractions--ABC and other networks must focus on issues that
affect people's daily lives."
Want to sign it too? We need a bunch of signers for ABC to take this
concern seriously.
Click here to sign:
http://pol.moveon.org/enoughdistractions/?r_by=-9120957-4I.5FI&rc=mailto
Thanks!
My comments to this petition....

FYI-It also appeared that Mrs. Clinton was fed the questions & answers, possibly from her husbands' former press secretary. That is de facto Fact. Stephenopolous was also her lover. That is hearsay to me and as unnecessary as the subject matter which was pounded and dissected to their personal delight and under the media masters directive. Let’s get real.

I attached this reponse to the letter, You guys should too!

Keziah Cicero — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 07:03:35 EDT

I live in Elkins Park which is about 2 minutes outside of Philadelphia. Everyone has been focused on rural Pennsylvania but there are areas in Philadelphia that when you travel through you feel like your in a third world. This of course didn't just start under Bush, it began even before the Clintons. These people have been forgotten by the system a long time ago and they turn to the government, the welfare system because it's all they know. My husband and I are both college students, I have about 18 credits left. I haven't been able to complete them because even though my huband makes about 41,000 (wages being the result of two jobs he works form 4am to 9 am then 11 to 8pm almost everyday), we don't qualify for any programs to send our children to daycare at a reduced cost. On the flip side we cannot afford to pay for daycare as it is now, especially with the cost of food and gas soaring. Why is it that the systems that is suppose to help those who temporarily need a hand only help those who will be on it for life. These questions need to be addressed. Limiting welfare by a couple at a time if recipients don't have a job as Bill Clinton did does not get to the root of the problem. Barack Obama is not delusional enough to think that poverty started when the Bush's took office, it's true that his term has blurred the lines even further so that even the middle class has no cushion. I'm tired of lying politicians who tell you what you want to hear or who insult my intelligence by pandering to my demographics, we are not fooled. Barack Obama is not out of touch, I'm a Pennsylvanian and I say that these other candidates are out of touch, because we are bitter, and we are angry! On April 22, I know who I'm voting for and it starts with a B and ends with an A.

Obamamania comes to Lexington!

Jamilah — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:41:43 EDT

I could scarcely believe it when I received an email inviting me to the open house for the new Obama headquarters here in Lexington, Kentucky. The office is less than a mile from my house--walking distance (mostly uphill) if I feel up to it. High gas prices couldn't keep me away!

The event was at 5:30 tonight. The place was packed--it took me a while to find a parking spot. I finally parked, signed in, took a sign, and cheered. The place was packed. Black, white, young, old, male, female. Forget the experts' demographic studies. All sectors support Obama here in Lexington.

Before we left, my three youngest sons and I had all signed up to volunteer. This is just the beginnning for us. Super Tuesday may be a distant memory for much of the nation, but here in Kentucky we are just getting started. Fired up and ready to go!

Obama is a candidate Stephen Colbert would love

Erin from Peoria, IL — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:47:02 EDT

Truthiness.... Well if you want a president that will tell you the truth at 3 A.M. Or while dodging sniper fire, while talking to the Columbian Abassador about Free Trade agreements. Vote Obama!!!

German Olympic Allows Protests

Henk van Aalderen — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:09:49 EDT

From Germans largest newspaper Bild am Sonntag April 6, 2008 by reporter Martin S. Lambeck:

General-Direktor Michael Vesper of the German Olympic Comite said on TV: There will be no happy Olympic games in China. Of course the German participants may demonstrate. So the German Olympic Comite allows its atheletes to demonstrate against what happend in Tibet and the human right in China.

Meaning of the reporter: The first member of a Olympic comite who has a clear stand on the question of China and Tibet.

Which candidate of the primaries is following this example ?

Greetings from Germany,

Henk van Aalderen

Canvassing for the 1st Time!

Keziah Cicero — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 23:59:23 EDT

I live in Elkins Park and when I got an email from a campaign worker asking me to help out with canvassing in West Philadelphia on Saturday I jumped at the chance. Of course I'm taking my Major's Special Topics class which means a 20 page paper on top of an 8 page paper and a writing intensive internet course with a teacher who didn' t get the memo that it's an internet course, thus the 5 assignments that need to be completed by this weekend. I also have two children under two who are with me all the time because we can't afford daycare. Did I mention that my 23 month old was turning two on saturday which had to be marked with a birthday party. You get the picture this is the busiet weekends of the year yet I found myself driving down the freshly dug streets of North Philadelphia by Temple's campus to pick up a college acquatance to make our way to West Phila. The was a moment of uncomfortability when I was asked if I was canvassing today, with a disapproving look at my two children sitting in the stoller. "Are you sure your doing this today, we don't have anything in the area where you can walk too?" That's fine I say, I have a car, and with that before I could get anymore annoyed I walked inside the campaign office. After being briefed quickly I found myself walking the streets of west philadelphhia with my friend and my two children, immediately deciding the double stroller was a mistake as my son had decided he'd rather walk and my 8 month daughter only subsiding her touchiness upon being place in the carrier next to my heart. Trudging away I went holding my sons hand with my daughter in a carrier, pushing the bulky double stroller and somehow juggling a clip board and fliers. Three hours, 77 houses, 22 answers of yes we're voting for Barack, three undecided but leaning towards Obama, and one that's personal get lost later I found myself buying a pizza for the office and myself and son of course. After dropping off my canvassing buddy I made my way to my Aunt's who lives near by and had someone drive me home to exhausted I dear not risk the irresponsibility of driving. Resting and then going shopping for the birthday party tomorrow I find myself now sitting in front of the computer sharing with you my experience because though it may seem like a extremely exhausting day it was fullfilling. I could not think of anything that I'd rather done today than knocking on doors with my troops in tow. I'm definitely hooked now and can't wait to do it again, It was a blast and not at all what I expected. I fill like I've really now just did my part in helping Barack Obama get elected and I can't wait to do it again. Only next time I think I'll butter my mother into watching the kids, I mean hey it's for a good cause!

The Fresh Blood to Replace The Infected

Furqan Francisco — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:22:00 EDT

I feel extremely disgusted by even the thought of Bush being the president of such a modern, civilized, honorable, wise community. Guess the disgust i feel when i actually see him on TV. I'd most probably throw up right away if i saw him in flesh. The sentences so far may seem insincere and sarcastic to you. But no. Let me tell you this. I am sad, so sad to know that an bigot idiot who does not have a single qualification for any job requiring low mental capacity (let alone presidency!!!) is in charge of a superpower country whose world-wide influence is greater than any other state has ever had.

It is precisely like giving a spoilt child dozens of ICBMs. United States presidency is by far the most priviliged political rank in the entire world. It is an undeniable fact that an American president is a world president as well. Because of enjoying generous supports, a great number of countries -truth be told- are volunteer to do what US asks them to do, which is an expression of appreciation. It wouldnt be completely wrongful to say that USA has an authority of making countries do whatever is for the national benefits of Americans.

Personally, as a Muslim queer of Turkish origin whose life motta is DEMOCRACY, i am fine with the fact that USA is the boss!!. What's more, i am happy with this because i am Americanized (Californicated to be more specific:)).

What i'd like to underline firstly is that i fully believe every single non-US citizen ought to be clued up about the US presidential candidates, ought to pick their favorite and support his-her campaign as effectively (yet) sincerely as possible. US Elections for White House means determining the special icon who's gonna change the fate of the world profoundly (either positively or negatively). Bush himself has also changed world's fate-(it'd be more accurate to say "has fucked up world's fate")-. He has uncautiously tried to modernize, democratize Ukraine, Georgia, Mid-Asia Turkic States and achieved nothing but only triggered social unrests. Russian counter-actions (of course) have played the major role in the back-firing of American plans. Aparting from his all other fiascoes, Iraq humiliation is worth-mentioning in particular. It was a sheer folly for Bush and his underdogs to try to fool the whole world into believing that there were chemical weapons in Iraq. We also didnt fall for another so-called reason of invasion's legitimacy; the deliberate made-up that Iraq was helping Al-Qaida. CIA(later) announced that the reasons having drifted USA to invade Iraq were in fact not true and Bush publicly expressed that they had been misinformed. (No need to look for comedy. Comedy is right here.) Then what the HELL are you doing in Iraq?

Iraq War (supposedly the first step of counter-terrorism) has (up to now) resulted in almost 2.000.000 casualties; more than 800.000 of whom is RIP and the rest of whom is injured; not to mention 400.000 orphaned children and 500.000 widowed men and women. Please correct me if i am wrong but isnt a fight with terrorism supposed to save people instead of killing people massively?Ain't this fight with terrorism supposed to get together, unite people instead of dividing people into political blocks which is pulling the country into the brink of collapse?

Now i desperately want to belive (I honestly do) that these were all avoidable, that some measures could have been taken, that Bush and his groupies could have been born without the mental disorders and malfunctions they are currently suffering from. But i fail to believe, 'cause i cannot deceive myself. For "them", nothing has gone wrong till now. Everything is just going the way they should be. The one and only reason of this cruel, brutal, pointless invasion is petrolium (not the chemical weapons- we all know that -). And at this point, an extreme need for someone to clean this shit emerges. The reason i want to see Obama in the White House and effort for this sake is that i believe he can clean up the mess of crappy decisions that the cheap,typically Republican government of Bush has resulted in.

Furqan FRANCISCO(TURKEY)

contact= furqan-francisco@hotmail.com

Lame Duck Bush II flying to Eastern Europe

Henk van Aalderen — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:49:30 EDT

Correspondent Friedemann Diederichs of German Westline newspapers today decribes Bush II as a lame Duck, he has no influence and power any more, because the world is already looking at the new President of the USA. Since yesterday this lame Duck is flying to eastern Europe for the last NATO-top in Bush II time and for a last meeting with Russian President Putin, who in kontrast with Bush still has a very powerful position in his country and the world.

Bush II hopes to get more involvement from NATO-partners in Afganistan, to have something positive at the end of his damaged career as President of the USA. Bush tries to get Ukrain and Georgia into NATO, but this will not happen due to resistance form other countries.

Friedemann Diederichs is very sceptical about anything positive Bush II has done during his time as President of the USA and this is also the general feeling in Germany. Germans will be happy when the Bush-area has ended.

I hope and I'm confident that after the first period of Barack Obama we will be looking differently at his time in office as President of the USA.

Greetings from Germany, Liebe Grusse aus Deutschland fur jeder der Deutsch versteht, I'm next looking soccer UEFA-Cup: Schalke04 = FC Barcelona.

Henk van Aalderen

Pennsylvania Rd Trip: Spirit in Action

ALI, Rimaah/ Latina-Muslima — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 06:15:46 EDT

A change in the White House was possible since we , a Christian, Buddhist and Muslim were UNITED by Obama in this cause !.

Day 1 : Meeting in a Northern Virginia (NOVA) home to hear the experience and needs and particulars from supporters who had made the trip the week before…a civil rights attorney reviewed the PA voter registration card comments why one question was even placed there, [RACE:____ ? ] Albeit marked as optional. He emphasized that a sister county near Philly also called Montgomery County needs to show a strong following for Obama. This is where we were dispatched to and meet Hy Safron in Ardmore, Wynnewood , near Philadelphia. Map directions were given, clear & simple enough , phone numbers exchanged among those who had committed to go next day Friday or Saturday.

Day 2: Three women, strangers to each other prior to meeting Thursday night were today on Good Friday before Easter Sunday car pooling and jointly embarking to Get out the Vote. Voluntary foot soldiers among many others converging from all points north, west and south of PA before the March 24 deadline. We left from west Falls Church , VA about 2:30 and arrived in Wynnewood 4 hours later without any rest stops. On an already harried Friday rush hour we encountered two 40 plus minute rubbernecking delays. Along this bumper to bumper traffic we shared personal stories, snacks and hope for victory.

GPS guided voice and beeps led us to 312 East Lancaster Rd. We met Bill in an eerily quiet campaign office converted from a tiny bank along with the two to four other staffers/volunteers, and left with clipboards and forms. It was supper time so we stopped at the Whole Foods Plaza 2 blocks away. We had been cautioned not to accost and harass, just KIDDING, the folks shopping in this little strip mall since we would risk been driven off as soliciting! Sounds dirty and degrading, doesn’t it when our intentions are Whole Heartedly patriotic and civic minded !

We entered the premises as patrons hoping for hot tea and tables to eat drink and relax but there wasn’t any such accommodations as we were used to in the Washington D.C. suburbs.We purchased food from the salad bar but since it was the end of the day and it wasn’t so fresh and one plate had to be returned/exchanged. Still No hot beverages ! Back in the car we turned the next corner over and went down amd proceeded to a larger shopping mall with a funny name , Bala ____. Stepping out the car I was stunned how cold it had gotten, in the 30’s degrees and also because someone came up to me asking to register. Bless his heart as he was the only one I got to register this day or the next. Although I had walked up and down the sidewalk next to the storefronts or restaurants and even asked the security guard sitting on a cold bench, “Are you registered ?” to which he replied, “Yes, and you are not allowed to be doing this without the managements permission ! “ After obtaining about 10-15 registration we called it a day and reset the GPS to take us to the home of a most gracious host, an RN consultant who had also had those previous NoVa volunteer workers over; we had tea and conversation and retired to the 3 bedrooms, cozy and available because the lovely sons and daughter, pictured on the refrigerator door were scattered around the world studying. She offered use of her lap top so I stayed behind and began to blog on her kitchen table…

Day 3: At 12 23am I lost my blog account of this day when I went to preview it, I had selected over 10 groups and in the process of checking one off- I lost this page, so this version is much shorter, not so detailed, nor as giddy as I was feeling at the endo of the day and sorry I am boring you even worse.] I woke up about 6:30

More to follow...

Contact Info for DNC and Party leaders

Erin from Peoria, IL — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:29:49 EDT

Link to the DNC website http://www.democrats.org

Email the Dem. leaders http://www.democrats.org/a/party/ourleaders.html

Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Main Phone Number:
202-863-8000

Everyone and every message counts! Make yours count! Write to the DNC!

Queen Rania of Jordan: improve relationship between Westeners and Arabs

Henk van Aalderen — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 16:24:47 EDT

Queen Rania of Jordan wants to improve the relationship between the Western and the Arab-Muslim world by the way of making personal contacts between people. Then is is not anymore `we=westeners` against `them=Arabs and Muslims`. In this way she hopes that there will be a better understanding between Muslims and people of other religions. For me this is a wunderfull idea that is very close to the ideas of Barack Obama, also when he wants to talk to countries like Cuba and Iran.

She uses YouTube for this purpose on a special page: http://youtube.com/QueenRania

Greetings from Germany,

Henk van Aalderen

YouTube Info:

Name: Rania Al Abdullah

Queen Rania has played a significant role in reaching out to the global community to foster values of tolerance and acceptance, and increase cross-cultural dialogue.

Regionally and internationally, Queen Rania has campaigned for a greater understanding between cultures in such high profile forums as the Jeddah Economic Forum, the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and the Skoll Foundation in the UK.

We hope to bring you some of these clips soon, but until then, Queen Rania wants you to join in this conversation to bring down stereotypes and build bridges between our virtual East-West communities.

http://youtube.com/QueenRania

National Constitution Center Debate

Keziah Cicero — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 12:55:55 EDT

Does anyone know how to get tickets for the April 16th Debate?

I am Kenya, I am Kansas - by Sara Cullen

Erin from Peoria, IL — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 11:26:15 EDT

I AM KENYA AND I AM KANSAS

I am Kenya and I am Kansas
I am a father and I am a son
I am an American

I am a leader and I am a listener
I can reach and I can hold fast
I can shout or I can whisper
And I can find the good
That we all seek

And when I am defined in this contest
Or when my opponents attempt to outline me
And color me in
Remember
I am proud of who I am
For I am just a man
A father, a son, a husband, an American

And to be those things
I must earn the respect of
My wife, my children
And the people of my nation

I am an American for which all things are possible
In this vast nation of possibilities
And
I AM AN AMERICAN WHOSE TIME HAS COME

Written By Sara Cullen

Universal Health Care

Dwight Burdick — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 03:47:52 EDT

The plan for universal health care as presented by Barack Obama is arguably the best we can hope for at the present. That it is so well crafted and completely spelled out....

Hillary Huckabee

Erin from Peoria, IL — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 18:32:53 EDT

I always keed an eye on the competition she's trying to buy this election. The Supers are watching what the March totals are going to be. Now is the time to dish it out. Her goal is only 3 million by March 31st.

They also sent out an emil with Bill Clinton name, the subject of the email 'Not big on quitting' LOL

I hope the media sonn start the correlation between her and Huckabee.

Earth Hour

Erin from Peoria, IL — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 14:53:51 EDT

Go Green, more green 4 Obama, recycle for the extra cash and help the Earth.

Today more than 400 cities around the world are turning off the excess lights on monuments and bridges. Spread the word to to your friends, and neighbors, and city council reps. Shut off your own lights and use candles to play a boardgame, or dine by candlelight, play glow in the dark frisbee, or just reconnect with the important people in your life, ...even yourself.

Quieting the modern world can help us all listen to ourselves.

Let's get started

Dwight Burdick — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 04:50:44 EDT

I am an American living and working in Saudi Arabia for the past 13 years. I have watched with dismay as the reputation of my home country has plummeted among my friends and neighbors in my adopted home. When I first arrived in Riyadh in 1995....

Germany's New True Believers:Islam education by the German state

Henk van Aalderen — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 16:48:41 EDT

In Newsweeks European Edition is an article about the state financed Islam education in German schools, now tested in the state we live in Nord/Rhein-Westfalen NRW. This in contrast to the schools financed bij Saudi's and the Algerien, Turkish and Marrocen government.

For the full article:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/128419

Newsweek European edition about Barack Obama

Henk van Aalderen — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:15:45 EDT

In the European edition of Newsweek, March 31, 2008 there are 2 interesting articles on Barack Obama:

The background of Barack Obama called ` When Barry became Barack` by different reporters. His time in Kenya, college, Indonesia (Jakarta), Hawaii, his Kenian father and what friends say about him.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/128633

Obama and race in `It Was Always Headed Here` by Ellis Cose, that race would come up for Obama one time or another:

http://www.newsweek.com/id/128547

Greetings from Germany,
Henk van Aalderen

BBC analysis of anti-Islam movie Fitna by Geert Wilders

Henk van Aalderen — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:17:05 EDT

Dutch MP posts Islam film on web by BBC Geert Wilders has called Islam's holy book a "fascist" text Dutch right-wing politician Geert Wilders has posted a controversial film critical of Islam's holy book, the Koran, on the internet.

The opening scenes show a copy of the Koran, followed by footage of the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001.

The 17-minute film was posted on video-sharing website LiveLeak.

Its planned release had sparked angry protests in Muslim countries. The Dutch government has distanced itself from the views of 44-year-old Mr Wilders.

The film is called "Fitna", a Koranic term sometimes translated as "strife".

Dutch broadcasters have declined to show the production by the Freedom Party (PVV) leader, who lives under police protection because of earlier death threats.

'Spiteful'

Graphic images from the bomb attacks on London in July 2005 and Madrid in March 2004 are shown.

Pictures of a woman being stoned, scenes from a beheading and images of the Dutch director Theo van Gogh, who was murdered by a radical Islamist in 2004, are also included.

And pictures appearing to show Muslim demonstrators holding up placards saying "God bless Hitler" and "Freedom go to hell" also feature.

The film shows a young girl in a headscarf making derogatory comments about Jewish people.

Mr Wilders was lambasted at an Amsterdam protest this month

It also displays a graph showing how the number of Muslims in the Netherlands and Europe has grown.

The film ends with someone turning pages of a Koran, followed by a tearing sound.

A text that appears on the screen says: "The sound you heard was from a page (being torn from a) phone book.

"It is not up to me, but up to the Muslims themselves to tear the spiteful verses from the Koran."

The film concludes: "Stop Islamisation. Defend our freedom."

Two years ago the publication in Denmark of cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad sparked protests across the Muslim world.

But Brahim Bourzik, a spokesman for a Dutch Moroccan group, told Reuters news agency he did not believe Mr Wilders' film would spark fury from Muslims in Holland.

"It is not a film, it is propaganda," he said. "All the elements have been seen before, there is nothing new in it."

The UK-based website which allowed the film to be posted online defended its decision on Thursday.

"LiveLeak.com has a strict stance on remaining unbiased and allowing freedom of speech so far as the law and our rules allow," it said in a statement posted online.

Inquity among Religion, Races, and Ethnic groups

Erin from Peoria, IL — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:27:30 EDT

I'm a muslim and if you look at my blog or the mission statement of my Group online here, anyone should realize that I am a "typical" citizen in the US that accepts that this is a pluralist nation, that without a general acceptance of unity.. there would be anarchy. That is why the US is such a great nation ... however there is so much to be done on Race, religious acceptance.

No one should be judged for what someone else has said or done, we are all sinners, and all have to answer for our own actions and inactions.

Barack has said Rev. Wrights comments were divisive and he did not agree with the pastor 100% of the time. Move on Media, but because it is a different kind of Christianity (a black church, an unabashedly african american style of preaching) they continue to say Obama is out of the mainstream. He's now Pro-palestinian, or pro- Do onto others as you would do.

Billy Graham was a spiritual advisor to many presidents and has said let get rid of the Jews, the then president hopefuls did not have to denounce or admonish the man, and were able to stand next to him. To say we need to get the Jews out that is outrageous ... no one ever heard about that until now.

Is it anti-semitic to say that Palestinians (christians, and muslims) are being treated with indignity? It is a fact, at checkpoints people are strip searched (after a pat down is sufficient) and we all understand being careful... but people in the US were upset about having to take their shoes off at the airport after 9-11.

Remeber when the attack was that he might be a muslim.

I thought the problem was not Islam but extremists.

Did you know that there is a MN US Rep who is a real muslim.... ooooo scary.

Wasn't this the point of Obama's speech to say we have a lot more to go.....Truth hurts.

Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghraib, fast do we forget our own injustice on and on.

Anti-Islam movie Mr. Wilders published

Henk van Aalderen — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 15:03:11 EDT

The Anti-Islam movie by Mr. Geert Wilders, member of Dutch parliament, is published 1 hour ago on:
www.liveleak.com

Due to high demand for this movie is it difficult to get contact with this site.
The movie is in Dutch and English language and shows part of the Koran with actions by Muslims (like 9/11) on the bases of these verses of the Koran.

Greetings from Germany,
Henk van Aalderen

Effect of the War in Iraq on US reputation

Henk van Aalderen — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:04:59 EDT

After Barack Obama is elected President of the USA he will have to do a lot of work to restore the reputation of the USA, both military and politicly. Full BBC Article:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7303985.stm

Long-term danger

Iraqi friends of mine who once hated the fact that the Americans were here now praise them for driving the militants from the streets. That is a real success.

Violence is down, but Iraqis continue to be killed But it is small compared with the damage which the war has done to America's reputation. The US state department finds it much harder nowadays to be taken seriously when it criticises other countries for their use of torture and arbitrary arrest.

People the world over have been repelled by things that have been done here: things that are now associated with place-names like Abu Ghraib, Haditha, and Falluja.

Above all, we have seen how hard it is for the Americans to deal with a few thousand lightly armed volunteers.

Germany's 19th-Century Chancellor, Otto von Bismarck, said that great powers had to be very careful when they put their military strength to the test. Unless they are overwhelmingly successful, he meant, the perception will be that they have been defeated.

In spite of the new successes on the ground here, that is the long-term danger America faces.

Obama related to Winston Churchill

Henk van Aalderen — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:36:07 EDT

Barack Obama belongs to the family of Sir Winston Churchill. Barack is remotely related to the minister-president of Britain during WW II, a today published inverstigation shows. That's why Barack is straight forward and always keeps his target in mind.

Hillary Clinton is related to Angelina Jolie and John McCain is a cousin of Laura Bush, wife of President Bush II.

Is the Iraq war vanishing from US view?

Henk van Aalderen — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 12:18:18 EDT

Interesting article on BBC Headlines about the impact of the war in Iraq on the public opinion and the press in the USA.

People seem not to be interested so much any more in the war in Iraq, despite the 4000 dead of US soldiers. My opinion is that this is not good for Barack Obama who always had a clear standpoint on this war.

Webpage for the full article:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7308882.stm

Greetings,

Henk van Aalderen

Abu Bakar Bashir in Indonesia

Henk van Aalderen — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:20:11 EDT

Barack Obama had problems with remarks by his pastor from church, but now Australian media report remarks made by Abu Bakar Bashir in October 2007 to a group of 300 followers. They received videos of his teachings.

He asked his followers to hit unbelievers (tourists from other countries) if they come to Java. Non-Muslims are worms and snakes and they should be destroyed. According to him the moral of tourists in Bali is low because they show their nudity.

Will there be new attacks on tourists in Java or Bali like the bombings in Kuta before ?

Greetings from Metelen, Germany

Henk van Aalderen

Newsweek The Deep Blue Divide

Henk van Aalderen — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 04:26:38 EDT

In Newsweek March, 24,2008 there is an article about the war between Obama and Clinton Supporters.

Full Article: http://www.newsweek.com/id/123582

For 5 years a group of friends have been meeting for lunch, now they they can't even sitt together because they are divided between Obama and Clinton supporters. They now have seperate meetings.

Senator Obama pulled sen. Clinton aside on the Senate floor to talk about the style of the campaign and the effect this has on all Democrates. This can have a huge impact on the changes of the Democrates to deliver the next President of the USA. McCain is laughing when the Democrates are fighting.

In my opinion you can have differences of views, but still can have friendship or a working relation with supporters of other candidates.

Greetings from Metelen, Germany,

Henk van Aalderen

War on Terror

Henk van Aalderen — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:17:40 EDT

Mr. Barack Obama has always said that starting the War in Irak was wrong and that USA should concentrate on Al Qaida and Afganistan. Mr. Osama bin Laden issued 2 statements this week about the Danish cartoons and he asked for revenge. Terror could come to Danmark. The Netherlands want to prevent this for the Netherlands.

Because of the coming of the anti-Islam movie Fitna by Mr. Geert Wilders, to be released on a US website before April 1, 2008, the Dutch governement, churches and Muslim organisations try to inform Muslims around the world that this is just the work of 1 member of Dutch parlement and not the opinion of the Dutch people.

A delegation of Dutch Muslims and Christian organisations is now traveling to Egypt to talk about this to Sheich Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi, Imam of the Al-Azhar mosque in Cairo and rector of the Al-Azhar university. They also will talk to Imam Yusuf ul-Qaradawi. Dutch Muslims are also talking to the great Mufti of Damascus, Syria.

In Jakarta Indonesia a Dutch minister and the Dutch ambassador called together the ambassadors of Muslims countries to inform them about the movie and the fact that the movie is not the opinion of the Dutch people, but of 1 man and a small group of followers. The Dutch ambassador talked to leaders of Indonesian Muslim organisations.

In this way the Dutch governemt tries to reduce the damage. They can not forbidd this movie, because nobody has seen this movie yet.

Greetings from Metelen, Germany

Henk van Aalderen

ON "A PERFECT UNION " Obama’s racial honesty demonstrates his leadership

ALI, Rimaah/ Latina-Muslima — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:19:32 EDT

The taboo of racism reared its ugly head in a politically skewered cowardly strategy attempting to derail Senator Barack Husain Obama’s formidable campaign. Dr. Dorothy Height stated that Great Leadership is a Headlight, not a Taillight. Today this nation was privileged, No, Blessed, rather than D_ _ _ ed to share in this inevitable contender a personal & candid assessment of the effects of this insidious malady. Hopefully We did listen to his prognosis that Yes, this nation, “We the People” can Heal, Unite and Move towards realizing the Constitutional Mandate of “A Perfect Union” . Much like any ailment the tainted carrier of this spiritually vile, historical “pollution” be it me, my neighbor, or a co-worker first have to “own it” then approach the recovery wholistically. Like it or not, “poison can turn into medicine” and this dialogue is long overdue to clear the air, much like a national catharsis paving the way towards reconciliation & redemption to this divided nation.

God bless Rev. Wright and our leader Barack

Mary — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:17:27 EDT

GOD will push him through, he is on our side and will shine the light to show us the way to get Barack a win! Rev, Wright is being smeared and he has so many faithful follower including Barack, we all need to pray and know this too ill pass. His language man not be understood by whites but it is the language of truth that all men must face! These men of faith Baarack and Rev Wright are our leader and require our devotion. Keep pushing and don't give in one bit to the monsters who would destroy us! It's obvious because of the landslide African American vote for Barrack in the big city centers we have pushed him through to the top. Lets keep up the fury, we can overwhelm the vote and issues in BIG city centers and we should! Don't give up just cuz some others are moving back to Hillary, they are scared of our change! Change he can believe in! Change we should believe in! We are the ones we have been waiting on and now is our time!
God bless Michelle and Barack!
Mary

Germans would choose Barack Obama !!

Henk van Aalderen — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:27:56 EDT

The German people are asked who they want to be the next president of the USA. They voted as follows:

52 % for Barack Obama

30 % Hillary Clinton

3 % John McCain

This according to a Forsa investigation as reported today by the German Press Agency DPA. It confirms the great confidence German people have in Barack Obama and in his foreign policy.

If this were the results of the USA voting in November 2008 that would be great !!

Greetings from Metelen, Germany, Europe,

Henk van Aalderen

Movie Fitna by Mr. Geert Wilders

Henk van Aalderen — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 13:17:42 EDT

An anti Islam movie with the name Fitna will probably this month be published by Dutch member of parlement Mr. Geert Wilders of the Freedom Party (PVV). There are rumors that in this movie Korans will be burned and torn apart. Impact of the movie could be bigger than that of the Danish cartoons. Dutch Prime-minister Mr. Jan Balkende expects boycots of Dutch products and the possibility of attacks against Dutch soldiers in Afganistan and Dutch expats around the world. In Dutch parlement Mr. Wilders has only one subject and that is Islam, he wants to make the Koran forbidden to have in homes or mosques. At the moment he is testing a special website www.fitnathemovie.com which should be ready to produce millions of requests for streaming video. Intention of Mr. Wilders is to remove Islam and Muslims from the Netherlands. Besides that for him freedom of speech is the highest gift and more important than reason, responsebility and respect for other people or other religions.

The first movie about the Koran made in the Netherlands by Mr. Theo van Gogh and Miss Hirshi Ali in which naked women performing Salat with Koran Sura's written on their bodies resulted in the murder of Mr. Theo Van Gogh and the exile of Miss Hirshi Ali to the USA. Both had the same idea about freedom of speach. This movie should support Muslim women being abused by their husbands, but it never fulfilled that purpose and Muslim women didn't want have to do anyhting with this movie or its producers.

I don't hope this affair will influence the primaries in the USA and special Mr. Barack Obama because still people talk about his Muslim past in Kenia and Indonesia.

Greetings from Metelen, Germany, Europe,

Henk van Aalderen

International support for Obama is growing rapidly!

The World Wants Obama — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 11:25:31 EDT

All around the world an energetic and unprecedented movement is growing in support of Senator Obama's bid to become the 44th US President. Examples of the worldwide movement include:

In Trinidad, calypso legend The Mighty Sparrow sings "Barack the Magnificant", and in Jamaica reggae star Cocoa Tea sings "We Want Obama".
In Egypt a humanitarian worker has written letters to dozens of superdelegates urging them to back Obama.
In China a dramatic Obama rally is being planned on the Great Wall.
In Gaza a Palestinian student has been making hundreds of campaign phone calls to the US over the internet, whenever he has electricity and is not under Israeli bombardment.
In Kenya, Obama is so popular that a beer has been named after him!
On the internet there over 40 international Obama fan groups on Facebook, many with more than 500 members, focused on Denmark, France, Indonesia, Tanzania and many other countries. There are also dozens of blogs and websites.

And wherever opinion polls have been conducted, comparing him with senators Clinton and McCain, Senator Obama is consistently the favourite candidate by a wide margin, for example:

74% in Japan
71% in Brazil
68% in Holland
64% in South Africa
61% in Britain
54% in Iraq
48% in Switzerland

On an interconnected and interdependent planet, the policies of the US have a huge impact on our lives. After the long and arrogant Bush years, Senator Obama looks different, he sounds different and millions of non-Americans believe he will behave differently towards them. They may not agree with all his current policies, and they understand that he will face difficult choices and compromises when he is in office. However, they trust him to do his best because he has demonstrated strong principles and a willingness to listen and engage constructively, even with countries that have been seen as America's enemies.

Come and learn more about this international movement at http://www.theworldwantsobama.org/ and share your thoughts on the connected Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-World-Wants-Obama-Coalition/10606473687

Islam Conference in Germany

Henk van Aalderen — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 13:41:14 EDT

Peace to you all.

Today there was an Islam Conference in Berlin Germany between Muslim Organizations and the German Central Governement. This meeting take place once a year.

Important results

- All German children will be educated about Islam in school, this in German language. Islam Organisations and German Governement together will make this standard programm for all schools and all children.

- Islam Organisations declared that they and their members will obey the German Constitution and the German laws.

I hope that through education about Islam the fear and anger will go away. Now the second Muslim is choosen in US Congres. Islamafobia should go away like about the middle name of Barack Obama and his traditional dress in Kenia. Barack Obama is a true and faithfull Christian and all reference to his childhood time in Indonesia or Kenia meant to say that he could be a Muslim is nonsence and just meant to make people scared about Barack.

Greetings from Metelen in Germany, Europe,

Henk van Aalderen

Islam and Democracy

Henk van Aalderen — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 08:54:35 EDT

Peace to you all,

Sometimes it is said that Islam and Democracy don't go together. In some Muslims countries like Iran, Syria and Saudi Arabia there seems to be little free democracy. That is because the leaders don't want democracy or the religion does not allow it ?

I think there are two sides to this problem

Practical - If you don't vote your voice is not heard, be it locally or president. Nobody will care for your interests. If you vote Muslims as a group you can demand things, you can ask that they listen to you as a group. We see this with the Jewish and Cuban communities, who are very well organised on this point. So in my mind it is important for Muslims in the USA to vote in the primaries and then of course for Barack Obama

Theoretical - This is for me not so clear, perhaps other members know more about this. In Islam we see it also in Afganistan there is the Shura, asking of people or tribeleaders for their opinion.

Greetings,

Henk van Aalderen

He is our leader, who cares if he smokes!

Mary — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 10:49:36 EDT

Our Leader is being bashed again on Saturday Night Live who pointed out that he is a smoker. Barack has stopped smoking and this type of information is put out there again to remind people he used to smoke......WHO CARES! Why would it matter if the president smoked or didn't smoke, what they do behind closed doors is PRIVATE! He is our chosen leader and we need to be led by him. The sooner the better, lets get these detail behind us and move on to the future of our country. I pray that the media stop persecuting him, "for they know not what they do". (Sound familiar)

He will prevail, he will rise and lead and deliver us to a better place.

God bless Michelle and Barack.

Mary

Barack Obama wins Wyoming !!

Henk van Aalderen — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 05:39:06 EDT

Barack Obama has won the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination in the state of Wyoming, defeating his rival Hillary Clinton by 61% to 38%.

Get out the African American vote!

Mary — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 18:16:39 EST

I'm telling you now you better GET OUT THE AA VOTE.....we have to win this and if we don't I don't know what will happen to us.

Please, I pray that you all see how important this is and what a chance this is. He is the one who will lead us to that promised place, you can't deny his electricity. He is MAGIC!

God bless Michell and Barack, ask not what you can do for yourself, ask what YOU can do for them!

Let's get out the vote, get out the work and get out the CLINTONS!

Mary

Hussein issue AGAIN!!! What next!

Mary — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 15:47:14 EST

I'm watching the news and again the HUSSEIN name issue is comming up. This is a non-issue, it does not matter if you are muslim, christian or jew to lead this country, it is a free country, all religions are equel. I LOVE the comments bellow which I read in the Muslms For Obama group. "Obama is not a Muslim" By Jamilah - Feb 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm EST

I grew up as a White Anglo-Saxon Protestant in a tree-lined suburb of St. Louis. When I converted to Islam nearly twenty-eight years ago it was a very personal decision. I didn't consider the geopolitical remifications of being a Muslim, even though at the time Iran was holding over fifty Americans hostage. I chose Islam because it was right for me.

And I never expected the U.S. to elect a Muslim leader. The fact that a U.S. congressman is a practicing Muslim is an amazing thing and I support Keith Ellison in his drive to do what's right for this country.

My support for Barack Obama has nothing to do with his religious beliefs. He is a natural leader with a message of hope and a record of accomplishment. His intellience and his talent are what impress me.

I do find it strange, though, to have to vehemently declare that Obama is not a Muslim. I don't see anything wrong with being a Muslim, on a personal level, and I don't think that a Muslim politician would harm this country, either. We don't carry bombs under our scarves or in our beards. We're Americans who raise our children, pay our taxes, and hope for a better future.

Unfortunately, since 9/11 the word "Muslim" has become, in some circles, a kind of curse. I hope President Obama (who is a practicing Christian and proud of that) can get us past this short-sighted bigotry and renew full citizenship to the American Muslim population.

Obama is not a Muslim, but I am. And it's nothing to be ashamed of.

Reader Comments

Cautiously Optimistic

Jamilah — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 02:00:02 EST

These last few days have been rough. From turbans to Rezko to a meeting with Canadians, the attacks have barely let up. I never imagined that someone in the same party would be this harsh. I guess I'm a little naive, huh?

It's almost time. Tomorrow is "D-Day." And even though the momentum has slowed just a little, as the attacks have sped up, I feel cautiously optimistic about what the next 24 hours will bring.

There are always some who believe silly rumors or fall for the attacks. But overall I think the voters are smart enough to see through the tactics. I really believe that most of the people of Texas and Ohio, as well as Rhode Island and Vermont, see the good in Obama. It's not that hard to spot.

Of course, what we need the most from tomorrow is a united Democratic party that's ready to take on McCain and head for the White House. That may not happen and the voters may have nothing to do with it. I'll drive myself crazy second-guessing the situation so I'll leave it alone.

News commentators try to paint Obama supporters as followers of a fad. We'll eventually get tired of our new fascination and move on to something or someone else. They don't know us very well, do they?

What I see here at barackobama.com are committed people who will did not decide to support Obama on a whim and won't abandon the cause at the first sign of trouble. That's something others still don't understand.

I belive that many of you, like me, are not easily swayed and have never "drunk the KoolAid" or followed fads. We're smart enough to recognize leadership and determined enough to see Barack get into the White House.

The struggle isn't over--not by a long shot. But I am cautiously optimistic.

I posted on the Washington Post's FREE Express Metro papers poll Question for the Day: Should Billary drop out of the race if she loses in TEXAS & OHIO? !

ALI, Rimaah/ Latina-Muslima — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 21:16:33 EST

Yes, she ought to QUIT IT since she just may start smelling the coffee. This Nation demands and commands the world's attention. It must change its Face and put its best Foot forward. Barack Obama has a stable home life, ethics, elegance along with the eloquence that is diplomatic even when defending his positions against Billary.
How can Hillary comand anyones respect after her husband repeatdly embarrasses her then & now? Clintonism needs to just go away...the sooner, the better. It should have been, like YESTERDAY!

Posted by Riolama | March 3, 2008 2:21 PM

link: http://www.readexpress.com/pollcenter.php

We can do so much better

Ali F. — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 01:18:52 EST

Again we see this tension around Senator Barack Obama's middle name: Hussein. Radio talkshow host Bill Cunningham repeatedly mentioned Senator Obama by his middle name on Feb 26th.

When reflecting on the power of the fear culture in America, I ran across an article by the Rev. Omar Al-Rikabi. In this article Rev. Al-Rikabi talks about growing up in America as a christian with a distinctly arab name. It's a powerful story and I think provides some well-timed reminders.

"I Love My Name"
By Omar Al-Rikabi

My parents had an agreement: If my father could name his children, then my mother could raise us in the church. So I was given a full Muslim name, but I was baptized as a Christian. Growing up I never really liked my name very much - Omar. For a little kid in Texas, a foreign sounding, deeply ethnic name was a nuisance...

FULL TEXT AT URL BELOW:

http://blog.beliefnet.com/godspolitics/2008/02/i-love-my-name-by-omar-alrikab.html

To the Undecided: Elect a President Who Can Get Things Done

Jamilah — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:31:47 EST

We're forgetting something very important in all this discussion of NAFTA and health care plans. Hillary Clinton can have the most perfect plans in the world but they won't be worth the paper they're written on if she can't get them approved by Congress.

And I don't think she can. I remember the 90s as a time of constant bickering between Congres and the White House.

That's a major reason why I support Senator Barack Obama. He has the plans, which I support, and I believe they're balanced and reasonable. More importantly, though, Obama has the ability to work on both sides of the aisle to get his plans through Congress and enacted into law. We need a president who has a history of bipartisanship and compromise. Obama is that person.

When we talk to the undecided, be sure to point this out. We can't afford another four years of stagnation as the White House fails to get legislation moved through Congress. Change can happen only through action. And Barack Obama is the one to get momentum going in the White House to bring real change to our country.

Dodd Endorses Obama for President

! 1 Robert Braggs III — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:31:36 EST

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/us/politics/26cnd-campaign.html

It Will Only Get Worse--But When the Going Gets Tough. . .

Jamilah — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 01:15:01 EST

First Hillary Clinton came out ranting about an Obama mailer containing truths about her stands on the issues. CNN has taken up Hillary's cause--her "grievance" has received top billing on their website all evening.

Then SNL came back with its show after the writer's strike in a blatant attempt to campaign for Hillary, portraying Obama unfavorably and giving Tina Fey time to make a little endorsement speech for Clinton.

Obama is not supposed to win this election. He's not the establishment. He's not one of their chosen. He's an anomaly. You only have to look at history to know what they do to people who don't tow the line.

But Obama has the support of millions across this nation, from farmers and factory workers to students and professors. His campaign is uniting us across cultures and ethnic lines in a way that has never before happened in this country. He has energized the grassroots and awoken us from our depressed state of inertia.

We can't lose this. It means too much for the future of America. Obama is the only mainstream candidate I've seen in forty years who will change the course of this nation, who will strengthen, unite and inspire us to reach our full potential.

Today it started. It will get much worse. I'm sure most of us can't imagine the deceit they will use to try to derail this campaign because we're honest people who support the only honest candiddate. But we can be sure they will get down and dirty, lying their way into favor.

We can't let their lies carry them all the way to the White House. There is too much at stake.

"Obama is not a Muslim"

Jamilah — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:43:59 EST

Obama is not a Muslim, but I am. And it's nothing to be ashamed of.

The High Road

Jamilah — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 01:28:04 EST

I assume that nearly everyone on this site is here for the same reason I am. It's not because they want to keep Hillary Clinton out of the White House. That's not the primary motivation. They're here because they've studied where Barack Obama stands on the issues, and they've studied his character and experience, and they like what they see.

I can't make lots of donations to the campaign and calling is still difficult for me--I made one call to Wisconsin and it was very positive but I'm still reluctant. What I can do is write. So over the last several days I've gone to different sites and told readers why I support Obama.

These forums contain a variety of comments. Some are anti-Obama. Some, unfortunately, are written by Obama supporters and are insulting to Hillary Clinton.

That's not what this campaign is about. If he wanted to, Barack could go on stage at the debate tomorrow (well, later today) and tear into Hillary. He won't, though. That's one of his principles and I respect that. He's running on his own record, not on tearing someone else down.

Let's watch ourselves. We want change, right? So let's change the way we approach this. Stop the put-downs. Let Hillary or Bill Clinton say what they want. We counter with facts about Senator Obama's record and his stand on the issues. We take the high road.

Change takes work and it begins with us and our habits.

Muslims 4 Obama

UNITY WALK AND RALLY FOR HEALTH CARE

My Indo-Pak Family. My story. I am a tragedy...

President Barack Obama Inauguration Day 2009 - Washington, DC Group!!! 6

Leonard Peltier

Obama and ideology

German Newspaper: Yes, We can be friends !

Impact of US election on Dutch schoolchildren

It's not over 'til it's *all* over

Interfaith Youth Movement

pictures of DemsTurkey watching debates

Rabbis for Obama!!

The truth about Sarah Palin

Don't Repeat History!

To all Democratic worrywarts

Life Experience

Help fundraise for funny and effective Obama commercials

Logistics, Strategy, and Tactics

Ramadan Greeting from Barack Obama

Barack Obama on Ramadan

Progressive Journalists Arrested at RNC for covering events- Calls Needed

The frightening covert racism of McCain

THE OBAMA NATION, JEROME CORSI

Patriot Games

Islam Hater: #1 New Times Bestseller

McCain vs. Obama

John McCain: "There will be Other Wars"

Lost the Muslim Vote

In Your Words -- Engaging With People of Different Faiths

Young Evangelical Christians Uniting Behind Obama

A Response to the Politics of Fear

American Values Report

Extending An Olive Branch

Colorado House Party

Greetings

Community Organizer, Inside-Out

In Your Words -- Why Do You Support Senator Obama?

Photos from Eastside Community Ministry, where Obama spoke on Faith-Based Initiatives

Senator Obama Addresses Faith-Based Initiatives

Global Leadership

Values Question of the Week

My Wonderful Experience at the Barack Obama Rally in Detroit, As A Muslim Woman who Wears A Headscarf

Primary Watch Party Fox Grill, Atlanta, GA

Obama seeks Hanuman's blessings for victory

Letter from Irani girl

Great lesson for our day to day life to be learnt

Someone is matching my fundraising goal! Donate today!

We did it!

American's misconception part II

American's misconception Part I

San Juan Rally and Request for PR campaign supplies NOW !

Citizen of world for Obama

Flip Flopper of Millenium

Introspection for the so called " Super-delegates"

It's alleged that Mrs.Clinton was fed the Q & A for 4/19 by her former lover (?!) Stephen O.Polous

I attached this reponse to the letter, You guys should too!

Obamamania comes to Lexington!

Obama is a candidate Stephen Colbert would love

German Olympic Allows Protests

Canvassing for the 1st Time!

The Fresh Blood to Replace The Infected

Lame Duck Bush II flying to Eastern Europe

Pennsylvania Rd Trip: Spirit in Action

Contact Info for DNC and Party leaders

Queen Rania of Jordan: improve relationship between Westeners and Arabs

National Constitution Center Debate

I am Kenya, I am Kansas - by Sara Cullen

Universal Health Care

Hillary Huckabee

Earth Hour

Let's get started

Germany's New True Believers:Islam education by the German state

Newsweek European edition about Barack Obama

BBC analysis of anti-Islam movie Fitna by Geert Wilders

Inquity among Religion, Races, and Ethnic groups

Anti-Islam movie Mr. Wilders published

Effect of the War in Iraq on US reputation

Obama related to Winston Churchill

Is the Iraq war vanishing from US view?

Abu Bakar Bashir in Indonesia

It's not over 'til it's all over