Northeast Ohio for Obama

National Health Care Day of Service - Blood Drive St. Noel Church Willoughby Hills

Phil from Willoughby OH — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:48:39 EDT

The blood mobile will be at St. Noel's Church (banquet center) 35200 Chardon Rd in Willoughby, Hills Sunday June 28 from 8am to 1 pm.

Please answer President Obama's call for community service, support his agenda for health care reform and give the gift of life.

Please contact Phil Fratino philf99@att.net for more information and/or to reserve your time.

"Helpful hint, St. Noel has Sunday services at 9:00 am and 11:00 am that last about 1 hour. If you want to attend the services the best time to donate is after the services 10:00 am and 12 noon. If you are not attending services the best time to donate is about any other time. Park near the banquet center."

Cannot make this blood drive but you still want to donate blood in Central Lake County, e-mail me philf99@att.net and I can give you other dates and locations

Please consider giving blood. Sihn up on the link below:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gpcgwq

Free Medical Fair (RAM OHIO) in Berea (Cuy County Fairgrounds) CANCELED

Maureen from Cleveland, OH — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:00:48 EDT

NEONAC Update

Free Medical Fair (RAM OHIO) in Berea (Cuy County Fairgrounds) CANCELED

April 28, 2009

For those planning to participate or seek medical services at this weekend's Remote Area Medical (RAM) Ohio event, please be advised:

Under advisement by the Director of the Ohio Department of Health, the event has been canceled for concerns related to the outbreak of swine flu.

http://ramohio.org/remote_area_medical_ohio_cancel.asp

The RAM-Ohio Medical event for May 2-3 has been canceled on the advice of the Director of the Ohio Department of Health today, April 28th.

Contact info@ramohio.org for additional info, dates and schedules.

Maureen

ohio_voter_44120@sbcglobal.net

Rove, Cheney & Limbaugh: The Gift that Keeps on Giving

Paul Evans — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:20:44 EDT

Evans Politics Liberal Politics, April 12, 2009, by Paul Evans

The powers that were from the Bush administration are keeping their noses firmly in midst of the media limelight. Limbaugh stated that he wants President Obama to fail, and the media is still talking about that. Dick Cheney pugnaciously declared about April 7th that President Obama's policies were making America less safe, setting off major jawboning among the talking heads. It seemed to finally be settling down, only to have Karl Rove call Vice President Biden a "Liar," as you might expect on Fox News, on April 10th. (Watch the discussion of this on Hardball on Evans Politics Videos, here.) Eugene Robinson on that Hardball show made that point that Rove is showing up all over the place, which "doesn't sound like that great an idea to me. ....Whatever he's doing he's doing a lot of it. He seems very determined to be a player, and to try to set some kind of tone and agenda for the Republican talking points machine...."

Over at the Washington Monthly on April 11, Steve Benen is making exactly the point I am making about this:

KEEP ON TALKING, KARL.... Three of the least respected, least admired figures in contemporary American politics are Rush Limbaugh, Dick Cheney, and Karl Rove. If Democratic leaders had their way, these three would be up front and center as much as possible. Especially as far as the White House is concerned, the more three on the attack, the better President Obama and his team look.
And wouldn't you know it, in these early months of the Obama presidency, it's working out pretty well.
Limbaugh has strengthened his reputation as the de facto leader of the party; Dick Cheney is annoying Republicans by making so many public appearances and taking cheap shots at the nation's leadership; and Karl Rove is arguably an even more rabid attack dog now than he was when he helped run the White House.

And the polling numbers support the idea that having Rove, Cheney and Limbaugh lead the charge for the GOP is something Democrats can feel pretty satisfied about. At MSNBC's First Read on April 10, here, Mark Murray wrote a piece titled "GOP Deperately Seeking Mr. Popular":

We can tell you one thing about the current Karl Rove-vs.-Joe Biden spat: Democrats are loving every second of it.
Why? Because -- as with Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh before him -- the public has a very sour opinion of Rove. "We're not too worried that Karl Rove, Rush Limbaugh, and Dick Cheney are battling it out to remain the face of the Republican Party," a Dem strategist emails First Read. "Every time Rove pops up, it just serves to remind people what they wanted to change."
...snip...
An August 2007 Gallup poll showed Rove's standing at 26% favorable, 44% unfavorable. Another Gallup poll early this year had Limbaugh's at 28%-45%. Per the December 2008 NBC/WSJ poll, Cheney's was 21%-58%.

I did a little more digging on the approval ratings of the Repugnant Three to see if I could find more current data. Gallop did a poll between March 27 - 29 of 2009 on favorable/unfavorable percentages. At that time Karl Rove was 21% favorable, 44% unfavorable and 35% "never heard of/no opinion" (How anyone could either not have heard of these guys or have no opinion about them is beyond me, but I guess a lot of Americans are just not that into politics.) Cheney had a 30% favorable result (and our former fearless leader, George W. Bush had advanced into the stratospheric realm at 35%, from an all-time low of 28% on at least one poll). Pollster.com for November 4-5, 2008, among likely voters, had Rush Limbaugh at 23% favorable, 51% unfavorable and 26% "neutral/no opinion." Also for Rush Limbaugh, Gallop had a poll from February 5th of 2009:

Gallop Poll - February 5, 2009
Rush Limbaugh Popularity

Republican:     60% Favorable; 23% Unfavorable; 17% Other*
Independent:   25% Favorable; 45% Unfavorable; 30% Other*
Democrat:          6% Favorable; 63% Unfavorable; 31% Other*

* Other = "Never heard of/No opinion"

So long as no clear popular leader of the GOP emerges, Democrats are perfectly comfortable with letting Rove, Cheney and Limbaugh thrust their immense egos into the spotlight. We don't even really have a preference: let the three of them vie for face time, it's all good. The Repugnant Three, hated as they were during the painful eight years of George W. Bush, are good news these days for the Obama administration.

Community Developments!

Julius — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:42:19 EDT

Hello All,

My name is Julius Tate, and I am with The World Wide Recycling Foundation, Inc. We are currently in the midst of scheduling multiple community events for all those interested in reinvesting in their communities and our President's Movement.

In an effort to constructively provide presentations, we are asking those that are interested to respond to this blog so that the determination can be based if weekly or bi-weekly presentations will be hosted.

I will be traveling between Ohio and Michigan in an effort to promote Community Development and The Benefits of Recycling.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or ideas and vist our company website.

Best Regards,

Julius Tate, Chairman

The World Wide Recycling Foundation, Inc

email: jtate@wwrfinc.com

website: www.wwrfinc.com

INCREDIBLE CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAM

Bill from Cleveland, OH — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 10:59:20 EST

This is Bill Lee I have a program which helps us protect our most precious natural resource our children. This program '14Days to a Safer Child' can be viewed on the website www.SuperSafeChild.com Contact me to sponsor the child-care, school or library in your community. PRI Representative Bill Lee 216 541-5402

Social Inclusion

Gayle — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 20:00:21 EST

ave the Date for the Social Inclusion Gathering! Monday, March 2, 2009 9:23 AM From: "Tom O'Brien" <tobrien@neighborhoodgrants.org> To: daddycheeks1@aol.com Neighborhood Connections eNews It's about the Relationships!

Social Inclusion

Building Bridges Social Inclusion in Cleveland's Neighborhoods Cleveland's neighborhoods face many challenges today and the gifts and talents of everyone are needed for our community's rebirth. How do we reach out to others, particularly those marginalized in society, to welcome them and invite them to fully participate in the community? Hear how individuals and organizations invite folks to participate in their community and learn how some marginalized and labeled people have reconnected with their community. This conversation will be held Thursday, March 12th from 6pm to 8:30pm at the Cleveland Botanical Garden (11030 East Boulevard) in University Circle. The evening will begin with four brief presentations by Cleveland organizations working for inclusion. The presentations will be followed by conversation. The presenters include:

Pat Shields and Kathleen Hocevar from the Mill Creek Activities Committee, who will speak about their organization's efforts to reach out to new neighbors and to the surrounding community.
Tenesha Gant-Watson from the Jordan Community Residential Center. Ms. Gant-Watson started this organization in 2003 to help formerly incarcerated women reintegrate into the community through employment and housing assistance, along with spiritual guidance.
Sherri Green and Nina Mack from Hands That Speak Volumes will present Nina's life story. Nina will share her life story about becoming latent deaf and being included - and excluded - from her community.
Lori D'Angelo from Magnolia Clubhouse will discuss her experience working with people suffering from mental illness and social inclusion.

Please join us for this discussion. Bring a few people from your street, block club, neighborhood, faith community, or organization to participate in this discussion and to share your wisdom on inclusion. Everyone is needed, and everyone has gifts to offer. Please RSVP to Cynthia Lewis at Neighborhood Connections at 216.393.4642 or by email at clewis@neighborhoodgrants.org. "Revolutions begin when the people defined as a problem say, 'It's the people who define us as the problem that are the problem.' " - John McKnight ABCD Institute This event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served. Seating is limited. Parking is available in the Cleveland Botanical Garden garage for $5. Street parking may be available, but is limited. Please forward this email to other people you know who might be interested, too. This event is sponsored by Neighborhood Connections.

Don't Stop Now!

Steven Greer — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:54:29 EST

Hello everyone. The election and honeymoon period are over. Now the work begins. Everything up to this point was done in order to place us in the position we are now! Barack Obama is the new president and has already began to implement his agenda. That is the nuts and bolts of it. We have to implement change in our states, counties, and cities. Emotions run high for a time, but it seems to wane at its most critical juncture. We are in a position to make real changes. We can't use the excuse, "I'm only one person" anymore. The internet age is allowing us to mobilize massive numbers of people for the good of governmental policy. So, if you are tired of the way your local or city government is running, then jump on the bandwagon and roll up your sleeves. I will cite just one example. In Cleveland, councilman Matt Zone introduced legislation to enact an "Idle Reduction Ordinance". While this may in theory be good for the environment, in practice it will likely prove impossible. Why? One, the sheer number of vehicles in Cleveland. Two, I can't imagine a policeman being able to respond to every idling vehicle. What about the big city buses that idle in traffic or any other black smog producing diesel. The vast majority of idling vehicles are in traffic anyway not idling in front of the grocery store or library. Furthermore, this measure once again is punitive toward citizens. How about looking into a light rail system? Let's go to the source of the emissions and find a way to reduce it!

Please come to http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/OhioCAN and sign up. Individuals and groups statewide. The information below is provided by CAN co-founder and CaliforniaCAN administrator Paul Currier. It outlines the formation, rules, and composition of CAN from the National to the county level in each state.

1.) Welcome to your Community Action Network: Rules of the Virtual Highway:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxLPy
This link is critical for you to understand. The Founding San Francisco California Group agreed to these terms without descent. These are what we ask all who join us to agree too. We hold our selves to a higher set of standards - to elevate America. Please take the time (1.5 hours) to view Barack Obama on Empathy. If you have not been to Camp Obama, get 6 to 12 of your friends together and work thru Camp Obama with Marshall Ganz. Your own private Camp Obama is your experience. This will take two days at 6 hours per day. Think of this as "Team Building".

2.) Organize America - Our 50 State Main MyBO Groups
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxHP8
This link has a ""Link List" to easily find all other State Groups. In time, those States will follow California's example, and build out there own County (Parish, Census District, and Boroughs) L ink List's, and post these on their main MyBO Page for easy access to all 3,071 Counties, 4 Independent Cities, and Territorial Region.�

And Welcome to America - Washington DC! We don't want to forget that DC is in the House ! ! ! This only took a couple of hundred years !

3.) Our 58 County List of California.CAN Groups
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxFtz
This is a Link List of all Counties in the Golden State of Sunny California! When your State Administrators of your State.CAN network recruit enough members, Chicago HQ will open up your state for County.State.CAN Group formation. As 3 Admins are needed per County - that means over 9,000 Local Admins are necessary to operate the CAN as designed. Each of you can recruit 10 to your first meetings on March 7th 2009, and we will have created a National Group of 10,000 members who want to work for Change together. If your in one of the California Counties - host your meeting and lets continue to lead the Nation. The other States are catching up!

4.) Community Action Network (the CAN in Yes We CAN!!!)
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxtYC
The November 21st, 2008 post for our Founding Assembly. 13 Attended. We had several California Counties represented: Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, and El Dorado. All present were and are shameless Obamaniacs - Obamericans - Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Greens and so forth. I put this in for history only. November 8th 2008, three Camp Obama Graduates decided to form the Community Action Network. We want to thank some people now. Thank you Martin Luther King. Thank you Cesar Chavez. Thank you Robert Kennedy. Thank you Marshall Ganz. Thank you Buffy Wicks. Thank you to every other community organizer who gave their contribution to us all, and thank you to everyone with the courage to just try and take a chance on humanity. We can change the world. Yes We CAN !

5.) Final Monthly Meeting Format for all CAN Groups
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxtvF
The Format we voted to suggest is simple. Reports from Officers and Committees are to be brief. Old business comes next to allow voting on what we already deliberated on and caucused on for at least 30 days. Reasonable works. New Business is non votable. This process allows New Business to become Old Business at the next meeting. There is no rust really. We are here for the duration of our political lives together, so lets act adult. Housekeeping Motions are simple for each group. Substantial Unanimity - is Chairpersons Rules - not Robert's Rules (50% plus one). The goal of substantial unanimity is 100% (Altogether Now). 2/3 to 3/4 means a group holds together. Less than substantial unanimity means i ts a good idea to table until next month. These are ideas. Your free to do as you like.

6.) Final Two Year CAN Schedule: all County, State Assembly, and National Congress Events
http://my.barackobama.com/pag e/community/post/paulcurrier/gGxzKs
This initial two year schedule was voted on and agreed to propose to all following CAN groups to adopt so we can act in coordination. The State and National Groups will probably vote on our annual schedules forward as a group.

Inauguration 2009:Personal Reflections

Sistapray — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:01:18 EST

Rev. Monica Beasley-Martin

My Inauguration Experience

It will be 30 years in June since I graduated from Ohio State University as a Political Science Major. Despite my academic studies in the political arena I held little interest in politics or political campaigns until that of our current President, Barrack Obama. My political activity until then was limited mostly to voting. While I may not agree with everything on President Obama’s platform I do believe that he is a fair man, who is willing to listen to the opinions of others. What made his campaign different, from so many that I had witnessed in prior years, was that for the first time in my life I felt that this campaign represented me. I felt like I was a part of it. The gap that seemed to exist between the people and those seeking elected office seemed to disappear. This campaign was interested in me and what I had to say. I was receiving E-mails, telephone calls, etc. not only asking for my vote but asking for my help. And so I went to the rallies, canvassed the streets of the city of my birth, blogged and went on internet radio expressing my support. It was this feeling of inclusiveness that led to our family’s decision to attend the inauguration this past week. So 2 days before leaving, we shopped for extra boots, hats, and gloves, in order to endure the bitter cold temperatures on the National Mall. From our chartered bus, parked on the Fed Ex Field, we all boarded the metro to Washington, DC. The crowd of people headed in the same direction was enormous. It was comprised of a sea of people of various ages and ethnicities. It would have been difficult not to find the Mall with such a large group leading the way. We were welcomed by numerous friendly greeters along the way. It’s 7:30 am by the time we reach the Mall. My family and I walk down to the closet jumbotron to the festivities. And so does everyone else. We are surrounded by a swarm of people, who are both seated on blankets on the ground, and are also standing. I feel as though I might pass out. I tell my husband and son and start walking towards the edges of the crowd. They begin to follow me but soon we are separated. Both my and my son’s cell phones are dead. It’s 9 am, my hands are cold, and I have lost my family. The Smithsonian Museums will not be open to the general public until 10 am. I find a spot to sit on a bench located outside of the museum. A lady asks someone else about where she got her hand warmers. She states she bought them at home. I offer to give the lady without warmers one of mine. I walk around the mall and witness a crowd of people, apparently tired of waiting until 10, remove a gate, at the rear of a museum, and walk right in. Soon officers arrive to block the crowd from getting in through this area. Finally 10 am arrives, I stand in line waiting to enter the museum, along with thousands of others. At 10:30 I am still in the same line. A couple of greeters approach to tell us we may have less of a wait at one of the other museums. I wait another 15 minutes and then decide to take their advice. I walk across the mall to the Museum of Natural History, where I was able to walk right in. I find the cafeteria, purchase a $5 bowl of chicken noodle soup and corn bread, and relax until time for President Obama to take his oath. Warmed up with a full belly I return to the mall. I shout and wave my flag along with a couple of million others. I wait until Rev. Lowery completes his poignant benediction and my search to find my family resumes. By 2pm the crowd had dispersed greatly and with neither my 6ft3 son, nor my shorter stature husband, anywhere to be seen, I decide to find the nearest place to catch the metro. The Smithsonian entrance was closed. I walked to the L Plaza which was packed. We stood for 2 hours just to reach the platform to wait for a train. People were passing out left and right. There were so many passing out that emergency personnel stationed were overwhelmed and passengers took over the job of assisting. I saw African Americans, Caucasians, and others reaching out to those who needed help. Bottles of water were quickly passed out to the infirmed from the crowd. Those with medical expertise quickly volunteered. I was so proud of my country! Little did I know that it would not be long until I too needed help. Finally we were approaching the platform area. The air was increasingly stale and stagnant. I was already recovering from bronchitis, and soon I found my airways constricting and myself becoming dizzy. An African American radiologist, standing next to me, helps me sit down and removes layers of my clothing and boots. A Caucasian woman hands me a bottle of water. A Caucasian man approaches and they all help me up and lead me towards the stair case, where it is significantly cooler. Fifteen minutes or more pass and the paramedics are finally able to reach me. They offer to transport me to the hospital, which I initially decline. It is determined that my blood sugar is low. A couple of ladies I met earlier offer me cheese crackers and a granola bar. I try to get up but my legs hurt too bad. The station was now shut down until dark. Praise God that the firemen, who had arrived with the paramedics, had not left. They asked if I was sure I did not want to go to the hospital, and this time I acquiesced. The paramedics returned and I was taken to George Washington Hospital. This happened to be the same place Senator Ted Kennedy was taken after his illness. Somehow, or the other, the organizer of my bus trip was contacted and the bus was able to come and pick me up from the hospital. Unfortunately my sickness prevented anyone on my bus from attending any inaugural activities. I am so thankful for all who in the spirit of unity came across my path that inauguration day. It is people like them that make our country great. God bless President Obama and his family, and God bless America and all those who so willingly give of themselves.

Change at the local level

Steven Greer — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:35:28 EST

The inauguration on Tuesday was the most significant moment in my life. As a republican turned democrat from North Carolina, I was not confident that I would live to see the day when an African-American would become president. As I sat and watched a History channel documentary on Dr. King's life and legacy earlier this week with my wife, she could not get over the images of African Americans being sprayed with water hoses and subjected to beatings by the very police in our nation who are supposed to protect and serve our communities. She is from the Slovak republic and never has really comprehended the nature and extent of racism in our country. That is, not until this week. She could not believe that it had only been 45 short years ago.

Our country has come a long way in the past 40 to 50 years, evidenced by the election of Barack. However, it is imperative to realize racism still exists and we must keep moving forward toward equality for all. My purpose for writing this story is to encourage all to stay engaged in this process that Barack began. The genius of Barack is that he has a way of stirring our souls toward goodwill for all Americans. I remember the republicans mocking Barack's experience as a community organizer at the RNC convention in Minneapolis. Obama overwhelmingly did get the last laugh. It seems his ability to organize ground troops at the grassroots level and utilize the internet for fundraising and communication has transformed political campaigning strategy for all time. And, how great it is! Previous to this election, marketing through commercials and other paid media with little grass roots efforts was the norm. The Obama strategy is a powerful strategy that puts the power in "we". There is power in numbers. The first rule of statistics. Furthermore, this strategy allows citizens with little to no name recognition be viable candidates for elected office.

Therefore, Obama has given us, the citizens, a powerful tool and concept for making change at the local and regional level. Specifically, Northeast Ohio. I am originally from Charlotte, North Carolina which was a model annexation city. I believe that Cleveland needs to seriously consider this concept in the very near future for economic survivability . The Fund for Economic Future's 2008 survey revealed that 82% of Northeastern Ohioans favor greater government collaboration and 67% favor government consolidation. We know that county-city separation has a number of disadvantages which include duplication of services, disincentive of city-county cooperation, and tax base competition between counties and cities. In the spirit of "we", it seems logical to be more cooperative and less individualistic on a local government level. Mayor Jackson has submitted his request for money to the federal government and I hope that the money is used to "go green" in government buildings in Cleveland and for repair of existing infrastructure, not the creation of new roadways which only create more repairs for the future.

There are many other issues that need attention. My hope is that we can use these groups to continue the dialogue of change in our communities, to come up with common sense policies that are economically sound, and even provide a base of support for someone who may want to jump into the political ring. It is both an exciting and uncertain time in our country's history. Let's keep hope alive and improve education, healthcare, and the economy here in Northeast Ohio. Let's take Obama's challenge to be more service oriented and encourage non-profit businesses in the area that will address many social and humanitarian issues of the 21st century. We can really do this for our region, our neighbors, our children and ourselves!

Hopeful Hearts Club!

Funky Unky — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:22:17 EST

Found this online, great site and pic.!

WE DID IT OHIO!!!!

Funky Unky — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 11:38:52 EST

This was taken of me back at the Browns v. Steelers game. It said "beat pittsburgh" after yes we can.

The Browns have been losing, but Ohio has won. This is my shout out of thanks!

what next?

DragonMama — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:32:13 EST

OK, we worked hard, rode the rollar coaster of this election through to success for Barack and ourselves. Now what? Here's what I'm doing. I'm reaching out to McCain supporters with the hand of friendship. Today I am taking a pink rose from the mixed boquet I bought myself yesterday after voting and giving it to the mother with the McCain/Palin bumper sticker whose son is in the same pre-k class as my son (who hugged both Barack and Joe in the 48 hours before polls opened! Kid gets at least one benefit from having a disabled mother - close-up seats at political rallies by sitting on my lap while I'm in a wheelchair and praying that none of us have to go to the bathroom before the rally ends and the crowd thins out). Open the walls of this tent and invite the rest of the country into to help with this work, by extending some personal kindness to someone you were trying hard not to sneer at for their lawn signs the last month or so. Live the kind of world you want to reside in.

(please feel free to forward this on - this out-reach message is "open source")

DragonMama in Cleveland, mama of the kid with the monkey backpack (which is a harness/leash) and his little brother D.

Hail to the Chief!

Funky Unky — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:06:13 EST

Wow! I feel drained, mabey it is shock mixed with joy! Not that I ever thought it couldn't happen... just that... I went to bed, it all felt so surreal. I actually had dreams about the election and the fact Barack had won! I woke up and for a second I had to remember that yes it really did happen! It's sort of like New Years Day, after watching the ball drop. Everything seems quiet, different. Wondering what's next? It has been such a roller-coaster ride! Thank you to the whole MyBO community, for support and fuel to fight! (I hope I helped some of ya too!)
Somewhere in Washington a paper-shredder is working overtime and a black sharpie is running dry!
This is a hilarious YouTUBE vid. WARNING: lots of cussing (written in sub-titles) Those of you razzing your Conservative friends and family will enjoy sending it to them! It is "McCain" with his campaign behind closed doors, yelling at them for... well, just watch! http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=38n8W83uB2E

Up-to-date election returns and some commentary

Paul Evans — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 03:57:13 EST

Obama Wins!

*President-Elect Obama*

Wednesday, 3:15 a.m. Popular Vote

Barack Obama 52.0% 59,508,943

John McCain 46.8% 53,533,145
source: Politico

Electoral College (270 needed)

Barack Obama 349 John McCain 165

Obama wins Pennsylvania, Ohio,

Florida, Virginia, Colorado & Indiana (49.9% to 49.0%).

Obama leads in N. Carolina, 49.8% to 49.6%, with 100% in.
(12,160 vote Obama lead)

McCain with 5,000 vote lead in Missouri, 99.94% reporting.

Montana just called for McCain.

If Missouri and N. Carolina go respectively for McCain and Obama, this gives Obama 364 electoral votes, a huge landslide in every sense of the word.

All others decided.

Democrats make gains in Senate, House, but no bloodbath:

Senate: 56 Democrat, 40 Republican, + 5 Dem

House: 249 Democrat, 169 Republican, Democrats projected to gain about 20, 17 uncalled.

GOP's Liddy Dole loses North Carolina Senate seat to Dem Kay Hagan; 4 Senate seats still to be called.

*****

From today's article in The Huffington Post, by Gary Hart (November 5, 2008): Stating the various interpretations of what this election means, he says: "there is something here for everyone. This was a cyclical referendum with the pendulum bound to swing back to Democrats. The president-elect represents a new, post-Clinton, beyond centrism, post-racial, new politics, internet-driven phenomenon. The nation is fed up with neoconservative imperialists, radical fundamentalists, and failed supply-siders. And so on."

One thing is certain. Something has changed in American politics. These are a NEW POLITICS of UNITY, not division, as was partly shown in McCain's own gracious concession speech. America has shown, not only that it is ready to put racial identity behind it as any important sort of cultural factor, but that it is hungry to leave the failed past behind it, and move on, in the hopes of a more just, fair, progressive and happier future.

May God Bless and guide Barack Obama as he leads these United States of America.

Election Day: OPEN THREAD

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:00:21 EST

This post is just a call for comments and open discussion. Share your experiences voting today, or questions you have, in the comment section below.

"I'm Getting Involved Because of My Children"

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:53:23 EST

Have ELECTION DAY Questions?

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:50:15 EST

If it's urgent, dial 877-622-6264 or 614-409-4701
If it is less than urgent, email ohio@barackobama.com
Looking for your polling location? Visit www.voteforchange.com

I Believe We're Going to See a Change

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:34:01 EST

You can make that change happen. There are two hours and forty-five minutes until the polls close. There is still time for you to help elect Barack Obama. Click HERE to find a place near you to volunteer.

It's No Mystery

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:33:46 EST

Throughout the day, the Ohio homepage will be bringing you videos of Buckeyes who just cast their ballots. Here's the first:

MID DAY REPORT: from the Secretary of State's Office

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:39:27 EST

Here's an update on how voting is going so far in Ohio, from Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's office:

Highlights of Ohioans' voting experience:
The maximum wait time as reported to the office is no more than 1 hour in most large precincts
The longest average wait time reported to the office is approximately 1 hour in Lucas County
Sporadic machine issues have been reported – primarily Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail jams that are easily fixed and some instances of precinct-based optical scanners that are not working, but voters are still able to place their ballots in a secure box for scanning later. Reports indicate poll workers are quickly fixing the hiccups and are offering voters backup paper ballots in touch-screen voting machine counties.
The two-line directive, one for touch-screen voting machines and one for back-up paper ballots, is keeping lines moving.

Again- if you have problems at a polling place, DO NOT LEAVE without first calling 877-OBAMA-OH, or 614-409-4701. There are people standing by to solve your problems.

Four hours and 45 minutes until polls close. Don't miss this opportunity. Use the tool above, or go to www.voteforchange.com to find your polling location.

Election Day Voting Issues in OHIO

Jennifer A Jones — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:55:44 EST

Hello all!

I’ve just come from fulfilling my civic duties (and personal responsibility of getting Obama elected) in North Canton, Ohio. I’m writing to let you know that I witnessed a few minor inconveniences at the polls this morning that resulted in a few persons leaving without voting. When I left, I immediately phoned the Voting Rights Institute of the Ohio Secretary of State, Jennifer Brunner and spoke with her assistant regarding the issues. They assured me that they would either phone or send someone out immediately to rectify the situation so that no other persons would have to forfeit their opportunity to vote • at least not for that particular reason.

I am writing to let you know that if you have also experienced or witnessed anything questionable at your polling locations to please make the call to 877-868-3874 so that the issue can be resolved today before the polls close.

You never know in Ohio, it may come down to just these few votes and you may have done your part to ensure Obama’s election! The call only takes a few moments. In addition, you can also log your experience at their website: www.myohiovote.com • please keep in mind that the issues logged here may not be addressed today.

Please forward this message to anyone you know who is voting in Ohio today!

Best,

Jennifer

IMPORTANT: New, Alternative Phone Number to Report Problems

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:54:10 EST

ATTENTION:

The Ohio Campaign for Change is asking that any voters who have questions about voting or who want to report problems or issues at the voting booth dial 877-OBAMA-OH.

However, if one has problems getting through on that line, the Campaign is asking that you call

614-409-4701

with any problems. These calls will go directly to our Columbus Call Center, where people are standing by to answer logistical questions ("Where is my polling location?") as well as more complicated, legal or "proper protocol" questions about what's going on out there.

Again, the two numbers are:

877-OBAMA-OH (aka 877-622-6264)
and
614-409-4701

Thank you very much.

Goodbye "Toot"!

Funky Unky — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:40:21 EST

Thank you Maddie for the sacrafices that you had to make to bring us this gift. Your hope and values live on in Barack and us all. I know you will be watching, sharing the moment, reunited with your family! Good journey! Our prayers of comfort to your granchildren. Goodbye.

A Letter to Barack on Election Day, from a Supporter

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:31:38 EST

This is a very historic day! My parents and grandparents spoke of this day, when I was a child, and I know and believe that all those who gave their lives for the struggle of people, in all walks of life regardless to creed, color, and education... Those angels are singing in heaven. Barack, you are what the struggle was about. Words that ring throughout my being, are words that my father taught us as children- "Education is Wealth." You, sir, have achieved the dreams of many, and you have empowered a nation of people, to think differently, to act differently, and to achieve the dream.

My heart is full of joy as I anticipate the election results. You and your wife, are the epitome of what a relationship should be. You feed off of each other and in these times when families are falling apart, you guys are still going strong, and will continue to gather strength. God bless you, and may the angels of light, and protection surround you and your family, poll workers and voters today, as this historic day unfolds
Rebecca

From a Voter

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 08:27:17 EST

Today is a day I hold my breath. I will do my work for the Barack Obama Campaign, but I will try not allow myself to become hopeful. Today I will try to ignore the polls and the pundits. I will try not think about tonight. I will try not to laugh with glee. I will try not to cry. Today is a day I hold my breath.

Like all who are reading this, my own reason for voting for Barack is unique. I have two strong, intelligent, loving,and wonderful sons, with wives, and five delightful grandchildren.... For generations, and even now, we are a family of many colors.

I taught my sons that they were indeed required to contribute to mankind. To volunteer for a cause. To help a neighbor. To not discriminate. To vote.

In our family, love is described as "What color are her eyes?"--instead of what color is the skin... Or "Mom, she makes my heart sing." And that remark is simply enough for me to love my soon to be my daughter-in-law--regardless of her nationality or race.

My political ties to Chicago go back to Mayor Washington--so my ties to Barack are long and strong. My whole family has been with him every step of the way.

I voted already.

I hold my breath today.

Tonight I pray I can finally breathe, dance, laugh and sing with joy.

TODAY IS ELECTION DAY

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:56:46 EST

Today Ohio elects Barack Obama president. Let's get it done, Buckeyes.

The blog and webpage will be active throughout the day. THINGS TO REMEMBER:

Anyone can go to www.voteforchange.com to find their polling location.
If you experience problems or have questions at the polls, the best thing to do is call 877-OBAMA-OH (877-622-6264)
We can use all the help we can get to get out the vote. Click HERE to find the volunteer location nearest you (http://www.barackobama.com/splash/volunteer.html)
REMIND YOUR FRIENDS TO VOTE. Don't let them get away with not voting.
If you have any other problems, concerns, or experiences you'd like to share, please email ohio@barackobama.com (but calling 877-OBAMA-OH should be your first step in any urgent situation)
If you are in line at 7:30 pm, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
With your help, tonight we will be able to call Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

Our moment is now.

The Torch Has Been Passed

Sistapray — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:43:54 EST

My prayers are with the Obama family in the loss of their beloved grandmother,Madeline. I do not believe that it is an accident that she went home to be with her heavenly father on election day eve. Her work on earth had been completed. The goodbyes had already been said. I believe she had assurance in her spirit that change for America would soon come and that her grandson would be elected. I reflect back to the time that my own grandfather made his transition from earth to heaven 20 years ago. My late grandfather was a pastor. I preached my first sermon June 19, 1998 and my grandfather was in attendance. I asked him if he thought I was called to preach and his response was simply, "Yes, baby I believe you were called." Eleven days later my grandfather was home with the Lord. His work, like Obama's grandmother's, was finished. My grandfather passed his blessings and torch onto me to become the pastor I am today. Mrs. Madeline has passed her blessings and torch onto Barack, so that he can be the president he has been called to be.

IMPORTANT: FIVE TIPS FOR VOTING TODAY

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:31:59 EST

The Ohio Campaign for Change has come up with Five Tips to make voting today easier for you. Please take them into consideration as you cast your ballot for Barack Obama today!

Know Before You Go - Double check the location of your polling station so you know where you are supposed to vote. (You can check using the tool at the top of the page, or visit www.voteforchange.com)
Timing is Everything - If you can, try to vote during mid-morning or early afternoon, when polls are usually at their least crowded.
Proof Positive - Make sure you bring a form of ID with you, whether it’s a picture ID from Ohio (such as a driver's license, or state or military ID); OR one of the following with a current address: your utility bill, bank statement or pay stub. (Click HERE to get all information on your rights and requirements when you vote)
What to Wear - Campaign clothing is not allowed at polling places. If you do wear clothing or buttons supporting a candidate, don't worry. You can still vote if you cover up or take it off.
MOST IMPORTANTLY: Avoid the Double Bubble - When you vote, fill in the top oval for the Presidential candidate of your choice. Don't also write in the name at the bottom, because there is a risk that your ballot may not be counted on election night.

And with that, GO VOTE!!!

Letters to the Editor, from Ohio, for Barack

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:24:31 EST

For many supporters, volunteering isn't enough. They need to show their support in other, far more public ways--they want others to hear their voice for change.

There are the untraditional ways--a music video, a painted pick-up truck, or a website that gives a free song to people who pledge to vote. But the conventional, and still effective way, is to write a letter to the editor. Here are a few from supporters in the Buckeye State, writing about why they support Barack Obama.

From the Chillicothe Gazette - "Obama has the vision to improve America's health care system":

I am a health care worker and have been a nurse since 1977. I have worked in several areas of health care. I would like to share with you one of the many reasons why I support Barack Obama for president. He cares about people and has the knowledge, energy and the ability to work for all of us to see that Americans have access to the health care they need. Currently in the United States, there are 45 million Americans who don't have health care insurance. I feel the health of the people should be a national priority.
Here are a few examples of the annual compension packages paid to CEOs of some of the major insurers: United Healthcare $8.3 million, WellPoint, Inc. $5.2 million, Cigna $4.7 million (Atlantic Information Services, April 24, 2006). Can you see where I am going with this?
OK, here is what Obama is proposing: If you already have insurance and are satisfied with it, you can keep it. If not, you will be able to buy a new insurance plan that's similar to the plan federal employees receive. If you do not have insurance at all, it will be made available to you. No one will be denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition or illness. If you cannot afford insurance, you will get a subsidy. Employers would be encouraged to offer health care coverage to their employees, and would be assisted by the government in providing this coverage. Obama's plan is not government-run health care, it builds on the employer-sponsored insurance system. The income tax exclusion would be retained and people without employer-based insurance would be offered a refundable tax credit (percentage-based on income).
--Vickie Smith, Waverly

From the Findlay Courier - "Obama Would Help Rural Ohio"

As the former Ohio state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Office, I can say from experience that state and federal partnership is critical if we are to make much-needed investments in rural Ohio.
Barack Obama has two comprehensive and complementary plans that will move rural Ohio in the right direction. He has a vision for rural America and a health care plan for the nation that will enable our communities to thrive and our citizens to have access to affordable and quality health care.
Obama knows the unique demands of agriculture and is a strong supporter of the 2008 Farm Bill, which makes historic investments in conservation, renewable energy, and rural infrastructure and provides a safety net to family farmers.
Numerous innovations in the 2008 Farm Bill will directly affect rural Ohio, including a micro-enterprise program for small businesses and entrepreneurs, farmland preservation, and expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables for our school children, which helps our youth and farmers alike. John McCain stated that he would have vetoed the bill.
--Linda Jones Borton, Ottowa

From the Wilmington News Journal - "Doesn't want four more years of the same"

I'm an Obama supporter and have been since the very early days of his campaign. I watched him win the Iowa caucus and was so proud of Iowa it moved me to tears as I listened to Barack’s speech that night. I know that none of this makes me unusual because most of his entire following feels the same way, particularly if they are young, college educated, men and women.
On to world affairs, when I watched Sen. Obama in Europe and the reception he received, I couldn’t help think how wonderful it would be to have a president that we could be proud of once more. I thought it would be so nice if Americans could visit Europe and not be viewed as ugly Americans.
Sen. Obama gives me hope that we can be a nation of innovation, and discovery, and that once again we can lead the world in technology, research, science, medicine and education. We have fallen terribly behind under this backward fundamentalist administration that rejects science.
--Nancy Compton, Wilmington

From the Zanesville Times Recorder - "Get the facts"

I will be so glad when this election is over and we no longer have to listen to the Republicans distort the truth, even in a previous letter published in the Times Recorder. Yes it is true that Obama will raise your taxes if you make more than $250,000, however, those of us who do not will actually see a tax cut. And if you are a senior citizen making less than $50,000 per year he will eliminate all income taxation. These are facts that even those who say we should "get informed" fail to mention.
If you want the facts on Sen. Obama you need to turn off those distorted McCain commercials and stop by the Obama headquarters, at 126 Muskingum Ave., and literature will be provided for you. You can also visit the Obama Web site at www.barackobama.com for factual information. I'm sure when you have the true facts you will be ready to cast your vote on Nov. 4, with pride and confidence.
Yes we do need change in Washington, the kind of change we will get from Obama and Biden.
--Bob Weber, Zanesville

From the Mansfield News Journal - "Obama, Biden dedicated to helping women"

I am making 77 cents for every dollar my male counterpart is making. Under John McCain's "Plan for the American Woman" this is acceptable because in John's own words, I "probably need more training." An Obama administration will enforce the Equity Pay Act and fight job discrimination.
I'm a single mom working two jobs, with no health insurance, and I'm stricken with breast cancer. Under McCain's plan, I am so messed up. Barack Obama is committed to ensuring that all Americans have health care coverage by the end of his first term.
Ohio women, don't take my word for this. Study the issues and find out for yourself. And even if you feel it's too late for yourself, consider the futures of your daughters and granddaughters. We need someone in Washington who respects women, not one who will choose one for his VP for all the wrong reasons. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are truly dedicated to improving the lives of women.
--Jeanne Alexander,Lucas

From the Sun Sentinel - "Independent says that Obama was easy choice for President"

I guess that I am the target audience for the Obama and McCain decision. I am an Independent voter in the state of Ohio. Once again, I believe that Independents from Ohio will decide the election.
Over the years I have voted for Democrats, Republicans and even Ross Perot. This year, I am voting for Barack Obama. It was a pretty easy choice.
Why do I say this and what do I want? I want the war in Iraq to end. I want someone to look out for the middle class. I want to hold Wall Street accountable for its actions. I want to find alternative energy sources in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I want both political parties to work together. I want a vice president that does not embarrass this country. I want this country to work with our allies, instead of pushing them around.
In my opinion, "trickle down economics" is not working. Unchecked free trade is not working. Letting the free market manage Social Security will not work. Putting health care completely in the hands of the free market without regulation will not work.
--North Ridgeville

From the Canton Repository - "Want to hear the sound of jobs in Stark again? Then vote for Barack Obama"

Last summer, a young woman moved in beside me on Genoa Avenue. After a cool, clear evening, she had to ask what that odd pounding noise was that she heard in the night. "A forge," I told her, and proceeded to explain the complicated process of drop forging and how that bass note boom made tools.
It dawned on me later that I could have given her a very simple answer. "That sound is the sound of industry."
I could have gone on to say. "Listen closely, as it soon may be gone."
So much of our county is filled with the deafening quiet one can hear only in an empty sweeper plant, or standing in the vast, unfilled parking lot of a vacant steel mill.
These haunting silences are the echoes of the Bush administration. An administration which has, by its promotion of unfair trade deals and tax breaks for companies that take their business off-shore, caused the loss of over 180,000 jobs in Ohio. That is 61 jobs a day!
If we, the voters, choose a candidate who has voted more than 90 percent of the time with George Bush, what will we hear for the next four — or eight — years?
Silence.
One big, empty silence.
On Election Day, remember that when you touch that screen, the sound it makes will echo through our future.
If you choose to elect Barack Obama, you are choosing to change that sound to the sound of steel mills building wind turbines. To the sound of molds filling with plastic, forming solar panels to help bring us out of this energy crisis. To the sweet sound of jobs, and a healthy middle class.
Make that sound, people!
--Barbara Lewis, Perry Township

Why do YOU support Barack Obama? Why are YOU going to vote for him today?

Lancaster Eagle-Gazette, Mansfield News Journal, Coshocton Tribune Endorse Obama!

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:08:02 EST

It's catching on: newspapers across the Buckeye state are backing Barack Obama for President--even in places where it wouldn't seem likely.

This past week, the papers in Lancaster, Mansfield, and Coshocton announced their support for Obama. Here are portions of each endorsement:

The next president will inherit a divided country, two wars burgeoning federal deficit, and a turbulent economy that has shed thousands of jobs, especially in Ohio, just this year alone. These times call for an extraordinary leader - one with a clear vision for our future as one nation, and the demonstrated steadiness and intelligence to set us on a new path.

We believe Obama is that person, and the one best suited to lead this country and help Fairfield County residents. We support Obama on several issues, but we've listed three we believe are most important to this community.
Ohio has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. Residents are asked to support tax increase every year. Your pocketbook is not a Republican or Democratic issue. It's a human issue.

Obama's tax plan would provide a tax decrease for families with incomes less than $250,000. He plans to pay for it by eliminating President Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest in our country.

At this critical juncture in history, with our country facing unprecedented challenges at home and abroad, Barack Obama is the right choice to become the 44th president of the United States.

The problems we face today require a new approach, new ideas and a renewed willingness to work in collaboration with conservatives, liberals and moderates.

The 47-year-old U.S. Senator from Illinois has demonstrated a willingness and ability to do all of these things.

As a candidate, Obama has built a broad base of supporters; an inclusive group that crosses lines of race, gender, income and other essential constituents.
We believe Obama offers the best opportunity to begin crossing these demographic and political fault lines, working for consensus and in communicating new directions and ideas to a nation badly in need of leadership.

Obama's personal background will assist in this effort. Diversity and acceptance of others and their ideas are critical today and Obama's understanding of these concepts through his own life experiences is a major advantage he holds over McCain.

America is in a real financial crisis, the worst since the Great Depression. But the truth is, Ohio has been in an economic free fall since the day George W. Bush took office.

The Buckeye State never recovered from the post-Sept. 11 recession. Ohio has lost almost 250,000 manufacturing jobs since 2000. The exodus from Coshocton alone has been devastating - General Electric, JII, Royce Craft Baskets and Pretty Products, to name a few. Our 9.1 percent unemployment rate is higher than the Ohio rate of 7.2 percent and well above the national average of 6.1 percent.

So if you focus on the key issues of jobs, jobs and jobs, only one candidate offers a forward-thinking plan for the future. That is why four of the Tribune's five editorial board members urge you to support Barack Obama for president of the United States.
Obama's detailed proposals offer a better alternative for virtually everyone in Coshocton County. His plan would cut taxes for all but the wealthiest individuals. He understands the urgent need for health care we can afford, and our nation's desire to end our unnecessary foray into Iraq.

Most important, Obama maintains the calm temperament needed during a time of crisis. He is a clear thinker who knows how to get his points across.

Buckeyes agree--Ohio needs Barack Obama. So let's get out the vote. Now.

Hunters in Rural Ohio Stand Up for Barack

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:07:47 EST

There have been many misperceptions about Barack's stance on gun rights, straying from his spoken commitment to the Second Amendment.

Fortunately he has some well-known hunters and shooters on his side. Recently supporter and American Hunters and Shooters Association President (and former NFL player) Ray Schoenke campaigned for Barack in Gallipolis and the Jackson County Headquarters.

In a letter to the editor in the Mansfield News Journal, a hunter/supporter directly addresses the gun issue:

In my opinion Barack Obama is the wise choice for president.
I am an avid firearms person and love to hunt. I have belonged to the National Rifle Association and other organizations and have voted Republican in the past on this issue alone. I really believe this has become a fear issue with the electorate and is being fostered by the Republican Party along with the NRA. Just remember that whenever a firearm controversy raises its ugly head, the membership roles of the NRA expand, so it is in their interests to foster these issues.
It has taken the Europeans centuries to realize you have to keep religion and politics separate. This was one of the greatest tenets our founding fathers put in place for us.
If you think the rest of the world is not paying attention to nor has a stake in the outcome of our election you better pay attention. Through modern times our presidents have cloaked themselves with the mantle of leader of the free world. If you don't believe they are paying attention, then why did 200,000 Europeans listen to one speech of Senator Obama's?
This election is not about or for me; it is about my children and grandchildren. If we continue down this same path there will be absolutely no future for any of them.

On other issues important to rural Ohioans, Barack has proven himself to be light years ahead of his opposition, with strong support of the farm bill, advocacy for corn-based ethanol energy, and interest in investing in infrastructure and rural education. As this article recounts, Barack's friends from fellow corn state Illinois, including state Senator John Sullivan and former Illinois USDA executive Stephen Scates.

("Barns for Obama" like this one, written about in the Toledo Blade here, attest to Barack's visible support in rural areas).

Other issues like these, argues one Ironton man in the letter to the editor here, should also claim importance amongst Second Amendment voters:

If you are an avid hunter and target shooter like me, you should be relieved to know that neither presidential candidate wants to take away your right to enjoy your sport.

Obama and McCain both support the Second Amendment, which gives each of us the right to bear arms. Obama and McCain both have voted against a number of restrictive gun provisions, including the right of the federal government to confiscate firearms during emergencies.

What is interesting is that both candidates have also drawn the ire of the NRA for their support of criminal background checks for purchasers at large gun shows.

However, there are other positions that the candidates have taken that may be important in helping sportsmen decide how to vote this November.

McCain has voted against the Conservation Reserve Program and the Wetlands Reserve Program (Obama co-sponsored) that are strongly supported by Ducks Unlimited and Pheasants Forever.

To my fellow Ohio Sportsmen, the good news is that both Obama and McCain will protect our right to enjoy our sport, so there is not much to choose between on this issue. On the other hand, there are a great number of very important non-sportsman issues, which will decide what kind of world, and country future generations will live in.

There are big differences between the candidates, it just does not have to do with guns.

Are you a hunter who supports Barack? Let us know in the comments section below.

A Good Resource for Ohio Voters...

Brady — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:57:37 EST

This is a good resource for those in Ohio who might actually like to know a little something about their Judicial candidates.

http://www.judge4yourself.com/ratings_08general.html

The Ohio Ground Game Dominates: Canvassing for Change in the Buckeye State

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 20:48:47 EST

Canvassing is the meat and potatoes of the field effort here, and in that regard the Ohio Campaign for Change has created an incredible machine. Built by Neighborhood Team Leaders, operated by teams, this movement is almost totally run by volunteers. They take responsibility, and they get the job done.

And often "the job" means knocking on a lot of doors. Like a whole lot of doors. Like more than 385,000 doors in one weekend. Ohio took on the Obama field staff in Pennsylvania and avenged the Buckeyes' football loss by besting them by 7000 doors. Other statistics from that week include:

691,858 - Phone calls placed to fellow Ohioans by volunteers across the state last week
463,958 - Number of doors knocked last week
385,684 - Number of doors knocked last weekend
9,712 - Number of volunteers knocking doors last weekend to help beat Pennsylvania

Much of that ground firepower comes from setting up shop in areas that have never seen a field force from a Democratic candidate, ever--like in Dover, where a supporter created her own unstealable version of a yard sign

Unsurprisingly, the press has taken notice of the Campaign for Change's serious ground game advantage. Here is just some of the coverage from over the last couple months, regarding the field effort. Click the link to be taken to the article:

And finally, a recent article from the Los Angeles Times:

Reporting from Delaware, Ohio — John McCain has targeted this wealthy area just north of Columbus as one of 15 counties in Ohio where he needs to drive up his vote tally if he is to beat Barack Obama on Tuesday in this must-win state.

But on Friday night, only nine volunteers manned the 24 phones in the McCain campaign office. The phone bank began operating on a daily basis just two weeks ago. And only five people have shown up on most weekdays since then to canvas local neighborhoods.
Obama's campaign, in contrast, has flooded this Republican bastion with volunteers. Some canvassers first hit the winding streets of nearby subdivisions in March during the Democratic primary, and they have worked almost nonstop ever since in search of supporters.

Ohio is a battleground in the presidential race, and here's the view on the front line: McCain's get-out-the-vote operation has struggled to build momentum, and it appears outgunned by Obama's.

This time, the Democrats have shifted strategies -- and may have the upper hand.

Learning from the Bush effort, Obama has taken his fight directly into suburban and rural GOP strongholds in an effort to curb McCain's potential margins. Obama has 82 offices in the state, nearly twice as many as McCain. Labor unions are backing his effort with more than 12,000 volunteers.

"McCain does not have the kind of ground organization that Obama has, not even close," said Nancy Martorano, associate professor of political science at the University of Dayton.

"I've never seen anything like the Obama ground game," agreed Paul Beck, professor of political science at Ohio State University in Columbus. "It is light-years ahead of what the Democrats did four years ago."

It's not too late to get in on the action. Help get out the vote tomorrow. It's your very last chance to get involved.

All Walks of Life: Supporters in Ohio

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:02:06 EST

This election will be an extra special one for Barack supporter Suzanne McDaniel Hayes. Not only because Barack is a special kind of candidate, but also because Suzanne has cancer, and might not make it to next November.

TheStory.org has a profile of her on their site, which begins like this:

Suzanne McDaniel Hayes has always been a committed voter, but this year she is more determined than ever to vote. Suzanne is terminally ill with cancer, but she's hoping to live long enough to cast her ballot for the last time in her life. As she tells Dick, she's trying to set an example for her three children. She intends to go to the poll with her son, who will be voting for the first time.

Click HERE for the full story - just scroll down to "October 3rd."

Some people base their support in enthusiasm for the Vice Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden--check out what a few volunteers cooked up for the Vice Presidential debate a couple weeks ago:

Some Ohioans have specific policy concerns: this well known Columbus blogger declares on his blog The Walker Evans Effect that he's supporting Barack because of his urban policy.

And then there are the not-quite-supporters. When Barack recently went on a five-city tour of Ohio, he stopped between Cincinnati and Portsmouth at a diner in Georgetown. He had a funny encounter with the self-declared die-hard Republican owner of the diner... Barack may or may not have won him over, but as the following article from the Dayton Daily News makes clear, he's certainly benefitting from his diner's newfound fame:

Don't tell restaurant owner Bill Seip that Democrat Barack Obama is bad for business.

Seip knows better.

It's been more than a week since Obama made his surprise stop at Seip's Fireside Restaurant in Georgetown on Thursday, Oct. 9, and folks in the Brown County village still are buzzing about it, said Seip.

The last presidential campaign visit came from William Jennings Bryan in the early 1900s, said Seip.

Ulysses S. Grant, the great Union Civil War general and the first Ohio-born president, moved with his family to Georgetown soon after his birth in Point Pleasant in nearby Clermont County in 1822 but nobody way back then knew Grant was headed for the White House.

At the Fireside, Obama ordered up a "Big O" burger — a double cheeseburger – and coconut cream pie to go. Gov. Ted Strickland, Obama's traveling companion and guide through Ohio's Appalachian region, had lemon pie.

The day after Obama's stop, Seip made the "Big O" the daily special and dubbed it the "Obama Burger."

"I liked the guy myself," Seip, 46, said of Obama. "He was really down to earth. The way he took care of everybody. He was a nice guy."

Why are you a supporter? Do you have a special story? Let us know in the comments section below.

Quiet! We're hunting for voters! HUH HUH HUH!

Funky Unky — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:50:48 EST

A Look Back at Life in the Field

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 14:10:31 EST

With the Ohio Campaign for Change's sprawling and aggressive ground efforts, volunteers have been engaged for months now in every single part of Ohio. In terms of their activities, they've done everything you'd expect from a campaign, and much much more. Sure there's been canvassing, phonebanking, and data entry, but there have also been house meetings, debate watch parties, birthday pot lucks, booths at festivals--too much to name. Here is a look at some moments from all the activity in the field over the last five months.

Back in September, Field Organizer Liz, in Port Clinton, held a very special house meeting... on an island!

John Donne's observation that "no man is an island" was the theme of last week's Obama house meeting on, well, an island. Marty and Kelly, longtime residents of Put-in-Bay, rounded up a dozen of their friends to talk about how high the stakes are in this election. Every vote in every precinct of Ohio -- including the hundreds that will be cast for Barack and Joe at polling places in the middle of Lake Erie -- will make the difference this year.

In Marion, a debate watch party did its job--drew an undecided into the fold. Field Organizer Hannah snapped a picture:

Anderson Township, in Cincinnati, is known as a historically conservative area. Which is exactly why volunteers held neighborhood meetings there, so that Obama supporters would know they're not alone! Local team leader Vanessa writes a moving account of the Anderson Township meeting--where everyone seemed to be shocked by the turnout:

I have been campaigning in this little conservative village for some time now. People are very reserved and do not like to talk about politics. And I'm just witnessing the power of Obama message. People are tired of war, are tired of unaffordable health care or schools not up to the level of the global economy. But they have also find a leader who gives them hope that things can be improved if we just work hard. And people are demonstrating their desire for a better country that goes beyond their personal interest. We had about 50 people convening at the Anderson Center to learn about the campaign and its grassroots effort, and to share their extraordinary and ordinary stories. I myself learned form my parents and relatives, who lived the end of World War II, how horrible is the war from their stories. I moved from Italy, where I grew up, to Japan and now I have been leaving in Cincinnati for 7 years. I was never in favor of the war in Iraq since the beginning. I would like my daughters to grow in a world as peaceful as possible. Another lady at the meeting told us her story about her childhood in Korea during Korean War and Vietnam War, and described them as an horrible experience, and she wish other people don't suffer as she and her family did. Unaffordable health care and schools that are not able to prepare future generation to compete in the global economy were also some of the reasons Anderson residents are choosing Obama as their next President of the United States. The meeting was a very energizing experience and I'll keep working with those new friends to elect Barack Obama our next President of Unites States.

Finally, Courtney has this heartwarming story from canvassing last weekend:

TaLisa and I canvassed Ward 4 today, a very economically depressed area of Columbus. Several voters that we spoke to felt that their vote would not count even though they were registered.
Amidst all this, there two young boys that were playing football with an empty Gatorade bottle across the street from our targeted doors.

These two boys, in the third and fourth grade, helped direct us to which doors were occupied. After several not-homes, we stopped to talk to them and asked if they knew Barack Obama. The fourth grader did, but the third grader did not. We gave them literature and told them to take it to their parents…
And they sat down on the sidewalk where they were playing and began reading it out loud to one another and expressed they were excited about taking it with them to school.

Do you have a story from volunteering? What kind of Obama activity has gone on in your area in the last five months? Let us know in the comment section below.

And it's not too late to make some memories in these last days of the campaign. Sign up to get out the vote right now.

POWER OUTAGE

Karen in St. Joseph, Missouri — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:21:42 EST

Just came from the gas pump. Good news is gas is $1.99 in Missouri. Bad news is that there was a "power outage" and the pump became frozen at twenty three cents into my fill. Within 30 minues, the Owner/Manager reset the pump and all was well.

Began to wonder... what if a power outage happened at any one of the polling places; are they all on battery back-up? Is the software equipped to handle an outage? Will it lose the votes cast or other error? DO WE GET A MULLIGAN? Be sure someone from the democratic party in your area has this base covered. We can not take any chances of missing one single vote secondary to a glitch in the system.

I am still getting calls (robo and person-to-person) from the McCain campaign, even after I've called their main HQ and told them I have already voted, OBAMA-BIDEN! They must be desperate, as my landline has been ringing non-stop.

Many will come out in force tomorrow to VOTE FOR OBAMA-BIDEN. The lines will be long; patience will be tested. Be safe!

History has already been made... now let's get Senators Obama and Biden, over the finish line.

OBAMA-BIDEN '08

Joe the salesman!!

Funky Unky — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:02:43 EST

Proving it was getting "knee deep" on the campaign trail, McCain asked "Joe the Plumber" to help him force it down the throats of the voters! (Unfortunately he doesn't have a plumbing license.) Joe then thanked the Democrates for allowing him to vote, since his voting register name and actual last name are different. (And seeing how he may not have a valid driver's license.) Democrates later told Joe ,"Not to believe the voting lie rumors spread by the Republicans. Despite having outstanding back-taxes he will not get arrested at the polls!"

Call Ohio Now!

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:07:06 EST

Are you not from Ohio and want to help the state go blue? ARE from Ohio and want to reach some fellow Buckeyes so you can be proud on Election Night? Then call Ohio voters now! Just click the button below:

Reaching out to still undecided voters one of the best things you can do right now, during this get-out-the-vote effort. Many of the people you call will already be supporters--they just need a reminder to go and vote! If you click the button above, you'll get directions and a list of people to call--the campaign makes everything very easy and unintimidating for you.

This movement has always been about neighbors talking to neighbors about what they see in Barack Obama, and it's going to end that way too--right now hundreds of thousands of people across the United States are organizing and going door to door and calling voters. Now is your final chance to get involved. Don't let this moment pass you by.

Call Ohio now. It's waiting to hear from you.

A Picture of a Movement: Profiles of Ohio Volunteers

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 09:18:46 EST

Right now, tens of thousands of volunteers are getting out the vote for Barack Obama, in this final stage of the Election. Their work is crucial--now more than ever--so in honor of them, the Ohio Campaign for Change takes a look at some of the people who make this campaign the powerhouse that it is.

Marion is practically a celebrity in the world of Obama volunteers. She recently had a whole article written about her and her dedication to volunteering in the Dayton Daily News, entitled "Fairborn Grandmother Hits the Streets for Obama." Hers is a special story--she got involved in the campaign shortly after her husband Lanny died from cancer, after losing his job and being left without health insurance. She's featured in two YouTube videos hugging Barack at rallies in the Dayton area, but more importantly, she makes an appearance as a Neighborhood Team Leader in this video from the campaign. She's the one who makes the joke about the conservative politics of Greene County, where she lives:

(It's not too late to be a leader in your neighborhood-- sign up to get out the vote right now).

Many an Ohio Field Organizer sings the praises of his or her best volunteers. Here's some appreciation from Tommy:

Sherill, one of my NTL's, tore something in her foot (doctors think it might be a stressed ligament or something) while canvassing earlier this week. That shift she got something like 85 doors. When she called me this evening, I was expecting her to cancel her shift tomorrow to go door to door, but instead she called to tell me that if she wrapped her foot in an Ace bandage and wore the right shoes, she could walk on the foot. She said that we only had a few days until the election and that she didn’t have time to not be on the doors. And so, with a wrapped foot, she’s going to lead a canvass tomorrow of 12 volunteers. Not a story from today’s work, but worth noting nonetheless.

Here's a picture of Mr. Hanna--as his Field Organizer Seth describes him: "86 years old, fired up and making calls."

Richard in Scioto County recounts a day of activity amongst his volunteers:

Volunteers traveled out to the home of Christina, our Western Scioto Neighborhood Team Leader who already had their maps, clipboards and sign-in sheets prepared. Christina gave an inspiring training, explaining to the students why she supports Obama and then allowing them to share as well. They knocked on doors, and found a stray dog that they promptly named “Scioto.” They took the dog and themselves out to the Scioto County Sorghum Festival, where they helped us sign up supporters at the Democratic Party booth. They and their new dog “Scioto” are now sitting fat and happy, bellies full of sorghum molasses, making phone calls here in the office.

And finally, Graham in Lawrence County swears by his tough guy volunteer, Sparky:

Sparky -- Charles if you look him up in the voter file -- is seen here posing in front of his truck, with the Lawrence County Democratic Headquarters and the Lawrence County Courthouse in the backdrop. Sparky makes sure that everyone in Lawrence County is properly registered to vote and makes sure that people are voting for Sen. Obama. Sparky doesn't understand how we are spending ten BILLION dollars each month in Iraq paving roads, building hospitals, and improving infrastructure in Iraq when there is no hospital in Lawrence County and people worry when they drive over the Ironton-Russell bridge because of its dilapidated condition. Sparky doesn't understand why the people in the upper echelons of society are relishing in the Bush tax cuts when people who depend on fixed incomes are spending a large fraction of it on soaring health care costs. Sparky doesn't understand these things because it is hard to understand that these things are happening in America. What Sparky does understand is that in America, we can do better. Sparky works everyday telling people he talks to in Lawrence County that in order for us to do better as a nation, they need to vote for Sen. Obama and that Sen. Obama is not going to take away his guns. Sparky knows that Sen. Obama is a supporter of the 2nd Amendment as he is. That is why he has two GUN OWNER for Obama stickers on his truck.

Are you a volunteer--a part of the backbone of this campaign? Give us your story in the comments section below.

Last Chance to Vote Early!

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:38:42 EST

All sources are saying there is going to be a historically humungous turnout on Tuesday. But more than a million people in Ohio have gotten the job done already by voting early. (Now they can devote their time on Election Day to getting out the vote!)

(Above cartoon is from the Kenyon Collegian)

Here are some stories from a few excited early voters:

Robyn from Fairborn: The highlight of this experience was seeing all of the young people who showed up to vote. I'm only 30 years old, however, I rarely see young people voting when I arrive at the polls. This has certainly been a moving experience.

Kollin from Columbus: I was very encouraged to see tons of enthusiastic Barack Obama supporters out in front of the veterans building where I voted. I brought my brother along and made him vote as well. Because I was so impressed with how easy it was to vote, I made calls to all my family and friends to go out and vote as well, I even figured out early vote locations and got them directions to these locations. I'm excited about our chances here in Ohio.

Jared in South Zanesville: I was so proud to be able to walk in and cast my vote for Senators Obama & Biden (along with a host of other Democrats in state and local offices). I am too young to have taken part in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, but I could not help but think I was doing something important to advance civil rights, end poverty, improve health care, expand civil liberties and make America economically strong again. I actually sat there for a moment after filling out my ballot just to be present in the moment. I then went to the local Obama headquarters and made phone calls to undecided voters for 3 hours!!!!!!

Make the pledge to vote early. Or just find your early vote location using the tool below:

Hungry for change? Why wait?

Bruce and Barack Share the Stage in Cleveland

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:21:06 EST

Bruce Springsteen and Barack Obama held a rally in Cleveland tonight. Bruce played, Barack spoke, both their families were there, and so were 80,000 other people. As Barack got to the conclusion of his speech--which was simultaneously a closing argument for change, and a call to push ahead for the final two days--it began to rain.

Words (and even pictures, really) do not do it justice. But you can get an idea of the moment by watching this video, which captures the same speech, as well as the sense of urgency and historic weight that was in the air:

More than anything, Barack's message was about the country coming together to solve its problems. It was about how America belongs to everyone--no one is more or less American than anyone else. Fittingly, just a few minutes before, Bruce had played the Woodie Guthrie classic "This Land is Your Land." You can take a listen to the performance right here:

Between songs, Bruce told the crowd what Barack Obama, and this moment in our history as a country, means to him and his music. Although long, it is one of the best and most powerful articulations of the importance of this moment as you will ever hear.

I've spent 35 years writing about America and its people--what does it mean to be an American, what's our duties and our responsibilities, what are our reasonable expectations when we live in a free society. I really never saw myself as partisan but more as an advocate for a set of ideas: economic and social justice, America as a positive influence around the world, truth, transparency, and integrity in government, the right of every American to have a job, a living wage, to be educated in a decent school, and to a life filled with the dignity of work, promise and the sancitity of home. These are the things that make a life. These are the things that build and define a society. I think that these are the things we think of on the deepest level when we think about our freedoms. But today those freedoms have been damaged and curtailed by 8 years of a thoughtless, reckless, and morally adrift administration. But we're at the crossroads today.
I've spent most of my life as a musician measuring the distance in my music between the American Dream and the American reality. I look around today and for many Americans who are losing their jobs or their homes or seeing their retirement funds disappear or their health care, or have been abandoned in their inner cities, the distance between that dream and that reality has grown greater and more painful than ever. I believe that Senator Obama has taken the measure of that distance in his own life and in his own work. And I believe that he understands in his heart the cost of that distance in blood and in suffering in the lives of everyday Americans. And I believe as President he'll work to bring that promise back to life and into the lives of so many of our fellow Americans who have justifiably lost faith in its meaning.
Now, in my job I travel around the world and I occasionally play to big stadiums or crowds like this, just like Senator Obama does. And I continue to find out that where ever I go, America remains a repository for people's hopes, their desires; it remains a house of dreams. And a thousand George Bushes and a thousand Dick Cheneys will never be able to tear that house down. That's something that only we can do, and we're not going to let that happen. This administration will be leaving office--that's the good news. The bad news is they're going to be dumping in our laps the national tragedies of Katrina, Iraq, and our financial crisis. Our house of dreams has been abused, it's been looted, and it's been left in a terrible state of disrepair. It needs defending against those who would sell it down the river for power, for influence, or a quick buck. It needs strong arms, strong hearts, strong minds. We need someone with Senator Obama's understanding, his temperateness, his deliberativeness, his maturity, his pragmatism, his toughness, and his faith.
But most of all it needs us. It needs you and it needs me, and he's gonna need us. 'Cause all that a nation has that keeps it from coming apart is the social contract between us, between its citizens. And whatever grace God has decided to impart to us, it resides in us, it resides in our connection with one another. In honoring the life and the hopes and the dreams of the man or the woman up the street or across town--that's where we make our small claim upon heaven.
Now in recent years, that social contract's been shredded. Look around today and you can see it shredding before our eyes. But tonight and today we are at the crossroads. We are at the crossroads, and it's been a long long long time coming.
I'm honored to be here on the same stage as Senator Obama. From the beginning, there's been something in Senator Obama that's called upon our better angels, and i suspect it's because he's had a life where he's had to so often call upon his better angels. And we're going to need all the angels we can get on the hard road ahead. So Senator Obama, help us rebuild our house, big enough for the dreams from all our citizens. 'Cause how well we accomplish this task will tell us just what it does mean to be an American in the new century, what the stakes are, and what it means to live in a free society.
So I don't know about you, but I know I want my country back, I want my dream back, I want my America back. Now is the time to stand with Barack Obama, and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves, and come on up for the rising.

It's Time to Have The Talk

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 20:16:48 EST

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, a recent poll found that 8% of Americans are still undecided about who to vote for.

Do you know who your parents are voting for? Your grandparents? Could they be some of those undecided voters? Maybe they're leaning the other way. This election means a lot to you--perhaps more than they know. That's why it's time to have The Talk. Take it from Natalie Portman. She filmed this message when she was in Cincinnati visiting her own grandmother (one of her parents is from Cincinnati, and actually went to the Ohio State University!)

If you click HERE to go to the The Talk page, you'll find:

ideas for how to get the conversation started
quick, easy-to-read versions of Barack's policies, and reasons you might support him that you ca communicate simply to your family
an introductory video
"Do's and Don'ts" for your conversation

Even if it seems like it might be uncomfortable or something you don't often talk about with your parents, this election is too important to avoid having this crucial conversation.

You can also use our Undecided Resources page, or show your parents the Ohio Campaign for Change video library, which captures on video a lot of the excitement and energy behind Barack's movement.

**Have you talked to your parents or grandparents about Barack? Let us know in the comments section below.

What Tax Cut Would You Get?

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 16:47:31 EST

Despite the concrete fact that 95% of Americans would have their income tax cut under an Obama administration, there are still a lot of misperceptions out there about Barack's tax plan. Fortunately the campaign has created a website, http://taxcut.barackobama.com, where anyone can plug in their own income and get the truth about what kind of tax break they would get with Barack.

Recently, supporter Ed O'Neill, better known as Al Bundy from "Married with Children," was back in his hometown of Youngstown, to campaign for Barack. While there, he brought Al back to figure out what TV's favorite shoe salesman's tax cut would be under an Obama administration:

Also on taxcut.barackobama.com, you can:

read the full Obama tax plan
compare Barack's and John McCain's tax policy
have your questions answered about taxes on small businesses - to straighten out all the "Joe the Plumber" spin out there
share the tax calculator with your friends and family
and even download the calculator and put it on your own website!

Get the truth about your savings with Obama. Go to taxcut.barackobama.com, and invite your undecided friends to do the same!

Focus on: Ohio Labor for Obama

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 12:47:06 EST

Are you a blue collar, labor, or union worker who supports Obama? Then the Ohio Campaign for Change invites you to click HERE join Ohio Labor for Obama.

Labor and union workers form a broad and all-important coalition of support for Barack, and for good reasons. Barack cut his teeth organizing with families and workers on the South Side of Chicago that were dealing with massive layoffs in the wake of steel mills closing. And with how often he talks about keeping jobs in America, for American workers, and rewarding work as well as wealth, working-class and blue collar families have much to support with Senator Obama. Eight years of unbridled free trade and the Bush economic policies have seen jobs for this part of America disappearing by the month.

Perhaps the most striking example of this in Ohio, where the last 8 years have seen more than 187,000 jobs lost, is in Wilmington. There a merger between DHL and UPS threatens anywhere between 8,000 to 10,000 jobs in a six county area anchored by Wilmington--a town of only 10,000. The following video profiles a supporter named Sherry, who has just one of these thousands of labor jobs that's threatened.

Before, during, and after the meeting that Sherry took part in, Barack offered his unequivocal support for the work force threatened by merger--this article from the Wilmington News Journal attests to the fact that protecting these jobs would be a priority in an Obama administration. Barack also enjoys the strong backing of Senator Sherrod Brown, who as a true advocate for American workers has bolstered the support of unions like the AFL-CIO, as captured in this article from the Cincinnati Enquirer. And finally, the Youngstown Vindicator shows how Ohio's historic cradle of factory and steel mill labor, the Mahoning Valley, is seeing overwhelming support for Senator Obama.

When you go to the sign-up page for Ohio Labor for Obama, you can:

Read where Barack stands on labor issues
Read all the labor/union endorsements for Barack
Join a community of other Ohio labor workers who support Barack, to make your voice heard together.

This is a historic and crucial election for labor. Ohio families have lost too much. Join the community. Join Ohio Labor for Obama.

It's Time to Get Out the Vote

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 08:56:05 EST

For a volunteer, sometimes canvassing and making phone calls can feel like a strange endeavor. Sometimes people have already made up their minds, or they're undecided but don't want to talk about politics. Why try to talk to people who might rather be left alone?

Because it all leads up to now. Because some people were undecided and curious; they just wanted to hear what someone else had to say. Because that conversation can plant a seed in someone's head. Because now the campaign knows who is on board and who isn't, and it's just a matter of getting out the vote. All the voters Barack needs have been identified--now it's just a matter of getting them to the polls. This video breaks down what Get-Out-the-Vote is all about, and how important it is:

Never been involved before? "Get out the vote" sound like something different or intimidating? Get-out-the-vote is actually even simpler than normal volunteering. All you have to do is remind people to vote! And make sure they have a way to the polls, and encourage them to vote early! As I said before, there's not much convincing--these voters have been identified as Barack supporters. Click HERE to sign up to help out in the last couple days.

Reminding voters, and driving from the office to the polls, and providing food and drink for other volunteers doesn't sound too hard, does it? Sign up now. Maybe you'll be treated to some Get-out-the-vote cookies, like these ones in the Mansfield office!

Do you want to say you were around when history happened? Or do you want to say you were a part of history?

My politics page at my business/personal website

Paul Evans — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:47:06 EDT

Hi,

I am Paul Evans, owner of Evans Web Design, a recent startup. I have worked as a volunteer for Barack since before the Ohio primary. I recently got the Progressive Blog Digest to link to the politics page of my combined business/personal website, Evans Web Design. I put a liberal politics page, http://www.evans-web-design.com/politics.html, with a lot of content for Barack on my business website despite the fact that this antagonizes prospective Conservative customers. I have been canvassing and phone banking for Barack as well. I am just inviting everyone to take a look at my politics page and perhaps to put some progressive content on their own business website. If we talk the talk we should walk the walk, so it seems to me. If I lose half or a third of my customer base, so be it.

Also, I have not been terribly active at MyBarackObama.com, partly because I take care of an elderly parent and have a girlfriend who lives 60 minutes away, and because my company is a recent startup and there has been a lot to do, plus of course working for the county Obama team. So I thought I would say hi!

So Long, October; Hello, Mr. November

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 00:19:25 EDT

Halloween has passed, so October is over! Which means America is just three days away from electing a new President, and hopefully realizing this incredible movement with an Obama White House.

And like all of the last few months, October was full of Obama activity appropriate for the season. A perfect example is the website www.yeswecarve.com, with multiple Barack O'Lanterns on display for Halloween.

Ohio has its own fall customs too, and Barack supporters made sure to infuse their love of the candidate with these traditions. Doug, from the Rural Team, has a report from the Pumpkin Show in Circleville:

One of Central Ohio’s biggest festivals of the year, the Circleville Pumpkin Show enjoyed some great weather and tens of thousands of people. I saw about 15 city blocks packed with people enjoying food, crafts, rides, parades, and bands. The “Greatest Free Show on Earth” awarded first place to the largest pumpkin (over 1300 pounds) and featured every imaginable type of pumpkin fare.
I sampled pumpkin burgers, pumpkin cheese cake, pumpkin cannoli, and, of course, pumpkin pie. Beyond the enthusiasm for the orange, I saw some great enthusiasm for Obama. This young family proudly sports their Obama stickers.
And finally, the Obama pumpkin at the Pickaway Dem booth, that smartly wears a stocking cap to meet the October chill.

Lastly, a couple weeks ago, after the Toledo area knocked an unprecedented 28,883 doors, local Field Organizer Liz carved her own Barack O'Lantern in celebration:

And with all this energy and enthusiasm, plus everyone helping to get out the vote, in a couple days this amazing campaign will prove Barack Obama to be Mr. November--no longer Senator, but President-elect!

Do your part. Get out the vote.

Kids for Obama Committee: Elijah Lutz, President

Michael in Ohio — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:27:36 EDT

From Field Organizer Graham, in Lawrence County:

A lot of times people say that they can't come in to help because they've got kids. Elijah Lutz has solved this dilemma by forming the Kids for Obama Committee. Even though he can't vote, Elijah knows that electing Senator Obama is important to his future. The Lawrence County Office's walls are filled with Kids for Obama Committee posters, our yard sign assembly line consists of members of the Committee and Eli has submitted the following statement:
"My Name is Eli Lutz and I am the Chairman of the Ironton Kids for Obama Committee. For eight years, we have faced many hard situations such as high taxes, too expensive health care, and leaving kids behind in education. You see, Obama has a plan for affordable health care, tax breaks for lower class citizens, and a great funding plan for education. I started this committee thinking that kids who want to help on election day who can't vote be able to help out the campaign in their own way. By spreading the word of our future, we can help get Barack Obama made the Fourty-Fourth President of the United States of America and stop a third term with Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin. Vote Obama for President, it's for our future.
Elijah L. Lutz"

Do you know a kid for Obama? Let us know in the comments section below!

I voted- I hope you will too!

Michele H — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:27:15 EDT

This is it - the last ask in the last days of an amazing journey of 20+ months of volunteering.

All I have to say is: PLEASE VOTE!

Do it now if you can!

Do it this weekend if you can!

Do it by Monday if you can!

Make sure you do it by Tuesday, because

-- after that you don't get another chance to change the world.

Prominent Jewish Clevlanders Show Their Support for Obama...

Brady — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:16:34 EDT

I had the honor of being hired by the Cleveland chapter of the NJDC to design an ad in support of Barack Obama. The ad ran in last weeks issue of Cleveland Jewish News and included OVER 1,000 names of prominent Cleveland Jewish families who will be voting for Barack Obama! To see a copy of the ad please see the posting titled "Prominent Jewish Clevlanders Show Their Support for Obama..." at www.85andchange.com . PLEASE PASS IT ON TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INFLUENCED BY IT!!

I'm going to give you the choice I never had, John!

Funky Unky — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:12:06 EDT

IT'S A LIE! A LIEEEE! A LIE I SAY!

Funky Unky — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:20:26 EDT

Vote Early

Todd in Cleveland — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 20:07:30 EDT

Go to http://boe.cuyahogacounty.us/ for early vote information in Cuyahoga county.

^There is HOPE

Funky Unky — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 13:52:33 EDT

Barack: Right on Policies for Ohio

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 20:13:22 EDT

In an election season, the big philosophical or ideological differences between the candidates are discussed frequently. We know the difference between Barack and Senator McCain on the big issues: the War, Health Care, and the Economy, for example. But rarely are the smaller policy differences put forth--in the specific but nonetheless important areas.

For example, this article from ZDNet clearly and succinctly outlines and grades the differences on tech policy:

Broadband Access: Barack rates better than McCain
Green Technology: Barack rates better than McCain
Net Neutrality: Barack rates better than McCain
Airwaves Spectrum: Barack rates even with McCain

This is especially important in Ohio, where top-rate schools provide huge potential for technology development.

Also, Barack has shown that sound policies draw support where you least expect it: this radio story from statenews.org details how many Republican farmers are drawn to Barack because of his support for Ethanol. Ohio is a corn-growing state, and in fact, as their site details, the American Corn Growers Association endorsed Barack in August.

Finally, a recent article in the Columbus Dispatch gives a glimpse into how many Ohio veterans are left behind--more so than in the rest of the States:

By some measures, Ohio is one of the worst places in the country to be a disabled veteran.
They average $8,090 per year in disability compensation; the average in New Mexico, one of the best states for disabled veterans, is $12,891.

Ohio's disabled veterans ranked next to last in average compensation in 2006, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Only Indiana veterans received less money.

In 2005, Ohio ranked last.
The state of Ohio has its own problems. Applying for disability compensation is so complicated that most veterans can't do it by themselves. All over the country, they rely on service officers funded by the state or county, or on service officers from veterans groups to help them.

Ohio has no way of tracking how good the officers are. No state employee regularly interacts with the Cleveland office, helping to guide claims through the process or receiving feedback on how to better submit those claims. More-successful states do.

Barack, much more so than his opponent, actually has policies that directly address what these Ohio veterans go through. And one of them, Ben, in Lancaster, knows it:

Jeff Fields’ assertion that John McCain has not been a friend to veterans during his time in the Senate is absolutely correct.
Every year between 2004 and 2007, McCain voted against a Republican-proposed Veterans Administration health-care bill for troops coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.
In 2008, he did not vote at all on the Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act, yet spoke out against it. This bill was a bipartisan effort by Sens. Jim Webb, D-Va., and Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., and would have paid a veteran’s tuition rather than only some of it, as the GI Bill does today.
McCain loves to espouse that he has been awarded a perfect voting record by veterans groups. In 2008, the Disabled American Veterans gave McCain a 20 percent rating out of 100 percent. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a D rating. The Vietnam Veterans of America have McCain down for nine votes with them, 15 votes against them.

In contrast, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has an 80 percent rating from the DAV and a B-plus from the IAVA.

(Click HERE to join Ohio Veterans for Obama)

Barack's platform is so right for Ohio, he even has a policy specific to restoring the Great Lakes!

What policies are important to you? Let us know in the comments section below!

Early voting

Tiger — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 19:46:48 EDT

Hi, Obama's supporters

Today I have attended campaign rally at Erie College, among noteables that were present : Gov. Strickland, Senator Glen, Richard Cordray, Bill O'Neill, and Mark Schneider. It was a heart warming gathering. We have come so close to to see our dream of electing BO and his chances of getting elected never been better. But in the last 8-9 days we have to give our extra efforts to see that voters are going to polls.

Senator Glen mentioned we are ahead in polls (in Ohio) by slim margin but he cautioned us to keep working till last vote has bee casted.

Good luck with God speed, victory in sight, GO Obama

What's Right for Ohio

Michael in Ohio — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 18:48:36 EDT

The Ohio Democratic Party recently released a truly stunning advertisement that puts a visual on how eight years of failed Republican economic policies have wreaked havoc on Ohio workers and families. The facts are the following--under the Bush administration, Ohio has suffered:

1087 factories and companies shutting down
180,264 lost jobs

Those numbers are a bit hard to grasp, until you see the ad:

In addition, the helpful website www.McCainvsOhio.com is chock full of resources that detail how Senator McCain stands on the wrong side of the issues most important to Ohio, including:

The site features many videos, and the ability to write a letter to the editor.

Enraged by this ad and what you see on the website? Like this Toledo woman, are you wondering how someone who owns seven homes can be in touch with the struggles of normal Ohioans? You can write a letter through Barack's website too, on any number of issues that are important to you. Just click the button below.

Post Signs! Need Signs!

Jersey@Krisnecco.com — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 09:44:41 EDT

Dear Obama Family and Friends. We need Bucks and Mercer County! McCain Campaign had a rally….. Someone has posted MANY MCCAIN/PALIN signs on the exists at 95 South between exit 51 and 49 near Giant (Store) and the area. This area is located in Bucks County (PA) and Mercer County (NJ). If you have them please post them. Please be safe. Watch the traffic. Thanks Jersey..

Michelle Obama Rallies and Makes Phone Calls for Change in Columbus and Akron!

Michael in Ohio — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 20:52:31 EDT

Sad circumstances may have brought Michelle Obama to the Buckeye State today (she was filling in for Barack, who is visiting his ailing grandmother in Hawaii), but for the people in Ohio it was nothing but an absolute pleasure to see the woman they hope will be the next First Lady.

At rallies in Columbus and Akron, crowds packed gyms to hear her speak about who her husband is, and why this is so important. She had special guests at each, with Senator Sherrod Brown on hand in Columbus, and actress Jurnee Smollett amongst the crowd in Akron. There, local volunteer Gail took the stage to introduce Michelle. Gail spoke about how she had lost her job, and became a victim of predatory lending, to the point where her home was foreclosed. She nearly teared up as she talked about how it is to drive by the old family home now. But she fervently urged the crowd to get involved volunteering, and to cast their vote early.

I hate politics. This is the first time in my life that I've ever been involved whatsoever...
I do whatever I can do. Because when you don't have a job... you have a lot of time!
I have voted early, and I brought my mother. If you're wondering if voting early is complicated--trust me, it's not!

Here are some pictures from the events:

At her rallies, Michelle talked about Barack as only she could. In her own passionate way, she riled the crowd by imparting to them just why her husband is running for president, and exactly what is at stake. Even more than at a Barack rally, she traded jokes and back-and-forth conversations with people in the crowd. At one moment she stopped because something caught her eye. "Ooo, it's an Obama mask! I forgot it was Halloween!"

With Michelle, there is never a shortage of great sound bites, but she was best when talking simply about how...

Barack gets it.
There's something that happens to you when you grow up regular.
Don't we deserve a leader who knows what it's like to carry a little loan debt?

And that is what she drove home: that Barack will work for working people, because it's in him. He knows what it's like to pay off debt, work two jobs, and sacrifice some daily expenses for others when money is tight.

Between events, Michelle made phone calls with volunteers at the Summit County Headquarters, and at the Akron rally she mentioned one woman she had talked to:

This woman had gone blind, her husband had left her, and her son had gone off to war. And she was praying for Barack's grandmother. That's America.

Michelle also did a stellar job of making everyone in the crowd feel the importance of doing their part--volunteering, and voting early. Not only did they hear her, but they were fired up and ready to do it. As she said:

Barack can bring us 85% of the way there. But it's on us--we have to provide the last 15%.
Don't wait until Election Day to vote! You might have a flat tire! You might not have gas!

Do your part.

Volunteer in these last 11 days.

And vote early.

Focus on: Ohio People of Faith for Obama

Michael in Ohio — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 13:00:42 EDT

Millions of people of faith have found hope and promise in Barack's candidacy. Mandy, of Chillicothe, is just one of those people. She wrote this letter to the editor in the Chillicothe Gazette, which clearly and beautifully articulates why she as a person of faith supports Barack:

OBAMA CAN PROVIDE WHAT WE PRAY FOR

As a Christian and a member of this community, I would like to publicly show my support for Barack Obama.
My answer to why Obama is the clear choice if very simple. God does many works through man, I'm sure most of you will agree. We pray daily for the poor, the homeless, and the ones who go without health care and who have lost their jobs. We pray for their suffering to end and for God to lead them from their troubles into a time of prosperity.
God answers prayers, but it's not always the answer we were expecting.
Obama has a means to an end for so many of the things that we pray for. Many times there are mountains that we must climb before we can achieve what God has prepared for us. I truly believe that this campaign is just one of those mountains.
It is refreshing to see a Democrat like Barack Obama embrace his Christian faith and talk about how it inspires his commitment to public service. Like Gov. Ted Strickland, he understands we are all our brother's keeper. We cannot be a great nation if we do not look out for the least fortunate among us.
But he also recognizes that we must demand that all Americans take responsibility for themselves and their families. It's nice to hear a politician talking about turning off the TV and reading to our children.
I think Obama has it right, and he's earned my support.

Is faith important to you? Does your belief system play a role in your support for Barack? Whether it does or it doesn't, people of faith in Ohio and across the country play a huge role in Barack's campaign. You can take your support to the next level.

Click HERE join Ohio People of Faith for Obama today.

At the sign up page, you have resources at your fingertips, including this video of Barack in Zanesville, in which he outlines his support for faith-based groups:

On the page you can also:

Read Barack's Faith Principles
Read Barack's renowned Call to Renewal Speech
Check out other faith resources, like one-pager and two-pagers for Catholics.

Join Ohio People of Faith for Obama right now.

Are you an Ohio person of faith for Obama? Let us know in the comments section below.

Call to Action: Stop McCain's Shameless Robo-Calls

Michael in Ohio — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 19:43:03 EDT

As you may have heard, the McCain campaign is showering Ohio with shamelessly negative robo-calls that make false attacks against Barack Obama, on various fronts. This is a desperate attempt for the opposition to frighten voters into voting against Senator Obama. The video below contains an actual recording of one of these robo-calls--this one attempts to link Barack to the terrorist acts of the Weather Underground forty years ago.

YOU have the power to stop these disgusting tactics, that twist the truth beyond recognition in order to try to take down our candidate. YOU know that Barack has real solutions to the issues that face us, which is what we need right now--not more of the same old cynical, negative politics that have crippled this country in the past.

Take action against these calls. Write a letter to the editor of your local papers and tell John McCain and the Republican National Committee that Ohio won't take these kinds of Karl Rove-ian tactics.

Don't know what you'd say? Haven't heard all the calls? Don't worry, we'll inform you and provide you with talking points. We make it so with just a few clicks you can send to multiple newspapers across the state. Get started right now.

Focus on: Ohio Small Businesses for Obama

Michael in Ohio — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 20:47:41 EDT

Small businesses form the backbone of the American economy, and Ohio is no exception. In the Buckeye State, small business owners comprise a crucial part of Barack's movement for change. They can do even more by uniting to spread the message of why they, as people involved in small businesses, support Barack.

Watch this video of Barack in Toledo talking about small businesses, then sign up for Ohio Small Businesses for Obama:

Click HERE to join Ohio Small Businesses for Obama today. On the sign-up page, you can:

Read Barack's Plan to Support Small Businesses
Read a Fact Sheet comparing Barack's policies and Senator McCain's
Write a letter to the editor about how Barack is right for small businesses, which you can also do by clicking the button below:

With all the recent attention thrust upon Joe "the Plumber," from Toledo, there are a lot of misperceptions about Barack's tax and small business policies, and this movement is about people coming together to put forward the truth about Barack's plan for change.

Join Ohio Small Businesses for Obama right now.

Dobbs (Focus on the Family) and his endorsement of McCain

Funky Unky — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:34:40 EDT

I am writting this in response to a mailer that I recieved from Focus on the Family, a christian conservative group. The leader, Dobbs, endorses McCain, and urges his followers to do the same. His reasons pretty much boil down to Abortion, and how Sarah Palin is great because she chose to have a Downs baby. I am a Catholic and it was sent to me by a Evangelical member of my family, stating why they support McCain and how their views are close to the Catholic Church.

The Most Rev. J. Terry Steib, Bishop of Memphis, called upon Catholics to avoid being one issue voters. He asked them to follow their consciences and weigh all the moral issues they face before casting their ballots.
“We must recognize,” he wrote, “that God through the Church, is calling us to be prophetic in our own day. If our conscience is well formed, then we will make the right choices about candidates who may not support the Church's position in every case.”
Citing words from a statement, “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” a voting guide issued last November by the Bishops of the United States, Steib wrote that "there may be times when a Catholic who rejects a candidate's unacceptable position may decide to vote for that candidate for other morally grave reasons. Voting in this way would be permissible o nly for truly grave moral reasons, not to advance narrow interests or partisan preferences or to ignore a fundamental moral evil."“A person might choose not to vote, but voting is a necessary part of our witness to Jesus Christ and a witness to our Baptism. So, sometimes hard choices will have to be made.

”The FALSEHOOD "Sen. Obama supports infanticide.

The FACTS "Sen. Obama addresses this claim in a recent interview with Relevant magazine:

“The email rumor that’s been floating around is that somehow I’m unwilling to see doctors offer life-saving care to children who were born as a result of an induced abortion. That’s just false. There was a bill that came up in Illinois that was called the “Born Alive” bill that purported to require life-saving treatment to such infants. And I did vote against that bill.The reason was that there was already a law in place in Illinois that said that you always have to supply life-saving treatment to any infant under any circumstances, and this bill actually was designed to overturn Roe v. Wade, so I didn’t think it was going to pass constitutional muster.Ever since that time, emails have been sent out suggesting that, somehow, I would be in favor of letting an infant die in a hospital because of this particular vote. That’s not a fair characterization, and that’s not an honest characterization. It defies common sense to think that a hospital wouldn't provide life-saving treatment to an infant that was alive and had a chance of survival.” [1]

Senator Obama has stated repeatedly that he supported the federal version of the Born Alive Infant Protection Act, which passed Congress and addressed this same issue. Senator Obama opposed a state version of this legislation in Illinois because there was an existing state law that had been on the books for 20 years that already required such medical care, it was drafted in a way that would have rendered it unconstitutional, and it was even opposed by the Illinois State Medical Society. [2]
"Senator Obama supports ‘partial birth abortion.

’"Sen. Obama does not support Partial Birth Abortion. He has stated this repeatedly over his long legislative career. Senator Obama told Relevant Magazine,

“I have repeatedly said that I think it’s entirely appropriate for states to restrict or even prohibit late-term abortions as long as there is a strict, well-defined exception for the health of the mother. Now, I don’t think that “mental distress” qualifies as the health of the mother. I think it has to be a serious physical issue that arises in pregnancy, where there are real, significant problems to the mother carrying that child to term.” [3]

Some will cite Senator Obama’s ‘present’ votes on Illinois Senate Bills SB203, SB 1093, SB 1094, SB 1095 as evidence of support for partial-birth abortion. [4] However, Sen. Obama did not believe the legislation would pass constitutional muster. He has supported legislation which bans partial birth abortion as long is there is an exception for the health of the mother." [5]
"Sen. Obama is an abortion 'extremist' who will do nothing to counter the number of abortions in this country.

"Sen. Obama has sought to reduce the number of abortions. Sen. Obama has supported many practical efforts to reduce abortions, expanding the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), expanding the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit, and supporting parents with young children by expanding the Nurse-Family Partnership.In a recent interview Sen. Obama stated:

“I think we know that abortions rise when unwanted pregnancies rise. So, if we are continuing what has been a promising trend in the reduction of teen pregnancies, through education and abstinence education giving good information to teenagers. That is important—emphasizing the sacredness of sexual behavior to our children. I think that’s something that we can encourage. I think encouraging adoptions in a significant way. I think the proper role of government. So there are ways that we can make a difference, and those are going to be things I focus on when I am president.” [6]

Sen. Obama reiterated these statements during a faith forum at Messiah College saying:

"We can certainly agree on the fact that we should be doing everything we can to avoid unwanted pregnancies that might even lead somebody to consider having an abortion...And what I have consistently talked about is to take a comprehensive approach where we focus on abstinence, where we are teaching the sacredness of sexuality to our children...and I think we should make sure that adoption is an option for people out there." [7]

So perhaps it is that Sen. Obama realizes that he, as Sen., and would be as President, representative of the entire country, and all that belong to it. (Red, yellow, black and white.. and every shade therein) (Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Agnostic, and all Sects therein) And that this is not a Theocracy . And he must look out for the welfare of all of the citizens.

McCain and Palin's views in light of Taxes and the role of the Vice-pres. in the senate seem to be leaning towards a aristocracy. So she had a Downs syndrom baby... good on her. It does not qualify her to be President should the President become unable to serve, or to cast a vote in the event of a Senate deadlock and to preside over and certify the official vote count of the U.S. Electoral College.

In fact overturning Roe V. Wade will not end abortion, and in all likleyhood not reduce abortion. In South American countries, such as Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru, where abortions are illegal, abortion rates are consistently more than twice that of the U.S.

Table 1: Legal abortions in states that might ban abortions, 2003

Assumed share of

population who consider 50% or more 45% or more 40% or more

themselves “Pro-Life”

needed to institute

abortion ban:

Legal Status of Abortion . Banned Allowed Banned Allowed Banned Allowed

States ... 10 41 16 35 25 26

Total Annual Abortions ..... 64,119 895,609 98,027 861,701 352,353 607,375

Share of National Total

(Affected v. Unaffected) .... 6.7% 93.3% 10.2% 89.8% 36.7% 63.3%

Notes: Total number of abortions nationwide = 959,728. We estimate 220,121 abortions for California,

1807 for New Hampshire, and 1941 for West Virginia, assuming that these states account for the same

proportion of total abortions in 2003 as they did in 1996 (22.9%, 0.19%, and 0.20% respectively).

Assuming these proportions for 2003 probably underestimates the number of abortions in California

because California in 2003 contains a larger share of all women in the U.S. than in 1996. Total equals 51

to include the District of Columbia.

So now what other issues could Catholics be conserned about concerning life?

Other direct threats to the sanctity of human life include euthanasia, human cloning, and the destruction of human embryos for research. Catholic teaching about the dignity of life calls us to oppose torture, unjust war, and the use of the death penalty; to prevent genocide and attacks against noncombatants; to oppose racism; and to overcome poverty and suffering. Nations are called to protect the right to life by seeking effective ways to combat evil and terror without resorting to armed conflicts except as a last resort, always seeking first to resolve disputes by peaceful means. We revere the lives of children in the womb, the lives of persons dying in war and from starvation, and indeed the lives of all human beings as children of God.

A project sponsored by the Catholic Church the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD).

CCHD is the initiative of the American Catholic Bishops and laity to address the root causes of poverty and social alienation, within the context of the Catholic social tradition.

CCHD does not run soup kitchens or provide short term aid to those with want. It sponsors long term solutions to break the cycle of poverty.

Poor people are involved in initiating and directing CCHD sponsored projects. CCHD seeks to empower poor communities to help themselves.

Two speakers at the Republican National Convention ( Sarah Palin and Rudy Giuliani ) belittled the work of the Catholic Church and the Church's sponsorship of organizations like the one that hired Barack Obama as a "community organizer" to work on the South Side of Chicago as the steel mills were closing.

Accepting a low paying position as a community organizer for a CCHD project is real evidence of having a "servant's heart."

Given McCain's economic and tax plans I worry that only more hardship will fall upon the middle-class and poor, leading to even more problems that stem from such things,(drug use, crime, un-wanted pregnancies, families broken up)

As I often say the GOP preys on those who pray.

Ron Reagan Jr. said "there is alot of false piety in Washington."

And now we are to believe that John McCain is pro-religion? This is what he said in 2000, while running against "W."

By Brian Knowlton International Herald Tribune
29/02/2000
WASHINGTON - Senator John McCain, in a provocative and politically risky speech, sharply criticized leaders of the religious right on Monday as ''agents of intolerance'' allied to his rival, Governor George W. Bush, and denounced what he said were the tactics of ''division and slander.''
Specifically, Mr. McCain singled out the evangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell as ''corrupting influences on religion and politics'' and said parts of the religious right were divisive and even un-American.

This is the (7) CST principles, how Obama aligns with them through his plan for America called the Blueprint for Change and why as a Catholic, I feel I must vote for him.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops describes Catholic Social Teaching (CST) as "wisdom about building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society." This Church doctrine has its roots in Pope Leo XIII's encyclical Rerum Novarum ("Of New Things"), released in 1891. The seven principles of CST, according to the U.S. Bishops and other Catholic authorities, are

Forward this!

Funky Unky — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:47:05 EDT

Anti-Semite Launched Obama Smears

Before Barack bash, kook pledged to "exterminate" powerful Jews

OCTOBER 14--The Chicago man credited with launching the Barack Obama-is-a-Muslim smear campaign once pledged to "exterminate Jew Power in America," and claimed that "Jew babies are fed with subsidized American taxpayer money," and that Jews were "schooled in blood sucking and money grubbing from birth." Those anti-Semitic statements (and many, many others) were contained in a 1986 fundraising letter circulated by Andy Martin, then a Connecticut congressional candidate. Martin, who began his whisper campaign against Obama in August 2004 after the politician's keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, has a long history of impugning Jews, often in connection with the hundreds of legal proceedings filed by the 62-year-old perennial candidate. But the 1986 letter, a copy of which you'll find below, is particularly virulent. In fact, in 1996, when Republican officials in Florida learned of Martin's prior fundraising pitch they rescinded the party's support for Martin, then a state senate candidate (when he ran for Congress in 1986, Martin was known as Anthony R. Martin-Trigona).
Martin's sleazy background has gained renewed attention in light of his appearance this month in a Sean Hannity-hosted Fox News documentary about Obama. During that October 5 program, Martin claimed that the Democratic presidential candidate was once "in training for radical overthrow of the government." Martin offered no proof for this claim, nor was any sought by Hannity, who identified Martin as an "Internet journalist." Nor did Fox mention the kooky Martin's history of anti-Semitic statements or his arrest record (click here to view five of his mug shots). In fact, Martin is wanted in New York and Florida on outstanding arrest warrants. The New York warrant, out of Ulster County, resulted from harassment charges related to a child custody battle. The Florida warrant, from Palm Beach County, was filed in connection with a criminal contempt conviction.

Mabey this should be forwarded around to all the right-wingers!

Beware! A new letter is going around saying that it was written by Letterman or Jay Leno recently. It wasn't, it was by a Craig Smith in 2006!

Special Women's Forum on Cancer tomorrow, featuring CYNTHIA NIXON of "Sex and the City"

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 21:27:22 EDT

Tomorrow, the Campaign for Change will be hosting a very special women's health event, at the Ohio State University, in Columbus. Please join health care experts as well as star of stage and screen Cynthia Nixon, best known as "Miranda" from "Sex and the City." Below are the details, which you can also access on My.BarackObama.com by clicking HERE:

Women's Health Issues Forum, with SPECIAL GUEST CYNTHIA NIXON - A Close Up on Cancer
Please join us for a discussion of Barack Obama's Plan for a Healthy America as it relates to women's health and cancer, featuring guests:
Charles Shapiro, M.D.
Electra Paskett, PhD.
Rebekah Gee, M.D.
Anna Cluxton, survivor and advocate
Cynthia Nixon, actress and activist.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd at 7:00 PM
The Ohio State University
Hitchcock Hall, Room 35
2070 Neil Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
RSVP online: http://OH.BarackObama.com/WomensHealthCancerForum

Invite one of your undecided friends! You can RSVP by clicking HERE. Or visit:

http://OH.BarackObama.com/WomensHealthCancerForum

Florida: Obama And Clinton Join Forces

EsquireUK — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:59:09 EDT

www.barackobama.com

Tuesday, 21st October 2008

Chicago, Illinois

They were once bitter rivals in Florida for the Democratic party's presidential nomination. But Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton hugged, kissed and joined forces in Orlando last night to launch a concerted three-day push to win over undecided voters in the key swing state.

The two made a rare joint appearance at a public rally attended by an estimated 30,000 wildly enthusiastic supporters to begin a frantic final two weeks of campaigning before the November 4 election.

The politician Obama once accused of "stirring it up" in Florida, for attending a fundraiser there against an agreement between them not to, was suddenly his new best friend.

Introduced to the stage as the "Iron Lady", Clinton delivered a forthright endorsement of her one-time opponent's credentials for the White House and urged the voters who swept her to an ultimately meaningless victory in the state's Democratic primary to campaign anew for Obama. "It's a mad dash for the finish line and we cannot take a single vote for granted," she said. "If you knocked on doors for me, knock on doors for Barack. If you made calls for me, make them for Barack."

By way of reciprocity, the mutual appreciation continued as Obama took to the podium immediately afterwards to deliver a 30-minute speech tilted strongly towards Florida's legions of working-class voters. He hugged her warmly, thanked her for her support and for introducing him as "America's next president", and announced that: "Hillary Clinton shattered barriers to inspire millions," he said. "I'm proud to call her my friend."

Hugely popular in Florida, Clinton's presence confirmed Obama's unleashing of his heavy weaponry in a late attempt to seize a state won by George Bush in each of the last two elections.

For three days this week, Obama, his wife Michelle, Clinton and senior Democrat Bill Richardson, the New Mexico governor, were due to make at least 20 campaign appearances in the state from Pensacola in the north to Miami in the south.

Earlier yesterday, Obama spoke in Tampa as Clinton campaigned in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale. Tonight, Obama will address voters in Miami, home to a majority of Florida's half million or so Cuban-Americans, who are traditionally Republican-leaning.

In Orlando last night, thousands of disappointed supporters remained locked outside as Obama and Clinton swept in for their party's biggest public rally of the campaign in Florida.

The Amway Arena is the regular home of the Orlando Magic basketball team, but Obama was casting spells of his own as he worked a keen audience, many of whom had queued since daybreak for a spot near the front.

"I remember watching tapes of Martin Luther King speaking years ago, and Barack Obama is the only one I've heard since who I believe when he says what he says," said Marsha Lawson, a 65-year-old grandmother from Winter Park, near Orlando, who arrived at 6am with her two daughters. "Obama will be good news for us. I was going to vote today, but it can wait until tomorrow. I had to be here."

With two weeks of early voting already under way in Florida, and opinion polls pointing to a clear Obama lead, Clinton urged supporters not to be complacent. "We cannot falter, we cannot stop, we cannot take a single vote for granted," she said. "Let's begin our march to take our country back. Now is the time to close the deal on Barack Obama, and close the book on eight years of failed Republican leadership."

Aside from the cheering hordes, a raft of good news greeted the Democratic candidate as he arrived. Figures released yesterday showed his party has 600,000 more registered voters in Florida than the Republicans, overturning a 370,000 deficit from four years ago.

With an overall electorate of more than eight million, it is Florida's undecided voters that Obama is chasing rather than those he knows he has. But it was an encouraging day for the Democrats to hear Erin VanSickle, the Republican state party spokeswoman, admit that: "Florida is a blue state when it comes to registration."

Additionally, four of the latest five opinion polls give Obama anything from a two to five-point advantage over Republican rival John McCain in Florida, a lead he has held since only the beginning of this month.

As the assembled thousands in the packed open-air arena shouted their approval, Obama delivered a stinging attack on McCain. "Florida is crying out for change," he said. "I can take two more weeks of John McCain's attacks, but America can't take four more years of failed economic policies."

The so-called I-4 corridor, named for the east-west motorway through the central Florida heartland from Tampa to Daytona Beach, is rich in working-class votes and the Democrats are sure they can win most of them. Alongside Joe the Plumber live Joe the Theme Park Worker, and Joe the Rocket Engineer, and in the current economic climate many are worried about their jobs.

More than 3,500 jobs will be lost at the Kennedy Space Centre at Florida's Cape Canaveral over the next two years as the space shuttle fleet is retired, and Obama hopes a planned extra $2 billion investment in Nasa will ease things for the space agency and its workers.

That news was welcomed by a group who call themselves the Obamanauts, a group of workers in the space industry in central and east Florida who are hoping their candidate will bring forward America's plans to resumed manned spaceflight after 2010. "Obama's plans will help retain the aerospace workforce in Florida and around the country," said Tim Bailey, a space education consultant from Titusville and leader of a group that has modified Obama's official campaign logo to give it an intergalactic flavour.

Meanwhile, Obama said he was determined to address Florida's unemployment rate, at 6.6 per cent half a point higher than the national average and the worst figure in the state for 14 years. He said he also has his sights set on Florida's soaring rate of repossessions, second only to California in the US.

Working class votes from Florida are the key to "bringing sunshine to Washington," Obama told the crowd, while Clinton added that she had devised a new slogan for Florida: "Jobs, baby, jobs," a chant that quickly gained in popularity.

www.barackobama.com

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/21/obama-clinton-florida-democrat-election

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=arpLcsQ0lbKw&refer=politics

Teaching Tool for Obama

Jill 4 Obama — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:09:51 EDT

Here is a great Obama tool to pass on to others.

Try using this "To the Point" video on You Tube for a simple Obama teaching tool:

Why Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydiaaThq2LE

http://whyobamafilm.org/sources.html

Show 1 Reader Comment

Republicans and ACORN

Funky Unky — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:44:56 EDT

Voter fraud and ACORN

In 2000 and especially 2004 there has been many documented cases in which the Republicans commited voter fraud.

Like Diebold machines that were proven by Republicans to incorrectly count, or the whistleblower, who actually wrote the program allowing "invisible" buttons on machine screens that could allow flipping votes or only counting say 1 in 3.

A consulting firm called Sproul & Associates, which was hired by the Republican National Committee to register voters in six battleground states,was discovered shredding Democratic registrations.

I have seen many documenties about this. Even the movie RECOUNT. It touches on , a company hired by the republican party, to eliminate voters from records. Some people were eliminated because of similar names, (easy enough could happen) But many were never convicted felons, in fact birthdates and soc. completly wrong and in some cases the date of the conviction had not yet happened! (that's right, somehow they were predicting the future)

Now I find it really interesting that the major problems that are happening are in the ghetto here in Cleveland. Places which now the black vote is mobilizing. Or where there were problems in other states in 2004 where, exit polls did not measure up to the actual vote.

In fact many areas had that happen, polls in thirty states weren't just off the mark -- but to an extent that cannot be accounted for by their margin of error. In all but four states, the discrepancy favored President Bush.

Dick Morris said this, ''Exit polls are almost never wrong,'' Dick Morris, a political consultant who has worked for both Republicans and Democrats, noted after the 2004 vote. Such surveys are ''so reliable,'' he added, ''that they are used as guides to the relative honesty of elections in Third World countries.'' In 2003, vote tampering revealed by exit polling in the Republic of Georgia forced Eduard Shevardnadze to step down. And in November 2004, exit polling in the Ukraine -- paid for by the Bush administration -- exposed election fraud that denied Viktor Yushchenko the presidency.

The press afterwards decided that they were simply embarrassed and that the polls were flawed. When in fact--

The exit poll created for the 2004 election was designed to be the most reliable voter survey in history. The six news organizations -- running the ideological gamut from CBS to Fox News -- retained Edison Media Research and Mitofsky International, whose principal, Warren Mitofsky, pioneered the exit poll for CBS in 1967 and is widely credited with assuring the credibility of Mexico's elections in 1994. For its nationwide poll, Edison/Mitofsky selected a random subsample of 12,219 voters -- approximately six times larger than those normally used in national polls -- driving the margin of error down to approximately plus or minus one percent.

Even republican pollsters and researchers after the fact found-

the greatest disparities between exit polls and the official vote count came in Republican strongholds. In precincts where Bush received at least eighty percent of the vote, the exit polls were off by an average of ten percent. By contrast, in precincts where Kerry dominated by eighty percent or more, the exit polls were accurate to within three tenths of one percent -- a pattern that suggests Republican election officials stuffed the ballot box in Bush country.

In Warren County, (yes, OHIO) GOP election officials even invented a nonexistent terrorist threat to bar the media from monitoring the official vote count.

Despite the media being "blacked out" from courts, re-counts,etc.; indications continued to emerge that something wrong had taken place in 2004.

Nearly half of the 6 million American voters living abroad never received their ballots -- or received them too late to vote -- after the Pentagon unaccountably shut down a state-of-the-art Web site used to file overseas registrations.

In New Mexico, which was decided by 5,988 votes, malfunctioning machines mysteriously failed to properly register a presidential vote on more than 20,000 ballots.

Nationwide, according to the federal commission charged with implementing election reforms, as many as 1 million ballots were spoiled by faulty voting equipment -- roughly one for every 100 cast. A review of the available data reveals that in Ohio alone, at least 357,000 voters, the overwhelming majority of them Democratic, were prevented from casting ballots or did not have their votes counted in 2004 -- more than enough to shift the results of an election decided by 118,601 votes.

The single most astounding fact from the election, one in every four Ohio citizens who registered to vote in 2004 showed up at the polls only to discover that they were not listed on the rolls, thanks to GOP efforts to stem the unprecedented flood of Democrats eager to cast ballots. And that doesn’t even take into account the troubling evidence of outright fraud, which indicates that upwards of 80,000 votes for Kerry were counted instead for Bush. That alone is a swing of more than 160,000 votes -- enough to have put John Kerry in the White House.

Now why would republicans start on ACORN, a group that John McCain was the KEYNOTE speaker of in 2006 in which he spoke on immigration reform, by the way...were there were any preconditions before he agreed to meet with them?

He told the ACORN crowd: "What makes America special is what's in this room tonight."

Beyond the obvious to make Obama look bad... they want to get into these offices and election places! Don't think it's happening again?

This is video from CBS News it aired at the begining of October... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRfJtnfQDgg

So some over exubent kid regestered people multiple times... better safe than sorry. Will they be permitted to vote multiple times? Or some lazy people decided to get Mickey Mouse to register, will mickey mouse get to vote without proof?

In fact, the Board of Elections was on top of it! If someone actually read the story as written (apparently wingnuts don't bother to read beyond the first two grafs, if that much)

Cuyahoga County Board of Elections "officials had been in contact with Nash since the summer, and informed him he had to stop repeat registering."

So the Board of Elections already knew about the problem with this voter months ago, were already given information about his fraudulent registrations as turned in and flagged by ACORN, as they must do, by law, even after confirming in their quality control process that a registration is problematic in some way, and yet the story hits Murdoch's Post , amidst a flurry of ginned-up Fox "News" panic about ACORN "voter fraud". Go figure.

In fact, the organization attempts to authenticate every registration form its workers submit and by law they must turn in every form to election officials --- even if they find a registration to be fraudulent when they call the phone number submitted on the form, or if the forms are otherwise suspect or incomplete.

Yet, I suspect even something more sinester, republicans infiltrated, and did alot of it. Now, they get to call foul!

In fact in Florida they found 5,000 +registered cards in one persons handwriting. Now would a temp-like worker take that much time? I get pissed at the doctor office w/ insurance crap.

Too conspiracy therory? Yet we are led to believe that ACORN is the result of every bad thing in this country from the sup-prime melt down to rigging the election! Like the James Bond SPECTRE!

Of course they would be more inclined to lean to the left,look at what they are for, better housing and wages for the poor, more community development investment from banks and governments, and better public schools.

If you have a community problem ; where do you start?Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now... What must you do? Organize, where? Your Community!

So what group usually uses community organization? The Poor.

Where are these areas usually? Urban.

Who predominantly live here? Blacks.

What affliation do blacks usually vote? 95% or better Democrat!

Who supports programs to help others? Democrats!

Now I have seen a growing trend of white people voting Republican for one reason, they feel this... Dems=Govt.=welfare=blacks

Now who is trying to surpress this vote? Republicans.

Here is a republican quote, conservative "founding father" Paul Weyrich's remarkable comments to 15,000 preachers in Dallas in 1980,( President Reagan and Jerry Fawell were in the audience also!) a link to the video as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GBAsFwPglw
"Now many of our Christians have what I call the goo-goo syndrome - good government. They want everybody to vote. I don't want everybody to vote. Elections are not won by a majority of people, they never have been from the beginning of our country and they are not now. As a matter of fact, our leverage in the elections quite candidly goes up as the voting populace goes down."

In fact the Republicans have been trying to do this ever since, the seeds for this scam had been planted long ago. But by the GOP, not by ACORN.

"American Center for Voting Rights"(wiki that) the GOP's front group, formed in early 2005 (just three days before they were called to testify to Congress on the '04 election) to begin the propaganda front for the 2008 election.

They disbanded in May 2007. After evidence was accumulating that the issue of voter fraud had been pushed by the GOP in an effort to mask voter suppression.

Much of the evidence has emerged in media reports and congressional hearings into the firings of U.S. attorneys in at least eight cities in 2006, which "led to allegations that Republican officials pressed some of the fired prosecutors to bring voter fraud cases in hard-fought races."

What did the Department of Justice find in those voter fraud cases?

"The DoJ devoted unprecedented resources to ferreting out polling-place fraud over five years and appears to have found not a single prosecutable case across the country."

So now Obama the man who was just a organizer a few weeks ago, lacking the skills to lead is now the most brilliant man ever. Able to Orchastrate a plan only capable of Lex Luthor!

Obama's ties to ACORN-

Well we know Obama was a community organizer.But not for ACORN... read the book!

He was the organizer that led Project Vote. Which ACORN was not linked to. However there have been other project votes in other states, in which ACORN has helped out, but not all of them.

Obama as a attorney represented ACORN in a successful lawsuit alongside the U.S. Department of Justice against the state of Illinois to force state compliance with a federal voting access law.

For his work helping enforce the law, called “Motor Voter,” Barack received the IVI-IPO Legal Eagle Award in 1995.

So now the Dept. of Just. is part of the conspiracy? His secret partner!

The campain did give $800,000 to a company Citizens Services Inc., for consulting. They Partner with ACORN on some things. Which given ACORN charter items tend to coincide with alot of the same.

Now none of this is voter fraud! Give me the names of those arrested!

In fact the very right-wing outlets that are spreading this stuff reveal that either

1) They describe allegations and investigations brought by Republican agents, with little or no evidence of any wrong doing, and certainly no "voter fraud,"
2) Where voter registration fraud has occurred it has been by rogue ACORN employees, originally reported to authorities by ACORN themselves (who are the actual victims of any such fraud by their employees), or
3) Smoke and mirrors are used to cloud the fact that not a single fraudulent vote has actually been cast by anyone.

Oh, except Ann Coulter! LOL

In fact the RNC even went to issue the transcript from FOX Televisions "FOX and Friends" report , which includes plenty of unsubstantiated hearsay and garbage, as if it were actually fact. So, naturally, it's been released as a press release by the RNC, as is.

Remember in late July when Barack Obama predicted John McCain's attack strategy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH2iufUU1f4

Remember McCain's howls of protest in response?

What was it racism? The race card?

Well, it turns out that Obama was right about McCain's attacks.

As it turns out, he knew McCain better than McCain knew McCain. I guess that means we can call him "Nostrobamus."

UPDATE:

GOP Voter Reg Contractor Arrested for Fraud, Perjury

Mark Anthony Jacobs of Young Political Majors (YPM) was busted for registration fraud and perjury in Ontario, CA on Saturday, after reports that his group was hired by the GOP to dupe Democratic voters into changing their registration records to Republican, allegedly denying them a vote in thousands of instances. The scheme has reportedly been carried out by YPM operatives in a number of states around the country.

Obama Fights Back Against the GOP's ACORN "Voter Fraud" Fraud!

He's finally stepped up and pushed back today, as his general counsel held a press conference call, to announce a 7-page letter to AG Mukasey calling for the special counsel looking into the U.S. Attorney Purge (of which the phony ACORN "Voter Fraud" Fraud was at the heart, and the use of federal law enforcement apparatus to create "an unholy alliance of law enforcement and the ugliest form of partisan politics," as Obama counsel Bob Bauer described it today during the call.

The new Obama flag and the Dumb old right

Funky Unky — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:30:43 EDT

Did you hear about the idiot right wing radio host?(And many others such as townhall)

Bob Grant said: "[W]hat is that flag that Obama's been standing in front of that looks like an American flag, but instead of having the field of 50 stars representing the 50 states, there's a circle?" He then said: "Is the circle the 'O' for Obama? Is that what it is?" Grant later said: "[D]id you notice Obama is not content with just having several American flags, plain old American flags with the 50 states represented by 50 stars? He has the 'O' flag. And that's what that 'O' is. That's what that 'O' is. Just like he did with the plane he was using. He had the flag painted over, and the 'O' for Obama. Now, these are symptom -- these things are symptomatic of a person who would like to be a potentate -- a dictator." '

Ummm....

State flag of Ohio!!!

No wonder the conservatives are so screwed up!LOL Morons!LOL

John McCain Votes for Barack Obama. No Joke.

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:27:35 EDT

A funny story from last week in Cincinnati: John McCain voted for Barack Obama. That's right- the local retired electrician took advantage of early voting to cast his ballot for... his namesake's opponent. Cincinnati.com has the full story:

The John McCain in question is a 57-year-old retired industrial electrician from College Hill, not the Republican presidential nominee from Arizona.
McCain, whose name has produced a lot of good-natured ribbing from neighbors and friends during this political year, said he voted for Obama because he’s “the candidate who’s going to bring real change to Washington.

After casting his early vote for Obama at the Hamilton County Board of Elections downtown, McCain explained that he also backed Obama during this year’s primary after initially considering voting for U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton.
As to his namesake, McCain said he has been telling anyone who asks: “Don’t vote for me.”

You can vote early just like John McCain. Just click HERE to find your location.

The Truth about the Tax Proposal

Janine4Obama08 — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:01:56 EDT

Warning:

This blog is boring.

This blog only shares facts and does not intend to feed fears.

It does not spout sound bites and incite anger.

Yes, there is no mention of "sarah and socialism" to be found. It's just the facts. And yes, it's true, the facts with what is going on these days are just - so - well - boring. A real snoozefest actually.

Nonetheless, if you happen to be one of the two people who chose to read a blog that has truth and tax in the subject header, misery loves company, so I welcome you.

This blog is in response to all of those who are tuning into Fox news, forwarding e-mails, engaging in conversations about their hard work and all those "damn bleeding heart liberals."

This blog is in response to those tuning into Rush to shake theirs heads in anger and to call and commiserate about "all those lazy 30% of Americans getting hand-outs."

Here it goes. In response to these accusations and the lack of real information readily available, a friend of mine sought to conduct some research and to seek out the truth about the tax plans on the table.

He is a non-confrontational, fair, objective person who is a supporter of Barack Obama. He is a CPA who loves to conduct research and engage in conversations based on fact and not emotion - yes, he's a real hoot some would think (not). The fact that he took the time to research this topic and write a blog in attempt to spread the truth is comendable to say the least - and I think the very least you can do is read it and pass the information along:

http://onemanparade.blogspot.com/

The tax socialist issue has legs - use this info to outrun it.

Cleveland, Akron, New Philadelphia and Middletown Newspapers Endorse Barack!

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:39:34 EDT

In what looks like it's becoming a trend, four major Ohio newspapers recently endorsed Barack for President. The Cleveland Plain-Dealer's backing is a boost for the campaign given its huge market, and the Akron Beacon-Journal's support reflects an understanding that Barack will help large sized towns like Akron. But the New Philadelphia Times-Reporter and Middletown/Hamilton Journal's words are especially remarkable, given that they come from typically Republican-voting areas. But in this election, with a candidate whose policies support rural and small town areas, the map is definitely shifting.

It seems people from all over the state are hungry for change. Here is what the Plain-Dealer had to say:

After eight years of George W. Bush, America needs a change in direction and a change in tone.

It needs a president who understands that, yes, the world can be dangerous, but it is also complex. That the United States cannot defend its freedom by abandoning its principles. That it cannot ignore its allies one day and demand their help the next.

It needs a president who knows that optimism, not fear, defines America. That tax cuts and deregulation alone are not an economic strategy. That Washington cannot sit idle when a great city is devastated by nature or when millions of hardworking Americans are devastated by losing their homes, their jobs, their health care.
It needs a president who will listen and learn, and not confuse loyalty with competence. Who will ask Americans to sacrifice in the service of their country, not their party or self-interest. Who will be the leader Bush promised eight years ago -- a unifier, not a divider.

Barack Obama can be that leader.

You can read the full version online HERE. The following is what the Akron Beacon-Journal wrote:

Barack Obama calls for change. So does John McCain. Each has spent the past year or more attempting to define his version.
So, yes, change, by all means, and the candidate who has articulated more clearly and persuasively the course the country should follow is Barack Obama... How solid his campaign has been, the organization, grit and, most important, the direction and themes.
Where does Obama want to take the country? He wants to enhance the investment in education and research, essential to competitiveness in the knowledge economy. If his pledge to reduce the typical premium for health insurance by $2,500 a year is mostly guesswork, his overall plan reflects the pragmatism required to repair a costly and inefficient system of health care. He seeks to add fairness to the tax code, responding to trends in income, wealthier households doing far better, too many Americans experiencing flat paychecks in this decade.

On these and other matters, including energy, the aim is to mobilize better the country's talent and capital, grasping the indispensable role of government, reinforced by the turmoil on Wall Street in recent weeks. In a related way, such a focus on what is most important will drive his selection of federal judges and Supreme Court justices.

The whole endorsement of the Beacon-Journal is available HERE. And here is the New Philadelphia Times-Reporter:

The Times-Reporter believes Democrat Barack Obama is the better candidate to lead the country out of these trying economic times and today gives its endorsement to him over opponent Republican John McCain.
In the past, The Times-Reporter has shied from endorsing Democratic presidential candidates primarily because of their promises of additional entitlement programs that grow government rather than shrink it. But the last eight years have blurred the picture with Republicans spending as wildly as their counterparts across the aisle.
Then there's a host of countries to worry about, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Georgia and others. And still on the table will be other key issues – the environment, energy, education, infrastructure and health care. And have we mentioned that our image abroad needs a little polishing?

We believe Barack Obama is the better of the two candidates and the one who can lead us through one of the most difficult economic times since the Great Depression. We urge T-R readers to cast their ballots for him and his running mate, Joe Biden, the senior U.S. senator from Delaware.

The election is Nov. 4, although Ohio voters can cast "no fault" absentee ballots now or vote at their respective boards of elections.

The whole editorial is online HERE. And finally, the Middletown/Hamilton Journal wrote the following:

The overarching question surrounding the 2008 presidential election is whether this nation can lift itself from the financial and political morass that threatens its prosperity, its security and its very future. To be successful, this country needs a strong leader who can pave a new course that improves the lives of Americans and others around the globe.
Electing Obama next month does declare to the entire world that a new, positive and optimistic course has been set for America, with attainable and desirable goals that will lift up the 305 million people who call this country home.
Obama, D-Ill., and his opponent, U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., have squared off in three national televised debates and have survived a demanding primary season to get to this point. Even though he lacks the experience of McCain, we believe Obama has demonstrated himself to be the more knowledgeable, serious, stable and articulate candidate — and he has the most comprehensive agenda for getting America back on its feet.
"No Child Left Behind," launched by President Bush here in Butler County, had the right goals, according to Obama, but lacked adequate funding and wasn't implemented correctly. Obama plans to reform NCLB, as well as attack America's high dropout rate and soaring college costs, and emphasize teacher recruitment and retention. "Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy," Obama said in his acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention in August.

The version in full is available HERE.

Have friends that need convincing? Send them an email with link to this blog post, which you can grab here:

http://OH.BarackObama.com/OhioEndorsements1020

the only democrat in a republican family

Kaitka — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:16:36 EDT

Almost every day, I get e-mails from my mother. They say things about how Barack Obama is a Muslim, how he's going to join efforts with Taliban members to destroy not just America, but the world if he is elected President. They say he is the Anti-Christ. That he's friends with terrorists. That he hates America.

I retort every time. I tell her factual information. I correct her errors. She doesn't want corrected. She wants a reason to hate. She's always had a prejudice against Muslims, since she moved to Detroit in 2003. Not only is she prejudice, she's also a fanatical Christian. And for whatever reason, Christianity has become synonymous with Republican anymore, compliments of George W. Bush and his holy war.

My entire family - every one of them, even extended, are die-hard Republicans. They pray for the Republican party. They spread their right-wing propaganda to all their friends and to their churches. What used to be "vote issue" has somewhere along the way turned into "vote party", and has reached it's pinnacle at "vote for the old, white, Christian guy who's ordering wars while giving you tax cuts."

I live in Ohio, like all of my extended family with the exception of my parents in Detroit. I don't worry about my parents' vote, since it's unlikely that Michigan will go to the Republicans. It's the moral of it when it comes to my parents. They think they're preaching God's love, but they're siding with, dare I call them, warmongers. They loyally defend Bush and his decisions as President. They see no wrongdoing there. They base nothing on any real data, and spew prejudice rumors. Even my sister, who couldn't care less about politics, forwards the propaganda right-wing e-mails to everyone she knows. I ask her why, since she doesn't care. She has no answer except that I should "drop it".

It's always been frustrating being a part of a family who doesn't think. Who are so weak that they cling to lies and what appears to benefit them most on the surface. I am married now, to a man who cries when he reads the U.S. Constitution, with two daughters of my own. We are breaking the chain of thoughtless following. I am campaigning for Barack Obama. I have printed out fliers with information in them taken directly from barackobama.com, info that I think really applies to people in our neighborhood. People without a ton of money. Elderly people who are retired or are trying to retire. Twenty-somethings like myself with very young children. I am taking Obama-Biden '08 stickers to my college and handing them out. I want Obama to win this election, not because I want to team with the winner. But because I want the best for our country, for our future, for our children, for the world. My children are insured through Medicaid. I am looking toward grad school. Our world is pointing fingers our way and protesting our actions.

Something has to change.

Now.

Obama-Biden '08

Barack Finds Burgeoning Support in Ohio's Rural Areas

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 11:42:53 EDT

Before this year, no one would have imagined that St. Clairsville, Ohio, would play a role in the Presidential election. But as this article from the Columbus Dispatch shows, with a recent visit from Vice Presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden, they found themselves thrown into the spotlight for not the first time this campaign season. And it's a good thing too, because locals like Matt, featured in a recent article in the Wheeling News-Register, want change:

Martins Ferry resident Matt Myers wants to be able to pay for his son Zack's college education, but he's not sure he will be able to now that he has lost his job as a truck driver.
Tuesday, the father and son joined other local voters for a campaign rally featuring Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden on the campus of Ohio University Eastern, near St. Clairsville.
Matt Myers believes Obama will help grow the economy to provide more jobs for families like his.
"This Bush economy has really put us down, and we need someone like Barack Obama to help get the economy moving in the right direction again," Myers said.
Zack Myers, a senior at Martins Ferry High School, is also worried about the way the national debt continues to escalate.
"I will be paying of Bush's (Iraq) war debts when I get older, and that is just not fair," Myers said.
Another opponent of the war in Iraq is Wheeling resident Matt Bennett.
"With all the money Bush is wasting in Iraq, the government could use that money to help feed the hungry and help the homeless people right here in this country," Bennett said.

Through extensive outreach efforts and a perfectly suited platform on rural issues, it's not uncommon to find outspoken Obama supporters in some of the more remote places in Ohio. Whether they're expressing themselves at their small businesses, or decorating a new Barn for Obama, like in the picture below from Knox County, Ohioans in rural areas are making their voices heard.

Also in Knox County, Carol is one of the ones making her voice heard. She describes how her local crew staked out an Obama presence at the Tomato Festival:

The little town of Fredericktown, Ohio (where I grew up)... population about 1,500, just had it's 32nd Annual Tomato Show Festival and Parade. It's a VERY CONSERVATIVE town, so we didn't know what response we'd get with our Obama presence there...
And we DID HAVE A PRESENCE!!! Over 80 people marched in the parade on behalf of Democratic candidates! Close to 50 of them were for Senator Obama! It was the largest Democratic entry in a parade this county has ever seen.
And, our Obama block-of-marchers were FIRED UP! Two women flanked our group at the front and back and kept the chants going... throughout the entire parade so that apart from the marching bands, we were also the loudest entry in the parade!

The best part was the response we got from people on the sidelines... thousands from all over the county and neighboring counties come to the parade and much to our surprise we received a constant display of "thumbs-up," and CHEERS FOR US! ...as we went marching by! For each positive response from a parade watcher, we had walkers ready with Obama handouts that gave contact information for the local campaign, so hopefully we gathered more volunteers for the work ahead.

Also that day, 30-40 marchers stayed around after the parade to canvass this little community. I spoke with one resident while canvassing--a retired high school teacher I had way-back-when--who said she thought this was the first time this sleepy little (former?) Republican stronghold had EVER been canvassed!

Word has it our rural county of 55,000 is "looking good," for the Obama Camapign, given the numbers we're gathering from the canvassing and phone-banking. Our Obama Field Organizer--Jon--told us the first week he was here, "We CAN win Knox County," and by golly, he's kept us fired up and I think we're going to do it!

With a positive attitude like that, how could a rural county like Knox not go for Obama?

Get involved in your area today. Do you live in a rural community? Click HERE to join Rural Ohioans for Obama.

Early Voting Continues to be Smooth Sailing in the Buckeye State

Michael in Ohio — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:43:16 EDT

During the 7 day overlap between voter registration and early voting, where Buckeyes could register and vote on site, Obama supporters gave the campaign a huge advantage by turning out in droves.

Now that registration has closed, all that's left is to vote! Voting is going on every day up through Election Day. Thousands in Ohio have already voted, and all reports find that voting early an easy and convenient way to cast a ballot for change--just check out this article from the Youngstown Vindicator. You can locate your early voting location using the tool below, which is also located at www.VoteForChange.com.

Here are some more personal testimonies from early voters in Ohio. Sue from Toledo writes:

I voted on the first day of early voting & it was so exciting! I took a friend with me, & we went to Obama offices first to get more [materials], then it was on to the polls! I was never so excited about voting before in my life, nor have I ever been more proud to cast my vote! Barack is our hope for the future!

Nickie in Wadsworth says:

“There were so many people ready to cast their votes and I was very proud...! It's time for a positive change in this country and I've never supported anyone more than I support Obama! For the first time I'm not voting for someone to keep the 'other guy' from becoming President! What a great feeling to really have HOPE FOR CHANGE! Obama/Biden are bound to instill a renewed faith and pride in our country!”

Have you voted already? Share your experience here, or let us know how it went in the comments section below.

Obama supporter steals Mentally challenged man's vote!

Funky Unky — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:21:54 EDT

Perhaps some of you have heard or read this... sad to say it is true,and they have put the surveilence camera pic up. I have placed it after story!

There are allegations of voter fraud, as a Dougherty County family claims the vote of a mentally challenged relative was stolen.

They say the adult day rehab program where Jack Justice attends took him to vote, without the family's permission. What's worse is Justice says the person helping him wouldn't cast the ballot for his choice for President.

Jack Justice has been voting since he turned 18. Typically his family takes him to their neighborhood precinct. This time Primus Industries, his adult day rehab program, took him to vote. His family was shocked, but what shocked them more was that Jack claims that his aide commandeered his vote.
"They told me to vote for Obama, I said no I wanted to vote for McCain," said Jack Justice, a voter. Jack Justice says the person helping him, selected Obama's name. His sister says the family is often asked to sign a permission slips for trips, but for this they were never notified. "No permission slips, no nothing, he just came home and said he had gone," said Nancy Justice, Jack's sister.
We questioned election officials about the procedure, who say they recall the group coming in to vote and an aide was helping the individuals, but they must sign an oath that they'll cast the ballot however the voter prefers.

Actual surveilence pic....

Cincinnati Votes Early and Rocks Late at Fountain Square

Michael in Ohio — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:04:55 EDT

Yesterday evening, at an event independent of the campaign, the good people of Cincinnati were treated to a rally and concert to promote voting early, at the beautiful, neon-lit Fountain Square in the center of the city. The name of the event, appropriately, was "Vote Early, Rock Late."

Renowned rock act The Breeders were the first to go on, and were followed by speakers both locally and nationally known--including supporter actress Natalie Portman (who also rallied students at the University of Cincinnati this morning!). The event started at 5:00 pm, well before the early voting location shut its doors, so between acts locals could walk just a few blocks over and cast their ballots.

The headline act of the night was The National, a band born and bred in Cincinnati. Their show had the feeling of a family reunion, and indeed lead singer Matt talked about the healthy and passionate political discourse that is inherent to the citizens and families of Cincinnati.

Fans and committed volunteers from the Ohio State University, Jordan and Ellen, are two of those passionate citizens--Jordan grew up in Cincinnati himself. True to the informal nature of the show, they had the opportunity to meet and talk with Bryce, the band's guitarist, afterwards. Jordan and Bryce went to rival high schools.

Keeping with the theme of the importance of talking to family and friends about politics and the change we need, at one point lead singer Matt yielded the floor to his own Uncle Jack, a local activist for Democratic candidates and Barack Obama. Jack spoke about the importance of this moment in history, and how essential it is for everyone to work as hard as they can for Barack in the coming 18 days.

After that, one of the last songs they played was "Fake Empire," a fitting conclusion since it is featured in this inspiring campaign video, "Signs of Hope and Change."

Turn that hope and change into a reality. Vote early. Volunteer after.

PALIN GUILTY OF LIBEL

Karen in St. Joseph, Missouri — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 16:44:36 EDT

Libel... malice... tort of false light... to include but not limited to... she's guilty... She needs to be slapped with a lawsuit.

Sarah Palin is forgetting to use the words, "alleged" in her false accusations not only against our candidate, but against ACORN.

I don't know of a court ruling, wherein ACORN or any other agency involved in this alleged voter registration issue, were found guilty in a United States court of law.

NB: "Allegedly" Guilty of Libel

"Who Is the REAL Joe Wurzelbacher?"

The Trombone-Wielding Jackass — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 12:28:45 EDT

A lot has been made of the now (in)famous "Joe the Plumber" after both candidates practically fallated him on national television for 90 minutes. But, as ~~Beauty School Dropout~~ Republican VP nominee, Sarah Palin likes to chide, we need to ask ourselves, "Who is the REAL Joe Wurzelbacher?"

Well, after some digging, it seems that all that pandering was for naught, as a search of the Ohio SOS website (you'll have to search) reveals, Mr. Joe the Plumber is not even registered to vote in the upcoming election.

It also seems that Mr. Wurzelbacher and family aren't necessarily in as tight a situation as Senator McCain would have you believe. A quick search on any small business directory pulls up six companies with the family name (four of which trace back to Joe, himself) in the Greater Cincinnati area - the only place where any Joe/Joseph Wurzelbachers can be found in my state.

Another Company - JCC Investments, Inc. - is also accredited to this "poor, poor plumber" whose chance at the American Dream is supposedly being shattered by Senator Obama's policy. Oh...and don't forget Ervin's Remodeling biz.

This poor, poor family.

Finally, let's not let loose from our minds another intriguing point. The Daily Kos is indicating that our poor friend Joe may also be related to big-time Republican donor Robert Wurzelbacher of Keating 5 infamy. (Link)

Let's see...He's not poor or even middle-class by any stretch of the imagination, he has called Obama and the idea of a Progressive Tax "Socialist", has been on right-wing blogs for over a week now, and interviewed (pre-debate) on right-wing shows.

Can we say "planted"?

How McCain/Palin are losing

Barbara — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:33:00 EDT

Last night at about 7 pm my phone rang. I answered, there was a short delay, and then a man's voice began speaking. This was an automated call.

The man's voice was hostile in tone. I was not able to record the message - I wish I could have. And so I will relay what was said though I am not 'quoting' exactly. Working from memory here.

But first. How insulting to call me at home with an automated message. Give me a real person please. My caller ID recorded this number - I recommend that you call them. You can leave a voice message on the phone, which I did. I asked that they call me back which so far, they have not. 877-431-2572

The message was telling me the following basic facts. I should not vote for Obama. The message claimed that when we were facing our financial crisis, McCain put his campaign on hold and led the country with honor and true leadership skills. Obama spent a few hours and then hurried over to a fundraiser with those Hollywood people. Who do I want in office, a true leader or a Hollywood supporter?

It was short, brief, and read with a great deal of anger.

If I had been an undecided voter, I would have become an Obama supporter after this call. When our country is facing the enormous and complicated and all encompassing problems that we are now facing, any intelligent person recognizes that in order for all of us to succeed, we must work together. It's one thing to have differing points of view. It's another to simply stand in the shadows and throw mud.

I am so looking forward to tonight's debate. McCain is so confused right now and his people are simply mean. The country needs to watch how a true leader takes the control from McCain.

The amount of hate and divisiveness that McCain and his sidekick have stirred up, and endorsed, frightens me. I remember the Vietnam era of protesting, the aftermath of the civil rights movement and the riots. I worry about Obama's safety. I worry about the safety of Obama supporters. The ignorance is simply amazing.

I would much prefer that the campaign was a fight between ideas. McCain and Palin can't win the fair fight of arguing ideas. They are like the bully in 7th grade. I would love to know what their emotional IQ is.

Anyone else get one of these calls?

Petition - End the Politics of Hate

The Trombone-Wielding Jackass — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:14:35 EDT

BraveNewPAC has started a petition demanding that John McCain stop using hatred, baiting and other such filth on the campaign trail.

This is my posted comment:

Senator McCain,

From the first time I was introduced to you at the age of 15 through CSPAN and other media outlets, I had a tremendous amount of respect for your (former) positions and (former) heroism.

That respect is lost now.

Senator McCain, you were victimized during the 2000 campaign by vicious smears and lies. One would think that a former victim of such filth with any sense of dignity would do anything in their power to prevent another human being from enduring it in the future. "One" would be wrong.

Your heroism, your once respectable stances on the issues, as well as your desire to serve our great nation, have now taken a back seat only to your political ambition.

This saddens me.

Beyond this, you have now resorted to baiting your audiences through suggestive and hateful rhetoric - even to the point where they are audibly making death threats to your opponent.

Not only have you ignored and refused to repudiate these disgusting calls, you continue to stoke the fire along with your running mate (yet another reason I have lost my respect for you - but that's for another day).

John - can I call you John? - please bring back your dignity and your honor by first repudiating these abhorrent and illegal threats and then by controlling your own campaign and refusing to stand for hateful and hate-inspiring speech on the stump.

I trust you will make the right decision.

You can watch the new video called "McCain's Mob" and sign the petition by visiting BraveNewPAC's website

Senator Sherrod Brown Encourages Ohio to Vote Early!

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:26:44 EDT

Senator Sherrod Brown stopped by the Campaign for Change Headquarters a couple hours ago, and had a special message for Ohio supporters:

You can find your early vote location by clicking HERE.

Four Prominent Ohio Newspapers Endorse Barack for President

Michael in Ohio — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:10:35 EDT

Newspapers across the Buckeye state have come out in favor of Barack Obama, and some in places you would never expect. Here are a few recent endorsements from the flagship newspapers in Springfield, Canton, Dayton, and Toledo. From different perspectives, they all aptly emphasize the importance of this moment, and an Obama presidency.

You are not better off than you were four years ago. Or even eight years ago for that matter.
This is not a rehash of the past; it is the basis of a decision for the future.
The News-Sun Editorial Board is endorsing Barack Obama for President as the best hope for the nation to return to prosperity and to regain its standing in the world.
Obama is clearly a smart, caring, committed candidate for the job of president.
Obama is not an idealogue. His polices are pragmatic and tempered with the realization that the Bush economy may foreclose or postpone some of his initiatives.
Moreover he has quickly mastered the important issues confronting America. No one who listens to him can doubt that.
One of Obama's best qualities is simply his ability to inspire people.
We're going to need that in the coming years.

On Main Street, families are watching their homes and retirement savings lose value while the cost of their most basic needs goes up and up. On Wall Street, a hands-off approach to oversight of financial institutions has led to the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression. Halfway around the world, the United States remains mired in a country it should never have invaded.

Stark Countians rightly want change in Washington. The Repository editorial board believes that the presidential candidate who can deliver on this demand is Democrat Barack Obama.
In the realm of foreign policy, Obama said unequivocally in 2002 that a U.S. invasion of Iraq would be a mistake, as The Repository did. It was not a popular conviction, but it was the right one. McCain supported the pre-emptive war, as did the vast majority of Congress.
We believe that Obama's intellect, caution, levelheadedness and calm demeanor make him better suited to lead a nation that must respond to many unwelcome changes with yet more change. The Repository endorses Sen. Barack Obama for president.

In this unhappy passage, the nation faces a happy choice: a brilliant young man offering a new generation of leadership — and a remarkable turning point in the nation's history — opposes an accomplished veteran who has punched all the right tickets in his rise toward the presidency.

Both are thoughtful, modern people alert to the real problems of the world and the nation. Neither should be chosen because the other is frightening.
In a time of change, Sen. Obama is the more promising leader. With his agile mind, often pitch-perfect judgment and preternatural calm and self-confidence, he seems built for the job of sorting through this thing, if anybody can.
The nation faces a choice that looks more and more like a choice between the future and the past. It has never been one to shrink from the future.

Like another member of Congress from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, Senator Obama initially rose to prominence on the strength of soaring oratory. Over the past 18 months of the grueling campaign, his background has been thoroughly inspected and dissected by the press and a political opposition dedicated to keeping him from the White House.

The man who has emerged is young (47) but well-educated and accomplished, both as a state legislator and a member of the United States Senate. He is somewhat professorial but not stodgy, and in our direct contact with him he proved to be one of few politicians at his level with the capacity to actually listen to others and appreciate what they have to say.

We have to ask ourselves: Which candidate will be better able to inspire the American people? Which will do a better job of casting off the politics of personal destruction and appealing to our better natures, calling us to service, encouraging needed sacrifices, and developing the new approaches necessary for the 21st century? Which will see the current troubles as an opportunity to shape a better future?

Themes from the abbreviated reign of John F. Kennedy, as well as FDR, resonate in 2008. Fear drives the domestic and international financial markets. As FDR realized, calmness, confidence, and optimism are part of the solution. In these troubled times, JFK's call to ask what we can do for our country instead of what it can do for us gains new meaning. Americans must step up and hold out a helping hand to their fellow citizens both as individuals and collectively.

Thursday: President Bill Clinton in Cleveland

Unknown user — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:10:29 EDT

Hey,

Join me this Thursday, October 16th, for a event with President Bill Clinton in Cleveland:

http://oh.barackobama.com/ClevelandClinton

Here are the details:

     Community Gathering
     with President Bill Clinton

     Strawbridge Plaza
     Mall C
     Lakeside Avenue
     Cleveland, OH

     Thursday, October 16th
     Gates Open: 4:00 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required; however, an RSVP is strongly encouraged.

Event will be held rain or shine.

For security reasons, do not bring bags and please limit personal items. No signs, banners, or umbrellas permitted.

Thanks!

Barack Sees Green Economy On the Horizon in Lucas County

Michael in Ohio — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:52:07 EDT

Barack addressed a riled up crowd here in the Sea Gate Convention Center in Toledo, where prior to his appearance, excitement to have him in town (for 4 days!) boiled over into never heard before chants of "We Will, We Will, Barack You!" and "Bye Bye Bush! Bye Bye Bush!" Even during his speech, in this dark but spacious Convention Hall, they hooped and hollered and even stomped on the risers, to thunderous effect. But they paid attention when attention was due, because as Barack says, "These are serious times."

Local Field Organizer Jesse urged everyone in the crowd to not only vote early but vote today, and do their share of the work to reach out to voters, mentioning the "collective power of small action." Senator Sherrod Brown, who has become all but a fixture on campaign stops, mentioned that Lucas County had the potential to be a leader in the alternative energy sector, and it was a common theme throughout the day. A fellow who had been laid off his job for fourteen weeks made an appropriate introduction for Barack, who took this opportunity to roll out the steps of his Rescue Plan for the Middle Class:

The first involves the thing that's on everyone's mind, and it's easy to spell: J-O-B-S.
We are going to take a cue from Toledo, which has become a leader in solar panel technology...

Barack fleshed out the rest of his 4 step plan:

A New American Jobs Tax Credit - a temporary tax credit for firms that create new jobs in the United States over the next two years.
Relief to Families - penalty-free withdrawals of up to 15% of retirement savings from IRAs and 401(k)s in 2008 and 2009.
Relief to Homeowners - a 90 day foreclosure moratorium for homeowners that are acting in good faith in their efforts to pay their mortgages.
A Lending Facility to Address the Credit Crisis for States and Localities - the Federal Reserve and the Treasury should work to establish a facility to lend to state and municipal governments.

He called on everyone to participate in the fiscal responsibility that Wall Street has so brazenly bucked in the last eight years, and that the nation will need to demonstrate to overcome this crisis:

We have to break that cycle of debt.
We have to take responsibility for living within our means.

As a city that has seen much better days, but never more potential progress, Toledo was the perfect place for Barack to lay the foundation of his plan to rescue America's economy.

Over the River, and Through the Woods...

Brady — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:11:11 EDT

Granny Gobama has decided that she wants to see Joe Biden speak in Warren, OH tomorrow. We're hopeful that the Obama campaign will make another stop in Cuyahoga County at some point, but with Warren being only an hours drive, we thought it might be worth the trip! With the final debate coming up this week, we look forward to hearing from our future Vice President!!

Barack Knocks for Barack in Toledo!

Michael in Ohio — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:56:19 EDT

As any volunteer knows, the Campaign for Change in Ohio holds canvassing sessions every weekend, where supporters go door-to-door to talk to voters about why Barack Obama is their choice for President. This, along with phone calls to voters, is the meat-and-potatoes of the voter outreach field effort, and such neighbor-to-neighbor interaction has been proven to have more of an effect than any other sort of less direct contact. These door-to-door outings are often called "Weekly Walks," or "Knock for Barack." Sometimes canvassing can be tiring and frustrating, but it is the most important thing anyone can do.

But today in Toledo, proving that no one is above anyone in this movement, Barack himself knocked for Barack. Just like any other volunteer, he went door-to-door to bring his platform of change to the people in Lucas County. He carried a walk list, and marked voters on a scale from 1 to 5 depending on their level of support.

He listened to their concerns and spoke to the solutions he would propose as President. Conversations involved the auto industry, the credit crisis, health care, and other day-to-day things on the minds of the people of Toledo.

Barack has clearly developed an affinity for the Buckeye State. He made five stops on Thursday and Friday (Dayton, Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Chillicothe, and Columbus), and is staying in the Toledo area from now until Wednesday to prepare for the debate that night.

But between the cheering rallies and the strategy sessions, there may be nothing Barack does during his stay in Ohio that better sums up the meaning of the grass roots organization that this movement has built than knocking doors in Toledo. It's proof that change comes from the bottom up... and then to the bottom again.

Be a part of that change. Knock doors like Barack.

Barack Concludes American Jobs Tour in Columbus

Michael in Ohio — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:20:48 EDT

From Aviva:

Senator Obama culminated his American Jobs Tour right here in Columbus yesterday at Genoa Park. Everything about the day seemed hopeful; after a week of October chill and rain, the late morning skies were cloudless and vibrant blue. By 10:00, three hours before the rally began, the line into the park stretched across the entire bridge on Broad Street.

More than ten thousand people crammed themselves into the relatively small space, many skipping work and school in order to see the next President of the United States.

Both the perfect weather and the morale held up even as the sun started to bear down on the patient crowds. As one speaker said:

If you don’t vote today in this beautiful weather, you can’t complain about weather on Election Day!

After a brief prayer and rousing speeches by Ohio Attorney General candidate Richard Cordray, Mayor Michael Coleman, Governor Ted Strickland, and Senator Sherrod Brown, Barack ascended the grassy steps of the park to take the stage, announced by an eruption of cheers.

A sea of American flags and Obama-Biden signs greeted him ecstatically. Barack was equal to it, warmly thanking his supporters before settling down to business. The senator laid out the specifics of his plans for the currently desperate state of the economy, in the same vein as he had at various sites in Ohio in the past two days. This time, however, the city of Columbus stood behind him, elegantly gleaming in the sun.

Besides the economy, the senator touched on the recent ugly turn in his opponent’s campaign. “Hope beats fear,” he assured us. The crowd took up the cry, and the chant of “Hope beats fear” reverberated throughout the park.

After the rally, an exodus of supporters flooded Broad Street and headed to the nearby Veterans' Memorial, where many of the attendees immediately cast their vote for Barack.

Barack's Trip to Ohio: Wrap-Up

Michael in Ohio — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:26:22 EDT

In the last two days, Barack has made five stops in Ohio--Dayton, Cincinnati, Portsmouth, Chillicothe, and Columbus. He stirred crowds at rallies, met folks at diners, and gave encouragement to campaign field organizers.

Here are a couple local write-ups about the swing through the swing state, and a slideshow of pictures from the first four stops--Aviva will follow with a post and pictures from the event at Columbus yesterday.

From high atop Ault Park in Cincinnati to down low on the Ohio River in Portsmouth, Barack Obama set out on a southern Ohio tour Thursday where he plunged straight into the heart of Ohio's Republican politics.
And he came with a message -- join us, because the Republicans have failed for the past eight years with economic policies that have shaken the nation's economy to its core.
Maria Hoeffer, 33, of Norwood was one of many mothers who walked up Observatory Avenue with her child strapped against her. Her 17-month-old son, Makaio, high-fived Obama.
Obama's speech "was just what we needed to hear at this time to lift our spirits," she said. "He's the American dream. He has lived it, and that's extremely inspiring for people."
But the first day of Obama's two-day bus tour of southern Ohio was not all about the economy - after his stop in Cincinnati, the Obama bus caravan took an unannounced side trip to Georgetown, the county seat of Brown County, about 45 miles east of Cincinnati.
There, the Obama party stopped at the Fireside Restaurant, where he made a surprise visit and ordered up a cheeseburger - lettuce, tomato and mustard - and coconut cream pie. Walking around the restaurant with Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, he shook hands and paused to have his picture taken with dozens of customers. He stooped down to have his picture taken with a little boy with ears that stuck out, just like Obama's.
"We've got the same ears, buddy," Obama told the boy, who grinned from ear to ear. "Ear power."

Lines of people began forming outside the university early Thursday afternoon, in anxious anticipation of hearing Obama speak.
"I feel that he's more educational than McCain, and I've watched the debates and feel that Obama would be able to lead our country better," said 17-year Destiny Skaggs, of Green High School. She said her 18th birthday is Nov. 19, just missing the voting deadline this year.

Steve O'Connor, of West Liberty, Ky., called McCain a continuation of failed policies, and called Alaskan Governor turned vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin a step backwards.

"Somebody needs to have some concern for working people. For young people trying to go to college. For older people trying to afford their medicine, trying to stay in their homes. The last eight years this president has run the train off the tracks..."

Derek Terrance came from Columbus to attend Shawnee State University, and said he never thought he'd see something like this in Portsmouth.

"I think his views are more like my generation, which is something that obviously appeals to me the most. It's somebody I can relate to more easily than a lot of the other candidates," he said.

Thank you Harold Ford Jr

Phil from Willoughby OH — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:04:19 EDT

Many of you know during the last elction cycle 2006 I lived in Tennessee and worked on the Harold Ford Jr campaign.

Saw this op ed from Harold Ford Jr.

Will McCain Do Anything to Win?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/10/AR2008101002558.html

With this line that brings back the nightmares of 2006

"While I am disappointed in McCain's about-face, I am not surprised. When I ran for the Senate in 2006, my opponent, Bob Corker, also found himself trailing in the October polls. His campaign and the Republican National Committee launched a series of false and vicious character attack ads, including the infamous "call me" ad, in which a scantily clad white woman looked at the camera and said, "Harold, call me."

And a good poin from Harold Frod Jr.

"Every major news organization and independent ad-checking group ruled the ad a smear and deemed it way over the line. But that didn't stop John McCain from coming to Tennessee and campaigning for my opponent while the "call me" ad and other smears were broadcast across the state. Not once did McCain speak out against that ad as he did about the smear against John Kerry. In fact, the first manager he hired for his 2008 presidential campaign was Terry Nelson, the person who produced the "call me" ad. Nelson has such a history of practicing below-the-belt politics that Lee Iacocca, a strong supporter of McCain, wrote in his book "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?": "What does it say about John McCain that he's willing to make that kind of person the head of his team?"

Live Blog: Get-Out-the-Vote Training in Columbus

Michael in Ohio — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 17:53:49 EDT

This is how we win.

Approximately 600 organizers, in one room, treated to a detailed manual, a dynamic visual presentation, and a strong voice at the front, all informing them exactly what to do in the next few weeks, to make sure that every single supporter casts their vote for Barack Obama.

That may sound less-than-stimulating to most people, but this crew is proud to call themselves community organizers, and jump at the opportunity to share ideas and absorb knowledge on how to effectively mobilize their area to get them to the polls to make change. To say that they're fired up is putting it mildly. This is their livelihood. This is what they do, and what they've spent every waking hour doing for the last several weeks, months, and for some, even years.

And as is the Obama field team motto, they were respected, empowered, and included. Respected, by being allowed a time for each to tell their story of why they are working for change, and being trusted to take what was learned today and adapting it to each community. Empowered, by being armed with an arsenal of meticulously thought out materials and presented with G.O.T.V. simulations that problem-solve every possible issue that could come up on Election Day. And included, by bringing them into the conversation with the biggest names in the movement. Today they were visited by Governor Ted Strickland, Senator Sherrod Brown... and, oh yeah, this guy:

That's right--Barack Obama himself, after two rallies today in Chillicothe and Columbus, took time off his schedule to meet with six hundred people in Ohio... whose votes he can surely count on. He met with them because these are some of the people working the hardest for him in the whole country, let alone Ohio. He met with them because community organizing and the power of it is fundamental not only to his own personal biography, but also to the philosophy of this campaign. He met with them because even after November 4th, after the votes have been gotten out, change will start from the bottom up.

This is how we win. Get out your own vote, and then you can be a part.

Final Stop of the Day: Portsmouth and Southern Ohio Welcome Barack!

Michael in Ohio — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:24:43 EDT

Being an area that doesn't get much attention from the standard Democratic presidential candidate, Portsmouth was clearly overjoyed to have a first-hand look at Barack Obama. Here on the green at Shawnee State University, they were cheering back at him as he spoke more than the standard rally crowd. Of all ages, from all backgrounds, they're fired up, and ready to turn this red county blue.

Senator Sherrod Brown kicked it off by giving a shout-out to not just Portsmouth, but Ironton, Southern Ohio, and even Kentucky! He expressed confidence in the students here at Shawnee State University supporting Barack, but stressed the need to have "The Talk" with their parents.

But the event was especially momentous occasion for Governor Ted Strickland--although he's been to all three stops with Barack today, Portsmouth is just a few miles from where he grew up, and Shawnee State was where he was a teacher. These are his people, and he spoke to them frankly, as only he can:

We care about family, faith, and community. We also care about the Bill of Rights... and that includes the Second Amendment.
I'm here tonight to tell you, that through direct talks I've had with him, if you are a hunter or gunowner, you have nothing to fear from Barack Obama. You can tell 'em I told you so. Tell 'em, "Ted told me!"

Barack's speech was a deft mix of financial shop talk and soaring rhetoric that played on the crowd's potent enthusiasm. He told a funny story about the owner of the diner in Georgetown, Ohio (where he stopped on the way), who he heard from the workers was a devout Republican. When Barack finally met the man, he asked him "I heard you're a dyed in the wool Republican." The man said yes. Barack paused, then simply said:

"So... How's business?"

The crowd here in Portsmouth roared with laughter.

Most of all, Barack conveyed a common-sense approach to fixing the economy's problems. He mentioned changing bankruptcy laws so they favor people with one home, instead of those with multiple. He condemned the AIG executives who recently spent their bailout money on vacation getaways, saying that they should write a check back to the American people, and "be fired on the spot." After detailing his plans to invest in college education and green jobs, he broke down how he would handle the country's finances into basics:

I'm not just here to tell you how we're going to spend money, I'm here to tell you how we're going to save money.
I'll do what you do with your own family budget--cut out things that don't work.

A prolonged war in Iraq, and tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas are just a few of those money-saving budget cuts that Barack said Portsmouth, and Southern Ohio, and the Buckeye State as a whole could expect from his administration.

Barack is firing them up where ever he goes--from stadiums in Dayton, to parks in Cincy, to college quads in the southernmost tip of Ohio. And you can put your vote in for him today--so you can do your part to work to get him into office in the next few weeks.

Barack Stop #2: Cincy on a Hill

Michael in Ohio — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 20:05:01 EDT

In a location that took exercise to get to, but whose beautiful vistas and terraced crowds of supporters certainly made it worth the wait, Barack spoke this afternoon in Ault Park, high above the city of Cincinnati.

Words do not do the scene justice, and any supporter who is familiar with this spot in Cincy must take heart in this image:

Barack continued his clear-talking take on the economic crisis, going into specifics to dissect what is wrong with John McCain's latest proposal to deal with the financial mess the country has lately found itself in. His focus remained squarely on helping the middle class:

This election is about who's going to fight for you...
This isn't about losing a campaign. This is about Americans losing their jobs and their homes if we allow four more years of the same.

But the tone was, of course, overhwelmingly positive, as Barack reminded of the thousands of green energy jobs that are on the horizon for Ohioans under an Obama administration. Above all he stressed unity, and how despite the large-scale shift America needs to make, we can accomplish anything:

Every time, we have risen to meet challenges like this. Not as Republicans, not as Democrats. As Americans...
Our destiny is not determined for us, but by us.

For a moment, on a hill above a city, the mass of 15,000 felt like an intimate group of people that could do anything they put their mind to.

"What I Saw When I Voted Today" & 'How 1 Early Vote= 5 votes on election day'

Connie from Memphis, TN — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:08:11 EDT

EARLY VOTING...in all its glory...

"What I Saw When I Voted Today"...great story from Columbus voter......

"I headed down to the Hamilton County Board of Elections and saw the most beautiful thing ever - a line of people registering to vote at one end of the office and a line of people waiting to vote early at the other end of the office. It was an amazing sight!!

As an African-American woman in her 20s, let me just to tell you how beautiful it was to see 90% of the crowd be African-American - and the majority of the rest were young college students. Single mothers with their children, older women with tears in their eyes and a mentally challenged man standing in line asking who we were voting for. "Obama, right?" he said. "Obama ya'll!" ....

It was a beautiful sight and it was the one time in my life I was happy to stand in line."

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

'How 1 Early Vote = 10 votes on election day'

by scimitar

I encourage EVERYONE who supports Obama to vote early. And here's why:

If you vote early, you save the campaign valuable time and money, because they no longer have to spend their resources targeting you and making sure that you get to the polls. It costs a lot of money to run the phone banks, mail literature, and drive canvassers out to your place. When you vote early, you can simply notify the campaign, and they will put your response in a database.
Instead of wasting their efforts on a staunch supporter, they will be able to target and contact new and undecided voters. And their lists of election day GOTV targets will be whittled down, making them easier to read & follow for the hundreds of election day volunteers and staffers. It gets even better if you persuade someone else to vote early.
Not only do you bank their vote, you stop the campaign from inadvertently annoying them with calls and canvassing (of which too much of can be a turn-off). It IS possible to annoy your supporters with too much contact.
By voting early, you can get some of the leaners off the contact list and make their phones and doorbells a little bit quieter. Plus, you'll prevent them from heading the other way on election day.
Finally, you'll do a great service to the brilliant number-crunchers at HQ, because they'll gradually get a better picture of how things are shaping up, which precincts to target, and how to move votes. Their models are definitely going to appreciate the numbers you give them.
And best of all, you'll reduce the odds of GOP operatives 'challenging' you at the polls or forcing you to stand in artificially long lines on election night. By voting early, you REDUCE the possibility of election fraud by the GOP.

Come on, Ohio!!!...do you realize what a advantage we have, that other critical states like Michigan can only dream of? Please don't waste it. It's not enough to just early/absentee vote yourself, REACH OUT to help others early vote.

Contact your nearest office and offer to drive others, the elderly or students on campus without a car. Most people who don't have a car are Obama voters.
Make flyers listing the Early Vote location and hours open, listing free parking if available, and phone numbers to call if they need a ride.
Disribute the flyers on campus, at public housing centers, etc.
Use YOUR imagination' there are sp many living quiet lives of despration ho don't believe their vote can make a difference.

18 offices-- http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/inoffices

Find your countys' early-voting location/hours-- voteforchange.com

Look at ALL the students who would HAPPILY vote now if they have a ride to avoid long lines in Nov. during EXAMS!!!--

Ohio State University 59,568

University of Cincinnati 36,415

Kent State University 34,056

University of Toledo 22,336

Miami University of Ohio 20,126B

owling Green State University 18,980

Cleveland State University 15,664

Wright State University 15,985

Youngstown State University 13,157

University of Dayton 10,426

Cuyahoga Community College

Live Blog: Barack Inspires Stadium of Supporters in Dayton

Michael in Ohio — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:08:15 EDT

Barack is hitting up no less than three different stops in Ohio today--Dayton, Cincinnati, and Portsmouth. Right now he is speaking to a stadium full of cheering supporters at the home of the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field.

The Mayor of Dayton framed Barack's candidacy in a way specific to Dayton, tying him to the city's history of innovation, "from Charles Kettering to Paul Lawrence Dunbar."

Michael, one of the local Field Organizers in the Dayton area, let the rapt crowd know the 5 things Ohioans can do to help Barack Obama win their state:

Join your Neighborhood Team, like Maureen, the supporter pictured below.
Text "OH" to 62262
Vote early
Make phone calls (volunteers in the crowd waved lists of 10 voters that they were going to call that day)
Go to My.BarackObama.com to see what kind of activities are going on in their neighborhood

Soon after, Barack took the stage. Despite a riled up crowd like one would expect to see at a baseball game on a bright autumn afternoon, Barack was very serious about the financial crisis facing us, and the specifics of what he, and America, would have to do to solve the problem

I have faith... not just because of the leadership I'm offering. But because of you. Because I have faith in you. I have faith in the people of the United States...
Yes we can -- of course we can.

Barack spoke directly to the huge number of people in attendance, asking for a show of hands of those who earn less than $250,000 (who will not see a tax raise), and those who have employer-based health benefits (to be taxed by John McCain), and those who don't have health care at all. The hands themselves told the story of how essential an Obama presidency really is. Dayton can't afford anything less.

More than anything, this rally was about jobs, and Barack wondered how the opposition could ignore the huge number of jobs lost in Ohio in the last 8 years, noting that you can say that the fundamentals of the economy are strong, but for most Americans "there's nothing more fundamental than a job."

As for the home stretch of the campaign, and the ugly direction the discourse seems to be going in:

I can take four more weeks of John McCain's attacks, but America can't take four more years of George Bush's failed policies.

Do you agree? There's only 27 days left to seal the deal-- vote early and get involved today.

Quick try and put another pork-barrel on him!

Funky Unky — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:47:12 EDT

Disgusting

The Trombone-Wielding Jackass — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:35:02 EDT

"Kill Him!"..."Terrorist!"

Some outright disgusting tirades have been shouted by McCain-Palin supporters in the past week, with no reaction from the candidates but a smirk.

No corrections.

No condemnations.

Make no mistake about it, John McCain and Sarah Palin heard these remarks. Both did nothing but smile and continue their hate-filled diatribes.

You know as well as I do that the Obama campaign would not stand for such outbursts against their opponent. If during one of Senator Obama's speaches, someone proclaimed John McCain a terrorist, a traitor, or suggested his demise, you can bet your bottom dollar that he would stop mid-sentence, set the person straight, and have them removed.

John McCain, however, truly wants you and the rest of the country to believe that Obama is a terrorist. He does not have the stones, however, to come out and say such a shameful thing. Instead, he and his beauty-pageant-failure of a VP pick will throw out small bits and phrases, mistruths and innuendos - hoping lesser-minded bigots will make a connection and spread it to the masses.

Their campaign thrives on the notion that you can never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups.

These fear-mongering campaign tactics are absolutely deplorable, and even more sickening is McCain's and Palin's refusal to discredit such filth.

Call me naive, but I had faith in McCain's promise that he would run a respectful, issues-only campaign. I had this faith because I remembered the man he was in 2000 when running against George W. Bush. I watched him fall victim to these same despicable tactics and knew - just knew - that he would never let someone go through the same things he did.

It is for these exact reasons that McCain has lost the respect of the American people. More importantly, he has lost respect for himself.

Censorship Under McCain/Palin

- Wisewords - — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 15:49:28 EDT

Censorship Under McCain/Palin