Obama HQ

"Too hard, too risky?"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 14:37:05 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

A few days ago, President Obama told a story about an OFA supporter in St. Louis who had volunteered during the campaign and organized her community for health reform, but recently succumbed to breast cancer.

She didn't have quality insurance, so she put off crucial exams and didn't catch it early enough. And while she fought cancer, she also spent her final months fighting for a chance at health reform so others wouldn't go through the same thing.

The President told this story to remind Congress, the nation, and us: We can't tell her family we're giving up on reform because it's too hard, or too risky.

Congress is weighing options and hearing plenty of special interest voices telling them to give up. They need to understand that their constituents want them to keep fighting. So today, we're relaunching our Health Care Action Center to give you all the tools and information you need to fight for reform.

At the Action Center, you can make calls, write letters, speak out in your community, and weigh in directly with Congress. There's information about what the President stands for, and personal stories that show why reform is so important.

Check it out today.

Many of our senators and representatives are working overtime to gather support for a final bill and pass reform, and they should know we're standing with them. And the rest need to understand their constituents still demand action.

We're so close to real reform -- we can't stop now.

Thanks for making it possible,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

President Obama to the Democratic Party: "This is our best chance to deliver the change that the American people need"

Erica Sagrans — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:20:02 EST

On Saturday, as Washington was blanketed with snow, President Obama spoke to members of the Democratic Party at the 2010 Winter Meeting. In a fiery speech, the President reiterated his fierce commitment to fighting for health insurance reform:

"The easiest thing to do right now would be to just say, oh, [passing health reform] is too hard, let's just re-group and lick our wounds, try to hang on. We've had a long and difficult debate on health care. And there are some, maybe even the majority in this town, who say perhaps it's time to walk away. But...if we walk away, we know what will happen. We know that premiums and out-of-pocket expenses will skyrocket this decade and the decade after that and decade after that, just as they did in the past decade. More small businesses will be priced out of coverage. More big businesses will be unable to compete internationally. More workers will take home less pay and fewer raises. We know that millions more Americans will lose their coverage. We know that our deficits will inexorably continue to grow because health care costs are the single biggest driver.
So just in case there's any confusion out there, let me be clear: I am not going to walk away from health insurance reform. I'm not going to walk away from the American people. I'm not going to walk away on this challenge."

He then spoke about the need to continue working to change the culture and politics of Washington, in order to address the challenges that the country faces:

"We knew this stuff was tough. But we stepped up because we decided we were going to take the responsibility of changing it. And it may not be easy, but change is coming. Look, I believe so strongly, I believe so strongly if we're going to deal with the great challenges of our time, if we're going to secure a better future, just as past generations did for us, then we're going to have to change the prevailing politics in this town, and it's not going to be easy. We're going to have to care less about scoring points and more about solving problems that are holding us back. At this defining moment, that's never been more important."

And he closed by talking about moving forward together:

"After all the promises we've made, this is our best chance to deliver the change that the American people need. And if we do that, if we speak to the hopes of the American people instead of their fears, if we inspire them instead of divide them, if we respond to their challenges with the same sense of urgency they feel in their own lives, we're not just going to win elections, elections will take care of themselves. We will once again be the party that turns around the economy and moves this country forward and secures the American dream for another generation."

You can watch the full video below:

President Obama Announces Bipartisan Health Reform Summit: "Put your ideas on the table"

Erica Sagrans — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:58:11 EST

Yesterday, President Obama invited Democratic and Republican leaders to a bipartisan, televised health reform summit to review the best ideas from both parties in order to move forward with passing reform. He challenged Republicans in particular to put their ideas on the table, in order to systematically examine the proposals and come up with a path forward.

The New York Times reported:

President Obama said Sunday that he would convene a half-day bipartisan health care session at the White House to be televised live this month, a high-profile gambit that will allow Americans to watch as Democrats and Republicans try to break their political impasse.

Mr. Obama made the announcement in an interview on CBS during the Super Bowl pre-game show, capitalizing on a vast television audience. He set out a plan that would put Republicans on the spot to offer their own ideas on health care and show whether both sides are willing to work together.

During the interview, President Obama reiterated his commitment to passing reform and explained how this summit will help get there:

"I want to ask [Republicans] to put their ideas on the table, and then after the recess, which will be a few weeks away, I want to come back and have a large meeting, the Republicans and Democrats, to go through systematically all the best ideas that are out there and move it forward.

...I want to look at the Republican ideas that are out there, and I want to be very specific. How do you guys want to lower costs? How do you guys intend to reform the insurance markets so people with preexisting conditions, for example, can get health care? How do you want to make sure that the 30 million people who don't have health insurance can get it? What are your ideas specifically?

If we can go step by step through a series of these issues and arrive at some agreements, then procedurally, there's no reason why we can't do it a lot faster than the process took last year."

The bipartisan meeting is currently scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 25th.

Open Thread

Christopher Hass — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 09:47:30 EST

"Pass health reform now"

Christopher Hass — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:12:10 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

An alarming new study shows that health care costs increased last year at the fastest rate in more than a half century.

Health care spending rose to an estimated $2.5 trillion in 2009, or $8,047 per person -- and is now projected to nearly double by 2019. If we don't act, this growing burden will mean more lost jobs, more families pushed into bankruptcy, and more crushing debt for our nation.

The conclusion is clear: This isn't a problem we can kick down the road for another decade -- or even another year. We need to pass health reform now.

We're incredibly close. But too many in Washington are now saying that we should delay or give up on reform entirely. So we need to make it crystal clear that Americans understand the stakes for our economy and our lives, and that we want action.

Can you write a letter to the editor of your local paper right now?

In just five minutes of your time, you can tell thousands of readers about this new report on spiraling costs, and why abandoning reform is just not an option.

You can also help by posting this note on Facebook, letting your friends know about the new costs study and asking them to join you in writing a letter to a local paper.

President Obama and many allies in Congress are working hard to finish the job -- but we can't rest until it's done. Your note will help break through the Washington spin and show members of Congress and the media what local voters really believe. Click here to get started.

It's clear that we're in the fight of our lives to pass real reform. But after a century of trying, the finish line is finally in sight. As President Obama reminded us all in his State of the Union address, we're fighting for our families and our country -- and we don't quit.

Thanks for making it possible,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

The President's Weekly Address: Opening Doors for Small Business

Christopher Hass — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 13:50:43 EST

Watch Live: President Obama Addresses the Democratic Party

Christopher Hass — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 08:33:36 EST

President Obama is scheduled to address the Democratic Party this morning at the Party's 2010 Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. You can watch live online starting at 10:30 A.M. Eastern time.

You can also follow live updates from the meeting, and see highlights from yesterday's events, on the DemocratsDotOrg twitter feed.

Full Video: A Conversation with the President

Christopher Hass — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:13:53 EST

Here's the full video of tonight's event with President Obama:

Today: Conversation with the President

Christopher Hass — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:54:48 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Today, at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time, Organizing for America is hosting a "Conversation with the President" -- and you won't want to miss it.

President Obama will talk about fighting for change in 2010, and then answer questions from grassroots supporters like you.

You can watch a webcast of the event starting at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time.

President Obama will review our many accomplishments this past year and address the tough fights ahead of us -- including the 2010 elections, fighting to strengthen the middle class, and finishing the job on health reform.

Then, I'll ask the President some of the questions that OFA supporters like you submitted online.

I hope you can tune in at 5:45 Eastern.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Morning News

Erica Sagrans — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:44:58 EST

From the Associated Press:

... President Barack Obama on Wednesday implored Democratic leaders to swing big, be honest with an angry public and expose any obstructionism by Republicans. "We still have to lead," Obama told Democratic senators in a pep talk that unfolded on live TV. Let policy be our politics, Obama told the senators, and make sure everyone knows about petty acts by the opposition. Obama's mission is to stiffen the resolve of his own party as he pursues an agenda that is consistent -- creating jobs, overhauling health insurance, regulating Wall Street -- yet is also cast in more personal, real-life terms.

From Reuters:

... Senate Democrats will unveil tax credits and other proposals on Thursday that aim to bring down the nation's double-digit unemployment rate.
The package will include tax credits to spur hiring and equipment purchases, along with incentives for states to ramp up construction projects, an aide said on Wednesday.
It could also extend soon-to-expire programs that provide unemployment aid and healthcare subsidies for the jobless, the aide said on condition of anonymity.
With Friday's jobs report expected to show a rise in the unemployment rate to 10.1 percent, Democrats in Congress say job creation is their top priority this year.

From the Wall Street Journal:

Republicans are stepping up their campaign to win donations from Wall Street, trying to capitalize on an increasing sense of regret among executives at big financial institutions for backing Democrats in 2008.
In discussions with Wall Street executives, Republicans are striving to make the case that they are banks' best hope of preventing President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats from cracking down on Wall Street.

From the Los Angeles Times:

In a stark reminder of growing costs, the government has released a new estimate that healthcare spending grew to a record 17.3% of the U.S. economy last year, marking the largest one-year jump in its share of the economy since the government started keeping such records half a century ago.
The almost $2.5 trillion spent in 2009 was $134 billion more than the previous year, when healthcare consumed 16.2% of the gross domestic product, according to an annual report by independent actuaries at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or CMS, scheduled for release Thursday.

President Obama's Q and A with Senate Democrats

Erica Sagrans — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:45:22 EST

Following last week's question and answer session with House Republicans, this morning President Obama took questions from Democratic senators at their issues conference. Here are a few of the highlights:

President Obama on health reform:

You look at an issue right now like health care. So many of us campaigned on the idea that we were going to change this health care system. So many of us looked people in the eye who had been denied because of a preexisting condition, or just didn't have health insurance at all, or small business owners in our communities who told us that their premiums had gone up 25 percent or 30 percent. And we said we were going to change it.
Well, here we are with a chance to change it. And all of you put extraordinary work last year into making serious changes that would not only reform the insurance industry, not only cover 30 million Americans, but would also bend the cost curve, and save a trillion dollars on our deficits, according to the Congressional Budget Office. There's a direct link between the work that you guys did on that and the reason that you got into public office in the first place.
And so as we think about moving forward, I hope we don't lose sight of why we're here. We've got to finish the job on health care.

In response to a question from Senator Michael Bennett on what Democratic and Republican senators need to do differently to meet the challenges the country faces now:

The problem here you've got is an institution that increasingly is not adapted to the demands of a hugely competitive 21st century economy. I think the Senate in particular, the challenge that I gave to Republicans and I will continue to issue to Republicans is if you want to govern then you can't just say no. It can't just be about scoring points. There are multiple examples during the course of this year in which that's been the case.
Look, I mentioned the filibuster record. We've had scores of pieces of legislation in which there was a filibuster, cloture had to be invoked, and then ended up passing 90 to 10, or 80 to 15. And what that indicates is a degree to which we're just trying to gum up the works instead of getting business done.
That is an institutional problem. In the Senate, the filibuster only works if there is a genuine spirit of compromise and trying to solve problems, as opposed to just shutting the place down. If it's just shutting the place down, then it's not going to work.

And in response to a question from Senator Blanche Lincoln on whether or not Democrats should moderate their positions to find common ground with Republicans:

I noticed yesterday ... there was some hearing about our proposal to provide additional financing to small businesses and tax credits to small businesses. Some of our friends on the other side of the aisle said, "This won't help at all. What you have to do is to make sure that we continue the tax breaks for wealthiest Americans. That's really what's going to make a difference."
Well, if the agenda -- if the price of certainty is essentially for us to adopt the exact same proposals that were in place for eight years leading up to the biggest economic crisis since the Great Depression -- we don't tinker with health care, let the insurance companies do what they want, we don't put in place any insurance reforms, we don't mess with the banks, let them keep on doing what they're doing now because we don't want to stir up Wall Street -- the result is going to be the same.
...Sometimes we get ideologically bogged down. I just want to find out what works, and I know you do, too, and I know the people in Arkansas do, too. But when you're talking to the folks in Arkansas you also have to remind them what works is not just going back and doing the same things that we were doing before. And, yes, there's going to be some transition time. If we have a serious financial regulatory reform package, will the banks squawk? Yes. Will they say this is the reason we're not lending? Yes. The problem is we know right now they're not lending, and paying out big bonuses. And we know that the existing regulatory system doesn't work.
So we shouldn't be spooked by this notion that, well, is now the time to take seriously in an intelligent way, not in a knee-jerk way, the challenge of financial regulatory reform so that you don't have banks that are too big to fail and you're not putting taxpayers at risk and you're not putting the economy at risk -- now is the time to do it.

Morning News

Erica Sagrans — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:04:58 EST

On new lending to help small businesses:

From the Boston Globe:

The president yesterday detailed a plan to help expand lending to small businesses through tax cuts and assistance to community banks. Under the program, $30 billion in returned cash for the Troubled Asset Relief Program would be made available to help smaller banks lend to local businesses.
“We’re going to start where most new jobs do - with small businesses,’’ he said. “These are the companies that begin in basements and garages when an entrepreneur takes a chance on his dream or a worker decides it’s time she became her own boss.’’

From Market Watch:

Taking his job creation pitch on the road a day after submitting his latest budget to Congress, President Barack Obama on Tuesday rolled out a new lending fund for small businesses and emphasized his plans for cutting the record U.S. budget deficit.
Obama used a town hall meeting in Nashua, N.H. to highlight the fund, which would take $30 billion from the Troubled Asset Relief Program and encourage banks with less than $10 billion in assets to lend to small businesses.
The plan, which would need to be approved by Congress, is already drawing fire from Republicans but Obama said on Tuesday it'll help lift the economy from the recession.
"Small businesses...have created roughly 65% of all new jobs over the past decade and a half," Obama said.

On “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”:

From the Wall Street Journal:

Adm. Mike Mullen, the nation's top uniformed officer, made a strong appeal for allowing gays to serve openly in the military, a shift that highlighted the Pentagon's growing support for lifting the "don't ask, don't tell" law. Adm. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee he believed the "don't ask" restrictions—which require gay troops to keep their sexual orientation a secret—could be eliminated without harming military morale, recruitment or readiness. With the comments, Adm. Mullen became the highest-ranking military officer to ever endorse repealing the restrictions, a source of controversy within the Pentagon since they were put in place by the Clinton administration in 1993.

Video Message from David Plouffe: Your Thoughts on 2010

Christopher Hass — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:25:13 EST

From David Plouffe:

Want to know what Organizing for America supporters like you think we should do in 2010?

Watch a short video I recorded detailing the results of our "What's Next in 2010" survey.
In 2009, you channeled the energy from the Presidential campaign -- building local organizations in all 50 states -- to help bring about the change President Obama's election victory gave us the opportunity to seek.

Now, you've given us some great guidance that will help set OFA's course in 2010. Tens of thousands of you returned surveys -- providing us ideas, feedback, and a clear sense of your commitment to help the President.

Thanks,

David Plouffe

P.S. -- This Thursday, at 5:45 p.m. Eastern Time, OFA will host "A Conversation with the President" -- a strategy update and Q&A broadcast live on BarackObama.com. Click here to RSVP.

Join OFA’s Conversation with President Obama

Erica Sagrans — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:19:37 EST

This Thursday at 5:45 p.m. Eastern, President Obama will hold a special live conversation with OFA supporters to answer questions and give a strategy update about our plans going forward.

You can RSVP to watch online or submit a question for President Obama here. You can also ask a question by text message -- to do so, just send a text to 62262 with ASK, your NAME, STATE, and your question.

Morning News

Erica Sagrans — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:28:18 EST

On the President’s proposed 2011 budget:

From the Los Angeles Times:

President Obama's budget, formally unveiled Monday to set federal spending priorities, also bolsters a goal of his party for the 2010 elections: Show voters that the president is trying to persuade Republicans to share responsibility for governing the country, but that Republicans are turning him away.

The budget plan invites Republicans to join him on a bipartisan commission to cut the deficit -- a concept that the GOP has backed in prior years. It includes tax cuts for small businesses long-championed by the GOP.

From Inside Higher Education:

By and large, most programs that serve colleges and students would fare well under the administration's budget for the year that begins in October, with the White House proposing another massive infusion of funds into the Pell Grant Program (covering a million additional students and ensuring a permanent and growing flow of money into it), recommending significant increases for several key scientific research agencies for job creation purposes, and even proposing a 31 percent increase in financial support for the AmeriCorps national service program."At a time when most government spending is being frozen, President Obama is investing in education -- a clear reflection of the president's deep commitment to education," Education Secretary Arne Duncan said in a telephone news conference Monday.

On yesterday’s YouTube interview with President Obama:

From the Washington Post:

President Obama continued efforts to open himself to direct scrutiny from his critics on Monday, sitting for a half-hour of questions submitted to YouTube during his State of the Union address last week. The online news conference of sorts follows the president's 90-minute Q&A with Republican House members at their retreat last week, which was broadcast live on cable outlets. Both were examples of the White House attempting to demonstrate Obama's willingness to listen to voices outside his party after last month's Democratic loss in the Massachusetts Senate race.

From Politico:

Overall, the [President's YouTube] interview session felt like a town hall, except that the president was sitting in the White House taking questions from people via computer.
Lee Rainie, the director of the Pew Internet & American Life Project, said that while such interviews and interactions may seem underwhelming, they actually mark an important benchmark.
"In its actual application the gee-whiz factor isn’t as great as the expectations, but the fact that it’s on YouTube and the atmospherics is only part of the story,” he said. “These are important changes in the political media culture and the way people think about interacting with public officials. It speaks to the larger issue of the process of being in the public commons when everyone can be a broadcaster or reporter or commentator.”

A Budget That Cuts Waste and Promotes Job Growth

Erica Sagrans — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:21:43 EST

"We simply cannot continue to spend as if deficits don't have consequences; as if waste doesn't matter; as if the hard-earned tax dollars of the American people can be treated like Monopoly money; as if we can ignore this challenge for another generation. We can't." -- President Obama

Today, President Obama unveiled his proposed 2011 Budget, which works to move the country from recession to recovery by spurring investments in job creation and building a foundation for long-term economic growth. It also reins in spending by ending programs that don't work and bringing new accountability to how taxpayer dollars are spent.

As a result of years of irresponsibility in Washington, President Obama inherited a staggering projected deficit of $8 trillion over 10 years on his first day as President. Faced with an economy on the verge of collapse and a financial system in crisis, the Administration took steps to prevent a recession. Now that the economy is showing signs of growth, the President is making sure we get the nation's finances in order by focusing on essentials and making tough decisions about our priorities. As the New York Times writes, "Mr. Obama's budget projects a slightly lower deficit of $1.3 trillion - about the level he inherited when he took office."

Budget Director Peter Orszag described the deficit reduction policy as "a three-legged stool" that includes a bipartisan fiscal commission to come up with a path to balance the budget, projections of renewed economic growth, and a mix of spending cuts and tax increases that would save an estimated $1.2 trillion.

Here are a few highlights from the 2011 Budget:

Job Growth:

-Providing access to credit for small businesses and entrepreneurs so these firms can grown and hire

-Opening markets abroad to American-made goods and services, creating new jobs for American workers

-Making investments in the infrastructure, science, technology, and research needed to nurture the industries and jobs of the future

-Building a clean energy economy that will create new jobs at good wages

Controlling Costs:

-Identifying more than $20 billion in savings by going line by line through the budget looking for programs that work and those that do not

-Saving $250 billion by putting in place a three-year freeze on non-security discretionary spending

-Cutting $678 billion by ending the Bush tax cuts for those making more than $250,000, making sure wealthy investment managers pay the same income tax rates as everyone else

-Collecting $90 billion by instituting a fee on the biggest banks so that American taxpayers are paid back for the extraordinary help they provided them this past year, and raising $40 billion by ending tax breaks for oil, gas and coal companies

Other Highlights:

-Making historic investments in our schools, including billions of dollars in financial aid to help more students go to college

-Establishing a bipartisan fiscal commission to look at the range of proposals and come up with a path for us to put the budget in balance excluding interest payments on the debt

-Restoring pay-as-you-go budgeting -- a rule that says Congress can't spend a dime without cutting a dime elsewhere, this is a critical step to restoring fiscal discipline in Washington

And as Budget Director Peter Orszag writes, reining in rising health care costs is an essential part of cutting the deficit. Orszag calls on Congress to deliver on health reform for the country's fiscal well-being:

"As I have said many times before and will again (since it's still true!), the key to our long-term fiscal future is fiscally-responsible health insurance reform. All our steps to rein in the deficit will be for naught if we do not reduce the rate of health care cost growth over time. The legislation passed by both the House and Senate will reduce the deficit over the next decade and put in place the key pieces that will help to bring down health care costs over time. Congress must now deliver on this promise of fiscally responsible health reform - the stakes are high, both for the millions of Americans who lack a stable source of health insurance coverage and for the fiscal well-being of the Nation itself."

To learn more about the 2011 Budget, check out Budget.gov.

Watch President Obama Answer Your Questions Live

Erica Sagrans — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 12:26:49 EST

At 1:45 p.m. Eastern this afternoon, President Obama will hold a live interview with YouTube -- where every question asked will be submitted by ordinary Americans.

Since YouTube began soliciting questions following last week's State of the Union address, more than 11,000 questions have been submitted, and more than 630,000 votes have been cast on which questions the President should be asked. You can watch the live interview today on the White House website or on YouTube's CitizenTube.

Steve Grove, YouTube Head of News and Politics, writes:

"Neither the President nor his staff will know which questions will asked ahead of time. But what's clear from looking at the submissions is that they represent a broad cross-section of topics and concerns. When people are asked to weigh in on what matters most to them in an open forum, the result is a fascinating and informative look at the pulse of the country. It's this kind of transparency and direct access to information that we believe represents the promise of platforms like YouTube to improve our politics."

You can preview some of the thousands of questions submitted for the President here.

The President's Weekly Address

Christopher Hass — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 19:27:34 EST

"You have to see this"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:42:31 EST

From Mitch Stewart:

Yesterday, the President stood in front of a gathering of House Republicans and took questions for more than an hour, urging them to put aside partisanship and work together for the good of the country. MSNBC described it as going straight into "the lion's den."

He was inspiring.

We've highlighted some of the key moments and trust me, it's worth checking out.

Once you do, please pass this along to everyone you know.

This is the sort of honest dialogue and political courage that we all need to move our country forward.

Let's do it together,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

P.S. -- There's our own Q&A session for OFA supporters with President Obama coming up on Thursday, February 4th. Click here to submit a question now.

In the News: OFA's State of the Union Watch Parties

Erica Sagrans — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 21:11:06 EST

For President Obama's first State of the Union address on Wednesday, thousands of OFA supporters gathered at Watch Parties across the country.

Watch the video below to check out some of the news coverage following the events:

Here are some reports from the Watch Parties:

From Nevada's Reno Gazette Journal:

Dave Osolnick, a deputy field director in Reno for the Organizing for America group, watched the speech amid the packed Amendment 21 tavern in downtown Reno. "What the president talked about was a genuine spirit of bipartisanship," Osolnick said. "The economy and jobs are on everyone's mind. The health reform Democrats are supporting is a jobs creator."

From Florida's Palm Beach Post:

At Joe and Dina Heffernan's home, 36 supporters of Organizing for America gathered to hear David Plouffe promise that he and the President would fight for jobs, fight for the middle class and fight for health reform. When Obama's former campaign manager finished, deputy field director Craig Borkon urged the attendees to stay involved with the local races."

And from Georgia's WSAV NBC News:

About 15 people came to watch the speech at the Kluetsch family home on East 45th Street. The hosts set up a projector screen and encouraged those of all viewpoints to come watch and share their thoughts on the State of the Union. “It wasn’t for the Democrats specifically that were for Obama, the people that have helped organize, but all points of view were welcome as long people were willing to listen as well as talk, and I feel like that’s something that’s been lacking over the last year,“ said Elizabeth Lietzau-Kluetsch, the party’s organizer. Those at the party watched and listened intently, some of them taking notes while the President spoke.

President Takes Questions from House Republicans: "Having a real debate...is not only good for our country, it's absolutely essential."

Erica Sagrans — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:18:47 EST

For more than an hour this afternoon, President Obama took questions at a gathering of House Republicans, engaging in an honest and serious dialogue about some of the toughest problems facing our country.

If you haven't seen it, you can watch the videos here:

As he did in his State of the Union address on Wednesday night, the President challenged Republicans to be partners in the political process, and to acknowledge that the responsibility to govern is theirs as well:

“These are serious times, and what's required by all of us -- Democrats and Republicans -- is to do what's right for our country, even if it's not always what's best for our politics. I know it may be heresy to say this, but there are things more important than good poll numbers. And on this no one can accuse me of not living by my principles. A middle class that's back on its feet, an economy that lifts everybody up, an America that's ascendant in the world -- that's more important than winning an election. Our future shouldn't be shaped by what's best for our politics; our politics should be shaped by what's best for our future.”

The President also challenged Republicans to address the gap between their rhetoric and reality:

“I'm not suggesting that we're going to agree on everything, whether it's on health care or energy or what have you, but if the way these issues are being presented by the Republicans is that this is some wild-eyed plot to impose huge government in every aspect of our lives, what happens is you guys then don't have a lot of room to negotiate with me.
I mean, the fact of the matter is, is that many of you, if you voted with the administration on something, are politically vulnerable in your own base, in your own party. You've given yourselves very little room to work in a bipartisan fashion because what you've been telling your constituents is, this guy is doing all kinds of crazy stuff that's going to destroy America.
…I am absolutely committed to working with you on these issues, but it can't just be political assertions that aren't substantiated when it comes to the actual details of policy. Because otherwise, we're going to be selling the American people a bill of goods.”

MSNBC described it as going straight into "the lion's den," but for the President, today's meeting was an opportunity change the tone of our politics and move beyond the usual partisan back and forth. During the meeting, the President explained:

“I'm a big believer not just in the value of a loyal opposition, but in its necessity. Having differences of opinion, having a real debate about matters of domestic policy and national security; that's not something that's only good for our country, it's absolutely essential.
It's only through the process of disagreement and debate that bad ideas get tossed out and good ideas get refined and made better. And that kind of vigorous back-and-forth, that imperfect, but well-founded process, messy as it often is, is at the heart of our democracy. It's what makes us the greatest nation in the world.”

President Announces Tax Credits to Promote Job Growth: “It's time to put America back to work.”

Erica Sagrans — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:16:59 EST

“I don’t have to tell folks in Baltimore that even before this recession hit, the middle class was facing real hardships: stagnant incomes, rising costs, growing economic security. So rebuilding this economy and rebuilding -- and rebuilding it stronger than before -- will take time and it's going to take hard work and vigilance.” – President Obama

A report released today announced that the country’s Gross Domestic Product increased by 5.7% in the fourth quarter of 2009 -- the strongest growth in six years. While the announcement is a clear sign that the economy is headed in the right direction, improved economic statistics are cold comfort to the millions of Americans struggling to find jobs.

That's why this morning, President Obama announced a new tax credit to help more than 1 million small businesses hire new workers and increase wages. This tax credit would give small businesses a tax credit of up to $5,000 dollars for each new employee they add in 2010.

Speaking at the Chesapeake Machine Company in Baltimore today, President Obama highlighted the tax credit as well as the jobs bill he called on Congress to pass during his State of the Union address on Wednesday:

“The House of Representatives has passed a jobs bill that includes some of these proposals. I expect the Senate to do the same. I'm open to any good ideas from Democrats or Republicans. In fact, several members of Congress have proposed tax breaks for businesses similar to what I've proposed, and I'm looking forward to working with them. The key thing is it's time to put America back to work.”

The Washington Post has a run-down of the details:

"President Barack Obama on Friday proposed $33 billion in tax credits to coax small businesses into hiring workers as he underscored his commitment to pushing job creation to the top of his agenda.
…
The latest proposal calls for a $5,000 tax credit for every net new worker hired in 2010. The amount would be capped at $500,000 per firm to make sure that the bulk of the benefits go to small businesses.
"The economy is growing but job growth is lagging," Obama told workers at a custom-machine plant in Baltimore.
He spoke after the release of data showing U.S. gross domestic product expanded at a faster-than-expected 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter, a trend he hailed as a "stark improvement" compared to economic decline a year ago.
But he insisted that more work was needed to spur employment and urged the U.S. Senate to push ahead with jobs legislation. The House of Representatives approved a $155 billion jobs bill in December.”

David Plouffe to OFA Volunteers: "The path may be more difficult now, but we're going to get this done."

Erica Sagrans — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:12:57 EST

Before the President's speech last night, Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe spoke on a conference call with OFA supporters about where we’re at and what’s up next. Here are some highlights from the call:

On the fight for health reform:

You've done great work. Over a couple million of you have taken action on health care, we've had hundreds of thousands of people on single days call Congress, you've held thousands of press events, you guys were all over the town hall meetings throughout August. You've done great work, and without that, I think that health reform would be absolutely dead on arrival.

I'm here to tell you tonight, and the President is gonna say it, that we are still going to get health care done. So for all of you that got involved in the campaign because you believed in that issue, all of you that worked hard, obviously we've had a little bit of a hiccup here, but presidents have tried to do this for a hundred years. The President is going to make clear tonight that health care is a jobs issue. We are not going to have a strong economy without it. We are not going to have a strong country unless people have the guarantee of coverage, unless we rein in insurance industry abuses. The path may be more difficult now, but we're going to get this done.

On the 2010 midterm elections:

[2010] is an election year, and I think many of you indicated that you'd like to get involved in local elections... A lot of campaigns historically have not had great grassroots organizations, we can help fix that, or at least make it better. We have over 15 million people who voted for the first time in 2008, many of you on the phone probably fit in that category, and a lot of these people have never voted in an off-year election... We gotta go out there and talk to these first time voters. You clearly indicated an interest to do that, and we'll be working with you to make sure we facilitate that. A lot of you helped register a lot of voters, and it was a big part of why we won. We directly registered over 5 million voters as a campaign, there's tens of millions out there eligible to vote in these states in 2010 who aren't registered, so that's another reason.

And on changing Washington:

What's going on here is a belief that, well, everybody in America is having to make some sacrifices and change the way they do their business, but Washington really hasn't changed. There's still too much special interest influence, there's not enough transparency, there's a lack of trust. Barack Obama ran to try and change Washington. He can't do it alone, but that fight, that he's delivered a lot of things on, needs to continue... This town is not working for the American people. I know that Democrats control Congress, but the fact of the matter is not enough change has come and we've gotta have more change come.

You can also listen to the full call below:

On the Ground: State of the Union Watch Parties Across the Country

Erica Sagrans — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 18:49:24 EST

Last night, thousands of Organizing for America supporters gathered in living rooms and community centers in across the country to watch the President Obama deliver his first State of the Union address. For OFA supporters, this was a chance to take stock of the past year, reconnect, and refocus on the challenges ahead.

At a watch party in Chicago, the hundred-person crowd jumped to its feet as the President affirmed, "We don't quit." In Minnesota, folks gathered at more than 30 parties, where the President's words of unity and a common American spirit resonated in particular. And in Michigan, a state with some of the highest unemployment numbers in the country, the President voicing his commitment to creating new jobs received the loudest applause.

Here are a few of the reactions to the President’s address from OFA volunteers who attended last night's watch parties:

From Gwynne in Portage, Michigan:

His delivery was there and it was forceful and able to engage some of his opponents to make them see the benefit of working together. We have to work together. There’s no time for bickering and partisanship.

From Nina in Minneapolis, Minnesota:

The President inspired me tonight. The first thing he did when he was elected was stop the major plunge of our economy. And he's going to keep working to get us on the right track.

From Mary in Colorado:

We all agreed that this State of the Union speech was one of the best ever. It reminded us why we worked so hard to get President Obama elected and inspired us to keep fighting.... We don't quit either!

From Chris in Arizona:

I love how the President spoke about jobs. He gets the struggles that everyday people are dealing with.

From Ron in Ohio:

On such a historic night, over 65 loyal supporters from five counties in southwest Ohio gathered to watch the President’s first State of the Union address. The President delivered his message to Congress and the American people with much applause and many cheers from our group. The event was fantastic and we are all are looking forward to many more! We’re all fired up and ready to go!

Early Reactions: "I don't quit."

Erica Sagrans — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:31:55 EST

Here are some of the early reactions following President Obama's State of the Union Address last night:

From a Washington Post Editorial:

The Barack Obama who mounted the podium last night for his first State of the Union address is the same man who ascended to the presidency a year ago: even-tempered, intelligent, charismatic.

From the New York Times’ Peter Baker:

It was a confident performance, more defiant than contrite, more conversational than soaring… His main message: ‘I don’t quit.’

From Slate’s John Dickerson:

The speech had a feel of a relaunch. In tone and spirit, the president returned repeatedly to the themes he campaigned on—a call to end partisanship and special interest influence, and to create a government equal to the spirit of the American people.

From the Washington Post's EJ Dionne:

Barack Obama had once hoped to be a conciliatory president who understood his philosophical adversaries. He is still that man, and much of his speech described ideas, especially in education and energy, that could well win support across ideological lines.

But it was clear that the Obama who addressed the nation on Wednesday also understood that he confronts a Republican Party that sees unflinching opposition as blazing a path to victory. And he offered himself as a president ready to do battle. "We don't quit," he said. "I don't quit."

ABC News' Mark Zandi:

“Well, if you just take this package by itself, and you combine it with other things, unemployment insurance, perhaps help from the government, i think it can make about 1 million job differences by this time next year, so, a meaningful difference, and let me say, the -- the president is right, the stimulus package passed last year is a plus. The economy would be in a measurably worse place today without it.”

CBS Poll: Poll: 83% Approve of Obama's State of the Union Proposals

CBS News conducted an instant poll with Knowledge Networks immediately following President Obama's State of the Union address. Here are some of the highlights: 83% of speech watchers approve of the proposals the president made in his speech tonight. 17% Disapprove. 70% of speech watchers think Barack Obama shares the same priorities for the country as they do. 57% thought so before the speech. 59% of speech watchers think that Barack Obama has a clear plan for creating jobs. 40% thought so before the speech.

Full Video: The President's State of the Union Address

Christopher Hass — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:08:42 EST

Message from the President: "I cannot do it alone"

Christopher Hass — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:32:03 EST

From President Obama:

I just finished delivering my first State of the Union address.

I set out an urgent plan for restoring economic security for struggling middle class families. This is my top priority, but I cannot do it alone -- and that's why I'm writing to you now.

Tonight, I called on Congress to enact reforms and new initiatives to defend the middle class -- to create millions of new jobs, support small businesses, and drive up wages; to invest in the education of our children and the clean energy technology that must power our future; and to protect the economy from reckless Wall Street abuses.

And I made my position on health reform clear: We must not walk away. We are too close, and the stakes are too high for too many. I called on legislators of both parties to find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.

I have no illusions -- there have been setbacks, and there will be more to come. The special interests who have shaped the status quo will keep fighting tooth and nail to preserve it.

So tonight, I'm asking you to join me in the work ahead. I need your voice. I need your passion. And I need your support.

Can you help fuel our fight for the middle class with a monthly donation of $15 or more?

We have just finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don't quit. I don't quit. Let's seize this moment -- to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.

Thank you for making it possible,

President Barack Obama

President Obama: "I promised I wouldn't just do what was popular -- I would do what was necessary"

Erica Sagrans — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:11:07 EST

President Obama outlines the steps he's taking to reform our financial system, recover taxpayer money from Wall Street, and get our economy going again:

When I ran for President, I promised I wouldn’t just do what was popular – I would do what was necessary. And if we had allowed the meltdown of the financial system, unemployment might be double what it is today. More businesses would certainly have closed. More homes would have surely been lost.
So I supported the last administration’s efforts to create the financial rescue program. And when we took the program over, we made it more transparent and accountable. As a result, the markets are now stabilized, and we have recovered most of the money we spent on the banks.

President Obama: "I will not walk away from health reform"

Erica Sagrans — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:05:23 EST

President Obama speaks about his commitment to the millions of Americans without health insurance and the need to finish the job on health reform:

By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.

President Obama: "I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay"

Erica Sagrans — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:49:48 EST

President Obama urges Congress to send a jobs bill to his desk:

"The House has passed a jobs bill that includes some of these steps. As the first order of business this year, I urge the Senate to do the same. People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.
But the truth is, these steps still won’t make up for the seven million jobs we’ve lost over the last two years. The only way to move to full employment is to lay a new foundation for long-term economic growth, and finally address the problems that America’s families have confronted for years."

Highlights from President Obama's State of the Union Address

Erica Sagrans — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:02:52 EST

Following President Obama's first State of the Union Address to Congress and the American people, here are a few highlights from the speech:

On finishing the job on health reform:

By the time I’m finished speaking tonight, more Americans will have lost their health insurance. Millions will lose it this year. Our deficit will grow. Premiums will go up. Patients will be denied the care they need. Small business owners will continue to drop coverage altogether. I will not walk away from these Americans, and neither should the people in this chamber.
As temperatures cool, I want everyone to take another look at the plan we’ve proposed. There’s a reason why many doctors, nurses, and health care experts who know our system best consider this approach a vast improvement over the status quo. But if anyone from either party has a better approach that will bring down premiums, bring down the deficit, cover the uninsured, strengthen Medicare for seniors, and stop insurance company abuses, let me know. Here’s what I ask of Congress, though: Do not walk away from reform. Not now. Not when we are so close. Let us find a way to come together and finish the job for the American people.

On the need to restore our economy, stabilize our financial system, and recover taxpayer money:

When I ran for President, I promised I wouldn’t just do what was popular – I would do what was necessary. And if we had allowed the meltdown of the financial system, unemployment might be double what it is today. More businesses would certainly have closed. More homes would have surely been lost.
So I supported the last administration’s efforts to create the financial rescue program. And when we took the program over, we made it more transparent and accountable. As a result, the markets are now stabilized, and we have recovered most of the money we spent on the banks.
To recover the rest, I have proposed a fee on the biggest banks. I know Wall Street isn’t keen on this idea, but if these firms can afford to hand out big bonuses again, they can afford a modest fee to pay back the taxpayers who rescued them in their time of need.
As we stabilized the financial system, we also took steps to get our economy growing again, save as many jobs as possible, and help Americans who had become unemployed…
Because of the steps we took, there are about two million Americans working right now who would otherwise be unemployed. 200,000 work in construction and clean energy. 300,000 are teachers and other education workers. Tens of thousands are cops, firefighters, correctional officers, and first responders. And we are on track to add another one and a half million jobs to this total by the end of the year.

On the need to pass a jobs bill into law without delay:

The House has passed a jobs bill that includes some of these steps. As the first order of business this year, I urge the Senate to do the same. People are out of work. They are hurting. They need our help. And I want a jobs bill on my desk without delay.
But the truth is, these steps still won’t make up for the seven million jobs we’ve lost over the last two years. The only way to move to full employment is to lay a new foundation for long-term economic growth, and finally address the problems that America’s families have confronted for years.
We cannot afford another so-called economic “expansion” like the one from last decade – what some call the “lost decade” – where jobs grew more slowly than during any prior expansion; where the income of the average American household declined while the cost of health care and tuition reached record highs; where prosperity was built on a housing bubble and financial speculation.
From the day I took office, I have been told that addressing our larger challenges is too ambitious – that such efforts would be too contentious, that our political system is too gridlocked, and that we should just put things on hold for awhile.
For those who make these claims, I have one simple question:
How long should we wait? How long should America put its future on hold?

On putting leadership above politics:

I will not give up on changing the tone of our politics. I know it’s an election year. And after last week, it is clear that campaign fever has come even earlier than usual. But we still need to govern. To Democrats, I would remind you that we still have the largest majority in decades, and the people expect us to solve some problems, not run for the hills. And if the Republican leadership is going to insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well. Just saying no to everything may be good short-term politics, but it’s not leadership. We were sent here to serve our citizens, not our ambitions. So let’s show the American people that we can do it together.

And on moving forward:

We have finished a difficult year. We have come through a difficult decade. But a new year has come. A new decade stretches before us. We don’t quit. I don’t quit. Let’s seize this moment – to start anew, to carry the dream forward, and to strengthen our union once more.

In the News: OFA Watch Parties Around the Country

Erica Sagrans — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:44:28 EST

Tonight, OFA supporters will gather at hundreds of State of the Union Watch Parties across the country. Here are a few news reports on tonight’s events:

North Carolina Associated Press - “North Carolina Democrats using Obama’s State of the Union speech to mobilize locally”

Democrats in North Carolina are using President Barack Obama's first State of the Union address to organize its efforts locally. The Democratic National Committee's Organizing for America group will be hosting watch parties around the state Wednesday night, bringing together local party officials and voters. There will be 37 gatherings in North Carolina, spanning the state. Obama's former campaign manager, David Plouffe, will hold a conference call with volunteers around the country before the State of the Union speech.

Colorado Daily - “Boulder Democrats look to State of the Union speech for new energy”

As President Barack Obama delivers his first State of the Union address on Wednesday night, dozens of Boulder-area Democrats will gather at watch parties to take in the president's words at the end of a difficult first year in office. Democrats say they are frustrated -- but with Congress rather than the president -- and they'll be looking for Obama to take strong stances in the next year as they try to re-create some of the energy that brought the president into office by turning the speech into a communal event. In addition to informal gatherings, Organizing for America -- a project of the Democratic National Committee, which organized volunteers during the president's election campaign -- has coordinated at least seven watch parties in the Boulder area, from Longmont to Jamestown. Mike Kaplan, a rocket scientist with Boeing, will host a dozen people in his Gunbarrel home.

California Contra Costa Times - “Obama supporters set to gather in Arcata for speech”

Volunteers with Organizing for America (OFA) will gather at the home of Barbara Kellogg in Arcata this evening to watch President Barack Obama deliver his State of the Union address. The speech is scheduled to run tonight from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. ”The Arcata State of the Union Watch Party is one of many planned across California and all 50 states in anticipation of the president's speech laying out his vision for meeting the economic and other challenges currently facing America,” said a press release.

Samantha Gordon, Organizing for America's New Jersey State Director, spoke with a local news station about President Obama's work over the past year and what to expect from his address tonight.

Join an OFA Strategy Call with David Plouffe at a State of the Union Watch Party Tonight

Erica Sagrans — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:14:43 EST

There are only a few hours until President Obama's first State of the Union speech, but you still have time to join an OFA Watch Party near you for tonight's event.

Immediately before the speech, Watch Party attendees will have the chance to join a conference call for a special strategy session with Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe.

Find a Watch Party near you here.

Tonight: President Obama's First State of the Union Address

Erica Sagrans — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 12:13:14 EST

Tonight, at 9:00 p.m. Eastern, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress.

The Los Angeles Times reported:

With his State of the Union address tonight, President Obama aims to deliver a game-changing message, one capable of convincing Americans that his policies will create jobs, curb spending and restore prosperity.
He [also] plans to call for a comprehensive overhaul of the immigration system, they said, and will talk about the need to regulate carbon emissions, which contribute to global warming. The president also will discuss government reform, a senior administration official said, and express concern about the recent Supreme Court decision that opens the way for unlimited political spending by corporations.

Organizing for America supporters will be gathering at State of the Union Watch Parties across the country tonight, and there is still time to find an event near you.

The President's address will be carried on all major television networks, as well as live online at WhiteHouse.gov or here at BarackObama.com. And for the first time, those with an Apple iPhone or iPod Touch will be able to watch a live video stream of the event on the White House iPhone app, which can be downloaded for free here.

Following the State of the Union address, you can submit a follow-up question and vote on other user submitted questions at YouTube.com/CitizenTube. Next week, the President will answer your questions in a special online event at the White House.

Pre-State of the Union Update from Jeremy Bird

Erica Sagrans — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 15:41:16 EST

In preparation for President Obama's first State of the Union address, OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird gives an update and preview of tomorrow’s speech from outside our nation's Capitol.

"Tomorrow night, as the President speaks from this building right behind me, it's an opportunity for us as Americans to come together, to regroup, revitalize, and refocus our efforts as we move forward...

"We're not backing away from this fight, the President's not backing away, and you're certainly not backing away. We've seen that since Tuesday and we look forward to seeing that throughout the year."

The State of the Union address will air live at 9:00 p.m. Eastern tomorrow night. You can join an OFA State of the Union Watch Party here.

Attend a State of the Union Watch Party

Erica Sagrans — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 18:25:47 EST

From David Plouffe:

On Wednesday evening, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address. It comes at a critical moment.
We must regroup, refocus, and re-engage on the vital work ahead. So let's watch it together at a State of the Union Watch Party in your neighborhood.

We've hit some serious bumps in the road recently in our march toward change. We always knew it would be difficult, but this past week has definitely been a hard one, for all of us.
But this movement didn't come so far without making it through some challenging times. It's at moments like these when we need you most. People are hurting. Our country is at a crossroads, and in communities like yours all across America we must all fight for the progress our families and businesses need to thrive.
The President's resolve has never been stronger to keep fighting for health insurance reform, for lasting job creation, and to rein in the big banks and fight the undue influence of lobbyists. Wednesday's speech will be a pivotal moment for us all to get on the same page and continue the fight together.
In just two days, OFA supporters like you will be gathering at State of the Union Watch Parties in living rooms and community centers across the country. You can share ideas and experiences -- and I'll be joining on the phone for a special strategy huddle before the speech.
Find and RSVP for a State of the Union Watch Party near you:
http://my.barackobama.com/AttendSOTU
I hope you can join us,
David Plouffe
P.S. -- Volunteers have set up hundreds of Watch Parties over the last few days. But if there isn't one yet near you, just sign up to host one yourself. It's easy and fun, local OFA organizers will help you with any questions you have, and it's an incredibly important way to let supporters near you be part of the action.

New Help for Middle Class Families

Erica Sagrans — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:13:27 EST

Today, President Obama and Vice President Biden announced new recommendations from the administration’s Middle Class Task Force to help middle class families struggling in today’s tough economy. Coupled with the White House’s emphasis on job creation, these recommendations support long-term efforts to reverse the erosion in security for the middle class. The proposals will be included in the President’s proposed fiscal year 2011 budget, which will be unveiled next week.

The recommendations included:

• Nearly doubling the child and dependent care tax credit for middle class families making under $85,000 a year

• Easing the burden of student debt by limiting students’ federal loan payments to 10 percent of his or her income.

• Helping workers save for retirement by creating a system of automatic workplace IRAs, requiring all employers to give the option for employees to enroll in a direct-deposit IRA.

• Expanding tax credits to match retirement savings and enacting new safeguards to protect retirement savings, making it easier for families to plan for retirement.

• Expanding support for families balancing work with caring for elderly relatives, helping them manage their multiple responsibilities and allowing seniors to live in the community for as long as possible.

At a joint event with the President, Vice President Biden explained:

Today, living a quality middle class life starts, as it always has, with a good-paying job. And by job, we're not talking about merely a paycheck; it's more than a paycheck. And we're talking about dignity, we're talking about security. We're talking about knowing your pension is safe, your health insurance is reliable, your elderly parents and your children are going to be cared for, your neighborhood is safe, there's decent schools, and that your kids are going to be able to grow up and if they desire and you desire, be able to attend college. It's the old-fashioned notion of American Dream.

President Obama added:

Joe and I are going to keep on fighting for what matters to middle class families: An education that gives our kids a chance in life; new, clean energy economy that generates the good jobs of the future; meaningful financial reform that protect consumers; and health reform that prohibits the worst practices of the insurance industry and restores some stability and peace of mind for middle class families.
None of these steps alone will solve all the challenges facing the middle class. But hopefully some of these steps will reestablish some of the security that's slipped away in recent years. Because in the end, that's how Joe and I measure progress -- not by how the markets are doing, but by how the American people are doing. It's about whether they see some progress in their own lives.

David Plouffe to Democrats: "Fight like hell... and do what the American people sent us to Washington to do"

Christopher Hass — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:03:12 EST

In today's Washington Post, Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe penned an op-ed in which he admits that the Democratic Party received a resounding "wake-up call" from the Massachusetts special election on Tuesday, but he argues that the way forward is to continue to fight, and to show American people that they are capable of doing the hard things that voters sent them to Washington to do.

[The 2010 midterms] will be a tough election for our party and for many Republican incumbents as well. Instead of fearing what may happen, let's prove that we have more than just the brains to govern -- that we have the guts to govern. Let's fight like hell, not because we want to preserve our status, but because we sincerely believe too many everyday Americans will continue to lose if Republicans and special interests win.

Plouffe also outlines a few key principles the Democrats can use to be successful in this November, the first of which is passing a meaningful health insurance reform package without delay. He also urges Democrats to focus on job creation, and to do a better job articulating the positive impact American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on the economy.

Finally, Plouffe urges Democratic candidates to "run great campaigns," citing many of the same core organizing principles that proved to be so effective during the Obama campaign:

Our campaigns can leave no stone unturned, from believing in the power of grass-roots volunteers and voter registration, to using technology and data innovatively, to raising money -- especially with big corporate interests now freed up to dump hundreds of millions of dollars to elect those who will do their bidding. Democratic candidates must do everything well. Each one must make sure that the first-time voters from 2008 living in your state or district -- more than 15 million nationwide -- are in their sights. Build a relationship with those voters, organize them and educate them. On Nov. 3, many races are sure to be decided by just a few thousand if not a few hundred votes. These voters can make the difference. We have to show them that their 2008 votes mattered, and passing health insurance reform is one way to start.

...If Democrats will show the country we can lead when it's hard, we may not have perfect election results, but November will be nothing like the nightmare that talking heads have forecast.

Read the full op-ed...

Weekly Address: Fighting for the Public Against Special Interests

Christopher Hass — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:54:19 EST

In today's Weekly Address, President Obama talks about the fight against special interests, as well as the fight to come in the wake of Wednesday's Supreme Court decision:

"This week, the United States Supreme Court handed a huge victory to the special interests and their lobbyists – and a powerful blow to our efforts to rein in corporate influence. This ruling strikes at our democracy itself. By a 5-4 vote, the Court overturned more than a century of law – including a bipartisan campaign finance law written by Senators John McCain and Russ Feingold that had barred corporations from using their financial clout to directly interfere with elections by running advertisements for or against candidates in the crucial closing weeks.

This ruling opens the floodgates for an unlimited amount of special interest money into our democracy. It gives the special interest lobbyists new leverage to spend millions on advertising to persuade elected officials to vote their way – or to punish those who don’t. That means that any public servant who has the courage to stand up to the special interests and stand up for the American people can find himself or herself under assault come election time. Even foreign corporations may now get into the act.

I can’t think of anything more devastating to the public interest. The last thing we need to do is hand more influence to the lobbyists in Washington, or more power to the special interests to tip the outcome of elections."

President Obama: “I won’t stop fighting”

Erica Sagrans — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 18:05:32 EST

Earlier today, President Obama spoke at a town hall meeting in Ohio about his resolve to keep fighting for health insurance reform – and to keep fighting on all the challenges ordinary Americans face in their lives, and the challenges we all face together as a nation:

“I'm going to keep on fighting for real, meaningful health insurance reform. We expanded the Children's Health Insurance Program to include four million kids -- we already did that. But we are also going to fight to hold the insurance industry accountable, to bring more stability and security to folks who are in our health care system. And, yes, I want to make sure that people who don't have health care right now can get some. It's shameful that we don't do that.”

The President then spoke about why he’s in this fight, where we’re at after a tough week, and his determination not to back down in the face of D.C. insiders who doubt progress on reform:

“I've got to admit, we had a little bit of a buzz saw this week.... And I understand why, after the Massachusetts election, people in Washington were all in a tizzy, trying to figure out what this means for health reform, Republicans and Democrats; what does it mean for Obama? Is he weakened? Is he -- oh, how's he going to survive this? That's what they do.
But I want you -- I want you to understand, this is not about me. This is not about me. This is about you. This is not about me; this is about you. I didn't take this up to boost my poll numbers... I didn't take this on to score political points. I know there are some folks who think if Obama loses, we win. But you know what? I think that I win when you win."

"A green light for a new stampede of special interest money in our politics"

Christopher Hass — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:45:22 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Yesterday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that corporations can spend freely in federal elections.

It's a green light for a new stampede of special interest money in our politics, giving their lobbyists even more power in Washington. Now, every candidate who fights for change could face limitless attacks from corporate special interests like health insurance companies and Wall Street banks.

While the GOP is celebrating a victory for its special interest allies, President Obama is working with leaders in Congress to craft a forceful response that protects the voices of ordinary citizens.

Please add your name right away to help show that the American people support strong, urgent action to prevent a corporate takeover of our democracy.

Congress: I support bold action to ensure fair elections.

The Supreme Court decision overturned a 20-year precedent saying that corporations could not pay for campaign ads from their general treasuries. And it struck down a law saying corporations couldn't buy "issue ads" -- which only thinly veil support for or opposition to specific candidates -- in the closing days of campaigns.

The result? Corporations can unleash multi-million-dollar ad barrages against candidates who try to curb special interest power, or devote millions to propping up elected officials who back their schemes.

With no limits on their spending, big oil, Wall Street banks, and health insurance companies will try to drown out the voices of everyday Americans -- and Republicans seem ecstatic.

While opponents of change in Congress are praising this victory for special interests, President Obama has tasked his administration and Congress with identifying a fix to preserve our democracy -- and we need to show that the American people stand with him.

Add your name today.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Host a State of the Union Watch Party?

Christopher Hass — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 20:03:42 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Next Wednesday evening, President Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address. The President will lay out a clear vision of the challenges we face and our national plan to meet them.

Certainly, the path toward change got a bit steeper after Tuesday's disappointment in Massachusetts. But this movement has persevered before, and Wednesday's speech is an important opportunity to reconnect, take stock of the road ahead, and continue forward together.

So OFA members will be gathering at State of the Union Watch Parties in living rooms across the country. We'll huddle on the phone with Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe, and plan for what comes next.

Can you sign up to host a State of the Union Watch Party?

If you can provide the TV, telephone, and living room, we'll invite folks in your area to join you. Together we'll launch the next phase of our work together in your neighborhood -- and across the country.

We still have a lot of hard work in front of us to finish the job on health reform, fight Wall Street abuses, rebuild our economy, create clean energy jobs, and address all the other challenges we face.

Just this morning, President Obama proposed new restrictions on the size and scope of financial institutions as part of his efforts to protect taxpayers and rein in excessive risk-taking by banks. And these State of the Union Watch Parties are an important way to play a role in what comes next.

No experience is needed to host a successful event. You may be surprised at just how easy it is to do. Just sign up online today, and a local OFA organizer will be in touch to answer any questions you have and support you through every step.

Especially in the wake of Tuesday's election, there are a lot of fellow OFA supporters in your area who want to come together for this speech and get involved -- but first they need a place to meet.

Can you make it possible? Click here to host a Watch Party.

Thanks so much,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

President Obama: "Never Again Will the American Taxpayer be Held Hostage by a Bank that is 'Too Big to Fail'"

Erica Sagrans — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:20:31 EST

"If these folks want a fight, it's a fight I'm ready to have." -- President Obama

This morning, President Obama announced a proposal for new restrictions on the largest banks, many of which were responsible for the most recent financial crisis, in order to rein in excessive risk taking and protect taxpayers. These banks would no longer be able to use customer deposits, which are backed by the federal government, to pursue risky financial transactions and investments. The President explained:

"Banks will no longer be allowed to own, invest, or sponsor hedge funds, private equity funds, or proprietary trading operations for their own profit, unrelated to serving their customers. If financial firms want to trade for profit, that's something they're free to do. Indeed, doing so –- responsibly –- is a good thing for the markets and the economy. But these firms should not be allowed to run these hedge funds and private equities funds while running a bank backed by the American people."

The New York Times outlined the plan:

"The proposal will put limits on bank size and prohibit commercial banks from trading for their own accounts — known as proprietary trading.

...[The restrictions are] similar to those passed in the Glass-Steagall Act in 1933. That law separated commercial banking and investment banking, so that the investment arm could no longer use a depositor’s money to purchase stocks, sometimes drawing money from a savings account, for example, without the depositor’s knowledge.

...It will be the third time in just a week that [President Obama] has waded into the battle heating up in Congress over tightening regulation of financial institutions to avoid the sort of abuses that contributed to the near collapse on Wall Street. Last week he proposed a new tax on some 50 of the largest banks to raise enough money to recover the losses from the financial bailout, which ultimately could cost up to $117 billion, the Treasury estimates.

And this week, he served notice to senior lawmakers that he wants an independent agency to protect consumers as part of any financial overhaul legislation."

The President spoke directly to financial industry lobbyists about his commitment to fighting for these reforms:

"If these folks want a fight, it's a fight I'm ready to have. And my resolve is only strengthened when I see a return to old practices at some of the very firms fighting reform; and when I see soaring profits and obscene bonuses at some of the very firms claiming that they can't lend more to small business, they can't keep credit card rates low, they can't pay a fee to refund taxpayers for the bailout without passing on the cost to shareholders or customers -- that's the claims they're making. It's exactly this kind of irresponsibility that makes clear reform is necessary."

During his announcement, the President explained that these changes are needed because our country is still operating under the same rules that led our economy to near collapse. The White House plans to work with the House and Senate to include these proposals in whatever bill dealing with financial regulation eventually emerges from Congress.

Read the the full remarks of the President's announcement.

Massachusetts

Christopher Hass — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 07:46:56 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Yesterday's disappointing election results show deep discontent with the pace of change. I know the OFA community and the President share that frustration.

We also saw what we knew to be true all along: Any change worth making is hard and will be fought at every turn. While it doesn't take away the sting of this loss, there is no road to real change without setbacks along the way.

We could have simply sought to do things that were easy, that wouldn't stir up controversy. But changes that aren't controversial rarely solve the problem.

Our country continues to face the same fundamental challenges it faced yesterday. Our health care system still needs reform. Wall Street still needs to be held accountable. We still need to create good jobs. And we still need to continue building a clean energy economy.

The President isn't walking away from these challenges. In fact, his determination and resolve are only stronger. We must match that commitment with our own.

But it won't be easy. Real change never is. For that reason, I am grateful you're part of this fight with us.

Thank you,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

What's Next: OFA Conference Call Tonight

Christopher Hass — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 15:43:31 EST

An update from OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

We got some disappointing news last night -- Martha Coakley lost her race for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts.

We're putting together a conference call today for our most active volunteers and supporters. We will have several calls throughout the night starting at 8:00 p.m. Eastern to quickly review your amazing efforts and talk about what's next. Please sign up for a time that works for you.

Can you join us? RSVP here.

While the race didn't go our way, OFA members should be proud of your incredible efforts. In just the last 2 weeks, OFA volunteers like you made more than 2 million calls to Massachusetts and held more than one thousand voter contact events.

Though the result of this election comes as a disappointment, OFA supporters showed remarkable energy and enthusiasm and the type of passion that has become a trademark of Organizing for America.

On this quick conference call, we'll hear from folks who were on the ground in Massachusetts, including John Spears, the OFA state director.

We'll discuss where we go from here in the fight for health reform, and how we're going to organize around the State of the Union address next week.

Call-in information is on the RSVP Page. Please sign up here.
Talk to you soon,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

The Work You’ve Done

Erica Sagrans — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 20:28:49 EST

The polls just closed in Massachusetts, and while we wait for the final results, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the amazing work OFA volunteers have done over the past few days -- both in Massachusetts and in every part of the country.

In the last four days, OFA volunteers made more than 2 million calls to Massachusetts voters to ensure they get out to vote for Martha Coakley.

OFA volunteer leaders ran more than one thousand phone banks across the country to get out the vote in Massachusetts.

Supporters used OFA’s online phone banking tools to call folks in Massachusetts and ask them to get out and vote, and used our text messaging tool to look up polling place locations and make phone calls.

No matter what the final outcome, we witnessed incredible energy from OFA supporters across the country eager to lend a hand in the final push in Massachusetts. Here are a few updates from across the country:

Brigid from Massachusetts:

In the past week, we have seen the OFA volunteer community come together in a way that we've never seen before to work to get Martha Coakley get elected. We've held seven phone banks in the past week in Arlington alone and recruited over 220 volunteers to make thousands of calls to our neighbors and voters across the Commonwealth. OFA provided us the opportunity to flex our organizing muscle in coordination with the Coakley Campaign, which was evidenced by the high turnout in Arlington.

From Bill in MA:

The determination and persistence of our organization here in Boston is truly inspiring. This is the last mile in this race, but there will be many more ahead, and the energy and activism that we have put into this race in the final push will send a clear message that OFA is up to the challenge.

Noah from Colorado:

We've had a lot of inspiring stories from volunteers calling today for Martha Coakley. Our favorite comes from Alfredo F., who talked to a 77-year-old Spanish-speaking woman who voted for the first time in 2008 for Barack Obama. She wasn't planning on voting today because she didn't have a way to get to the polls. Alfredo gave her the number for the Coakley rides to the polls program. She was so excited when the ride finally showed up that she called Alfredo back and thanked him for the encouragement to get out and participate in this important election.

Dustin from Washington:

Every single phone and computer in OFA HQ in Seattle taken up by Organizing for America volunteers. Volunteers were on cell phones, sitting on the floor, doing whatever it took to get the vote out for Coakley!

Sean from California:

Despite being a rainy Tuesday afternoon, volunteers committed to ensuring Massachusets turned out for Martha packed into every nook and cranny here. Throughout California, phone banks called thousands upon thousands of Massachusetts residents.

Christina from Ohio:

Ohio OFA volunteers made over 11,000 calls to Massachusetts voters on Monday, and are making even more today. One woman, Marion H., from Marblehead, Massachusetts was so touched that a man from OFA called her yesterday to ask if she was voting for Martha, she wanted us to pass along the message to Martha herself. She was amazed that people all over the country care so much about this election.

Thanks to everyone who pitched in, on the ground in Massachusetts or across the country. No matter what the outcome, you can be proud of your incredible efforts.

One More Hour

Christopher Hass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:45:24 EST

We're about to enter the last hour of call time before polls close in Massachusetts, and it's all hands on deck at OFA national headquarters here in D.C. A number of Democratic representatives have stopped by today to thank volunteers for their work, and to make calls themselves, including Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX).

Polls close at 8:00 P.M. Eastern.

Inside the Obama Campaign with David Plouffe

Christopher Hass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:16:13 EST

As a long day of get out the vote calls and canvassing winds to a close, many people across the country will be settling in to wait for the returns from tonight's Massachusetts special election. Across town, Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe will be speaking at the George Washington University tonight, at an event that will also be live-streamed online.

Plouffe will be discussing his new book, The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory, with moderator Sam Stein from the Huffington Post, on the eve of the first anniversary of President Obama’s inauguration. The event is being hosted by the Progressive Book Club and the George Washington University’s Institute for Politics, Democracy & the Internet at the Graduate School of Political Management.

You can watch the online discussion www.livestream.com/progressivebookclub, starting at 7:30 p.m.

For those watching returns tonight or working on the ground, we'll have highlights from tonight's event available online later in the week.

Call 5: Help Get Out the Vote

Christopher Hass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:14:51 EST

Across the country, volunteers are making calls to help get out the vote for Martha Coakley in today's Massachusetts special election. Here at OFA headquarters, it's no different.

Polls close in just under three hours. If you have five minutes, can you call five voters?

GOTV On the Go

Christopher Hass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 15:36:56 EST

In addition to our online phonebanking tools, voters in Massachusetts and throughout the country are using our text messaging program to help get out the vote today. If you're a Massachusetts voter, you can find your polling place information by texting PLACE to 62262. And no matter where you are, you can text CALL to 62262 and we'll call you back with talking points and info, and then connect you to a Massachusetts voter. You can make as many or as few calls as you like. Polls are open for another four and a half hours.

On the Ground in Boston: The Last Mile

Bill Gordon — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:37:11 EST

It’s Election Day in Massachusetts and energy is in the air. All across the state, OFA volunteers are canvassing and making phone calls to help elect Martha Coakley to the United States Senate. The determination and persistence of our organization here in Boston is truly inspiring.

Johanna, a volunteer from Cambridge came off the street to make phone calls, had this to say about why she’s involved:

“I'm very excited about the President's agenda, and I still haven't lost faith in our ability to change this country and push it in a positive, progressive direction.”

The last day of an election is always surreal. The very last push to get voters to the polls can be frustrating, exciting, and deeply meaningful. Making sure the very voters you contacted only days earlier have rides to the polls gives a sense of completeness to the whole experience.

Johannah went further about her efforts today:

“I offered to give a ride to a lady in East Boston who was worried of slipping on her sidewalk. So you name it, I'm trying to do what I can. Every vote counts.”

And that’s the sense on the ground today, that every vote truly does count. In a special election, voter turnout is key. This is the last mile in this race. There will be many more ahead, but the energy and activism that we have put into this race in the final push will send a clear message that OFA is up to the challenge.

On the Ground in Massachusetts: Game Day

Nicole Aro, New Media Team — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:09:39 EST

It’s game day! There’s less than 8 hours before the polls close tonight. Most of the staff have moved out to the field to help with canvasses or phonebanks around the state, but Martha Coakley for Senate HQ is still packed with volunteers hitting the phones.

One of the most inspiring things about the last few days here has been the incredible support coming in from around the country – and last night at the phonebank here I got to meet and talk with some of those folks. Victor, Guillermo, and Jina were still in the office at almost 10:00 p.m. last night, tallying their calls up. I asked how they had gotten involved. It turns out they are Organizing for America volunteers -- Guillermo and Victor are from Texas, and Jina is from Washington, D.C. They were up visiting New York when they realized how important the extra support for the election would be—and it didn’t hurt that they are good friends with one of Martha Coakley’s field organizers.

Guillermo explained:

We were visiting New York from Houston, Texas and decided to come up to help when we saw it getting close. We were really worried that a Republican would take Ted Kennedy’s old seat. The effect of this seat really goes beyond the Commonwealth. We might be from Texas, but we believe that if there’s a way that we can keep a Democratic vote, a progressive Democratic vote, we’ll work for it, and we’ll go get out the vote.

Victor continued:

This election is crucial, not only for Massachusetts, but long term. We want to do whatever we can to help this candidate get elected, who will help the President, and work with him on his agenda. We didn’t want to sit idly by. Organizing for America had set up phonebanks in Houston and San Antonio that our friends are at right now, and we wanted to make sure that since we were here, we were doing our part.

We worked so hard in so many elections in our home county to turn our county blue, and we accomplished that in 2008. We worked hard to elect the first openly gay mayor of Houston, and we want to continue to elect progressive candidates. Martha Coakley has been really strong on LGBT rights and women’s rights, and we want to support her."

Of the three, Jina was the only one who was volunteering on a campaign for the first time. She commented:

"I live in DC. I see a lot of Congressmen, a lot of people who have actually been elected, but I’ve never seen the people that work behind getting those people elected. It’s really cool to see them actually getting elected."

A special thanks to all of the OFA volunteers knocking on doors in Massachusetts and making calls in from around the country – like Jina said, you are the ones doing the work behind the scenes to help get Martha Coakley elected. There’s still almost eight hours before the polls close – so keep going! You can make calls from home or join an event near you.

Message from the President: "Today is the day"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:13:36 EST

Early this morning, President Obama sent out the following email to OFA supporters across the country:

Right now, the polls are open to elect a new senator to the seat that my friend Ted Kennedy held for 47 years.

The choice could not be more stark, and the result could not be of greater consequence -- for Massachusetts or the nation.

The Bay State can send progressive champion Martha Coakley to Washington to fight for everything we believe in -- health reform, getting all of our money back from Wall Street, and holding corporate interests accountable.

Or the Senate can get one more person already walking in lockstep with Washington Republicans.

The polls are still open, the choice has not been made, and you still have a crucial role to play by calling voters in Massachusetts. In a low-turnout special election like this one, every single voter counts.

Please sign up for a phone bank for Martha Coakley near you on this Election Day.

Opponents of change and progress have been pouring money and resources into the Commonwealth -- they want to keep things just as they are.

The most important thing you can do to stand up to them is call other voters and urge them to get out to vote for the leader we need representing Massachusetts.

In a race as close as this one, no matter how many voters you call, you could tip the balance.

So please make sure you do everything you can today. Click here to find an Election Day phone bank near you.
If you were fired up in the last election, I need you more fired up in this election.

Thanks for everything you've done, and for your efforts in this final push,

President Barack Obama

If you're unable to make it to a phonebanking event near you (or if there are none in your neighborhood) you can still help out by calling Massachusetts voters from home.

Polls Open for Massachusetts Special Election

Christopher Hass — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:05:32 EST

The polls opened at 7:00 A.M. Eastern this morning for the Massachusetts Special Election to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat. If you live in Massachusetts, you can find your polling place now at Pollingplaces.BarackObama.com.

You can also recieve polling place information by text message by texting PLACE to 62262.

The polls are open until 8:00 P.M. Eastern tonight. As long as you are in line by 8:00 P.M., you have the right to vote.

Time to Get Fired Up

Christopher Hass — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:32:00 EST

From David Plouffe, to voters in tomorrow's Massachusetts special election:

Yesterday, President Obama came to Massachusetts to rally for Martha Coakley. More than 4,000 supporters came out to hear the President's speech and show their support for Martha.

Tomorrow is a crucial day for Massachusetts and for our nation.

Please watch the video from the President's rally in Boston, and get fired up for the final push.

Then make sure you know where and when to vote and that you're all set to bring as many folks with you to the polls as you possibly can.
Let's bring this home,

David Plouffe

On the Ground in Boston: The Final Stretch

Nicole Aro, New Media Team — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 19:53:55 EST

Less than a day left!

Tomorrow is Election Day here in Massachusetts, and everyone is in full GOTV mode (Get Out The Vote). Yesterday was a great day for Martha Coakley’s campaign – the rally with President Obama was a huge success, as you can see from the excitement of the attendees below.

Today’s been packed—despite some challenging weather (we had a few inches of snow last night) volunteers are out knocking doors and packing into offices to make calls. I’m still in headquarters, where a little while ago Congressman Markey stopped by to rally the troops in support of Martha Coakley.

One of the best things about the last few days have been the reports of all of the support flooding in from Organizing for America members across the country. I asked John Spears, Organizing for America Massachusetts State Director, what the feeling was like among OFA volunteers on the ground here, and he said:

OFA volunteers in Massachusetts pride themselves in using their organizing skills to work for change in other states. This election, however, we've been on the receiving end of things. Our OFA-MA volunteers have been inspired by the passion and commitment from OFA volunteers from across the country. We are energized by their efforts and can tangibly see how their work is making a very real impact on the ground.

The end is in sight, but we still need your help down the stretch. You can find an election day event near you, or help make calls from home.

Message from John Kerry: "Let's do this for Ted"

Christopher Hass — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:34:16 EST

Earlier today, Senator John Kerry sent out a special message to OFA volunteers:

The election to fill the Senate seat my friend Ted Kennedy held for forty-seven years is just one day away.

And the stakes couldn't be higher. If Martha Coakley wins, she would be the 60th vote we need to pass health reform, and Ted's life's work will become law.

But what if we don't all dedicate ourselves to getting as many folks out to the polls as possible? Reform could be defeated. Her Republican opponent has committed to be the 41st vote against standing up to the big insurance companies -- and we can't let that happen.

So I need your help.

OFA has assigned you 5 voters in Massachusetts. Can you call them today?

Share their polling location with them, and, most importantly, let them know how important their vote is for Massachusetts and for the fate of President Obama's agenda.

Click here to get your list of 5 voters.

This is a tight race, and every single vote could make the difference.

Thank you for your help. Let's do this for Ted,

Senator John Kerry

Video: President Obama on Dr. King's Legacy

Christopher Hass — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:35:51 EST

Yesterday, to mark the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., President Obama spoke at the Vermont Avenue Baptist Church, in Washington, D.C., recalling the lessons that Dr. King and his generation still hold for us today:

245,000 Calls

Christopher Hass — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 11:31:09 EST

An update from OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird:

This weekend alone, OFA volunteers have made over 245,000 calls to Massachusetts voters to help get out the vote for Martha Coakley. But polls open in less than 24 hours, so we've got to finish strong.
Martha Coakley's opponent has pledged to do everything he can to kill health reform. And if he wins, he just might succeed.
Please join me in calling as many voters as we can today, so we can finish this with a win.

Message from Mitch Stewart: "All hands on deck"

Christopher Hass — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 21:08:36 EST

Call time is over for the night, though volunteers will be back on the phone to Massachusetts tomorrow morning. Thank you to everyone who pitched in today to help get out the vote for Martha Coakley. It's not too late to make a difference in this crucial race, as OFA Director Mitch Stewart reminded supporters in an email earlier tonight:

Polls open for the Massachusetts Senate race in less than 48 hours.

We're getting last-minute reports of right-wing groups flooding the state with attacks ads and robo-calls.

They're hoping to defeat Martha Coakley and elect an extreme Republican who has promised to use Ted Kennedy's seat to stop health reform and oppose President Obama's efforts to recoup our money from the nation's biggest banks.

This is an "all hands on deck" moment. So while we're still fighting hard for health reform, OFA organizers and volunteers are putting together a massive program to make sure every Coakley supporter gets to the polls on Tuesday -- and we need your help to keep it up.

Please, dig deep and donate $25 or more to OFA to help these crucial efforts.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Going All Out

Christopher Hass — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 20:02:37 EST

With one hour of call time left tonight, volunteers across the country are still on the phone to Massachusetts voters. Meanwhile, POLITICO reports on yesterday's efforts:

...Organizing for America is going all out for Massachusetts, and there's some indication that the genuine urgency is genuinely animating his base: A party official says the organization's members put more than 93,000 calls into the state yesterday alone.

On the Ground: Nonstop at Coakley HQ

Nicole Aro, New Media Team — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:16:32 EST

Sorry for the late update -- I meant to post this morning, but it’s been so busy here that it's been hard to get away to write! I’m back in the Martha Coakley for Senate HQ, which is still humming with activity. The work and excitement from last night continues. I’m not sure it ever stopped; this is what the office looked like at 9:30 last night:

Once it was too late to canvass or make calls, our volunteers didn’t stop. I walked down the hall and ran into more enthusiastic volunteers who were making signs for some of the events today.

It just keeps getting busier! The biggest excitement of the day happened just a few miles away: President Obama joined Martha Coakley for a rally here in Boston. The doors opened at 1:00 p.m. but we started hearing reports of people in line as early as 10:00 a.m. We’ve been hearing reports about how excited the attendees were by phone, text, and tweet ever since. Everyone at the event also made calls -- below is a picture sent in to us of students who are holding their call sheets; they couldn't wait to help get out the vote for the next Senator from Massachusetts!

Remember, you can lend a hand as well. You can find a local event near you at My.BarackObama.com/CoakleyVol or make calls right from home at My.BarackObama.com/CoakleyN2N.

Online Phonebankers: An Overwhelming Response

Christopher Hass — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:26:12 EST

OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird hosted a conference call at 2:00 P.M. today, to update supporters who have been making phone calls from home to help get out the vote in Massachusetts for Martha Coakley. At the end of the call, Bird asked everyone on the line to make at least 25 calls in the next few hours, and the response was incredible -- so much so that our online tools were momentarily overwhelmed.

Jeremy Bird explained:

"You all are amazing. So many of you on the system at one time, the technology could barely handle it. If you go to my.barackobama.com/coakleyn2n now, it should be working. We'll keep you updated!"

We apologize to anyone who had trouble getting through, but you should be able to continue making calls now. If you use the link above (or the button below) you'll either be directed to the main Neighbor to Neighbor tool, or our "Call 5 Voters" tool, both of which will connect you to voters in Massachusetts.

UPDATED (5:00 P.M. Eastern): Call volume remains high, but the system is working smoothly now. On the conference call earlier, Jeremy Bird reported on the top five callers from yesterday, who helped set the pace for today:

   • Scott W. from California: 473 calls
   • Henry K. from Connecticut: 468 calls
   • Michael D. from Pennsylvania: 392 calls
   • Carolyn W. from New York: 379 calls
   • Rebeca K. from Minnesota: 329 calls

There are still four hours of call time left tonight...

On the Ground: Crowd Builds for Rally with President Obama and Martha Coakley

Christopher Hass — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 14:49:24 EST

Here's a look at the scene at Northeastern University, as the crowd begins to build for today's rally with President Obama and Martha Coakley:

Back to Work

Christopher Hass — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 11:33:05 EST

Volunteers are back to work this morning, in Massachusetts and across the country, making calls to let voters know about Tuesday's special election to fill Ted Kennedy's senate seat. In Massachusetts, OFA supporters are working alongside Martha Coakley's staff on the ground, while across the country many of the same people who made calls during the Obama campaign are back at it again, this time to help secure what could be a crucial 60th vote on health reform.

At 2:00 p.m. Eastern today, OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird will lead a conference call for everyone phonebanking from home, followed by another round of calls. Last night, Bird explained:

On Sunday we'll be running a national virtual phonebank of sorts. Supporters from around the country can phone in to a national conference call. We'll recognize the top online callers from Saturday, talk about what we're about to do, get the lay of the land from some folks in Massachusetts right now, and then we'll get calling as one national phonebank.

You can join in by RSVP'ing here.

And no matter where you are, you can help out by making calls from home using our online tools:

"Let's finish this"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 22:48:47 EST

OFA supporters across the country have been making get out the vote calls for the Massachusetts special election all day, and many will be back at it tomorrow. Earlier this evening, OFA Deptuy Director Jeremy Bird announced that tomorrow, we're going to do things a little differently:

On Sunday, supporters from around the country will call in to a national conference call.

We'll recognize the top callers from today (Saturday), talk about what we're about to do, get the lay of the land from some folks in Massachusetts right now, and set some big goals for each other.

And then we'll get calling.

Can you join us for a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, January 17th, followed by a round of calls to Massachusetts?
It'll be a fun way to start our calling off with others around the country -- and it could well make the difference in the fight for health reform.

Please sign up for your call, and submit any questions you'd like:

http://ma.barackobama.com/MAn2nCall

Let's finish this,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

Sunday's conference call starts at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. The call-in Number is (712) 432-0075, and the participant code is 404-284.

Sunday in Boston: Rally with President Obama

Christopher Hass — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 17:50:06 EST

With just three days until the Massachusetts special election to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, OFA is putting together a massive voter turnout effort for Democratic candidate Martha Coakley. Organizers and volunteers are knocking on doors and making phone calls by the tens of thousands to help get out the vote, and on Sunday, President Obama himself will be in Boston to speak at a rally for Martha Coakley.

If you live in the Boston area, here are the details:

What: Rally for Martha Coakley with President Barack Obama
Where: Solomon Court at the Cabot Gym
Northeastern University
400 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
When: Sunday, January 17th
Doors open at 1:00 p.m.

The rally is free and open to the public, but please make sure to RSVP today.

On the Ground: Martha Coakley for Senate HQ in Boston, MA

Nicole Aro, New Media Team — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:12:19 EST

I’m here at the Martha Coakley for Senate campaign headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts, and it’s an amazing sight. The office is bustling with people on phones and laptops. Campaign staff has been working around the clock, hand-in-hand with volunteers streaming in and out to make phone calls and get instructions to go canvassing. Across the street there’s another thriving phonebank. Volunteers like Ricardo C. who have been working for health insurance reform for months have come together in a new mission: to help elect Martha Coakley as the next Senator from Massachusetts.

Here at HQ, I caught up with Pedro Morales, the founder of Latinos for Coakley, who was a volunteer for the Obama campaign in New Hampshire and became a supporter of Attorney General Coakley after seeing her leadership in 2008. I asked him about why he got involved with the campaign.

“From the very beginning I was supporting her as Attorney General. I used to volunteer for the Obama campaign in New Hampshire, helping to get out the Latino vote in Manchester. After the primary campaign was over, I saw her leadership in bringing people together. From that day, it was my belief that she could lead, and bring people from very different places together. She’s somebody that our country really needs at the very highest level.
She would come and visit communities that were underprivileged -- immigrant and under-resourced [communities]. She did everything she could on a very busy schedule and showed that she had the soul and the heart to lead. From that day she had the heart of the Latino community, and we now have a really strong team coming together to support her. We’re volunteering for her across the state 24/7, dozens of us, and more all the time.”

Pedro is not alone in his passion for this campaign, as the energy in HQ and around the state shows. Organizing for America volunteers from around the state are headed to phonebanks and canvasses for the next 78 hours to turn out the vote, but we need your help.

If you’re in Massachusetts, you can find a phonebank here. And no matter where you are, you can help by making calls right from home at My.BarackObama.com/CoakleyN2N.

Message from Mitch Stewart: "OFA is going all out in Massachusetts"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 14:15:13 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

There's a crucial Senate election in Massachusetts in three days. We need your help to win it.

The polls are tightening as right-wing money floods the state, and one even shows the race to be a dead heat between progressive champion Martha Coakley and her extreme opponent. The truth is, special elections often have very low turnout and are notoriously unpredictable.

The stakes are just too high to leave Martha's victory to chance.

If we lose, Sen. Ted Kennedy's seat will be in the hands of someone who opposes everything he fought for. We'll lose a key vote for the President's agenda in the Senate -- and put all the progress we've made toward health reform at risk.

That's why OFA is putting together a massive voter turnout effort to make sure Obama voters get back to the polls this time around -- but we need your help to pay for it. Please donate $25 or more to OFA to help fund our organizing, including our work to elect Martha Coakley.
OFA is going all out in Massachusetts -- we're sending organizers, knocking on doors, and making phone calls by the tens of thousands to make sure that folks know how to participate.

It's a huge effort, it's expensive, and time is short. But with the outcome uncertain and the stakes sky high, I don't want to wake up the morning after the election thinking that we could have done something more. If you feel the same way, please donate $25 or more to help us make Martha Coakley the next senator from Massachusetts.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

The Health Reform Election

Christopher Hass — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:06:00 EST

"It's clear now that the outcome of health reform and other fights will probably rest on one vote in the United States Senate." -- President Barack Obama

The Massachusetts Special Election is in three days. No matter where you are, you can help.

The President's Weekly Address: "Getting Our Money Back from Wall Street"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 09:13:14 EST

"We want our money back"

Christopher Hass — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 15:40:01 EST

From Vice President Joe Biden:

Yesterday, President Obama announced our proposed Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee on the country's largest banks:

"My commitment is to recover every single dime the American people are owed. And my determination to achieve this goal is only heightened when I see reports of massive profits and obscene bonuses at some of the very firms who owe their continued existence to the American people...We want our money back, and we're going to get it."

The fee would recover every penny loaned to Wall Street during the financial crisis and stop the reckless abuses and excesses that nearly caused the collapse of our financial system in the first place.

But the banking industry -- among the most powerful lobbies in Washington -- is already launching attacks to stop Congress from enacting the proposal.

Barack and I aren't backing down. But to win, we'll need the American people to add their voice right away.

Thankfully, OFA supporters are already signing on to a bold statement of support: "We want our money back -- and we stand with President Obama to make sure we get it." You can add your name by clicking here.

The proposal is expected to recoup billions from the big banks, most of it from the ten largest. As the President said, "If these companies are in good enough shape to afford massive bonuses, they are surely in good enough shape to afford paying back every penny to taxpayers."

There is much more work to do to reform the financial system and create a new era of accountability. But the Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee is a crucial step. And with the banks already working to tear it down, I hope that I can count on you to speak out to show that Americans stand with us as we take them on.

Click here to add your name to the statement.

Change isn't easy, but it's certainly worth fighting for. I'm glad you're in this fight with us.

Thank you for making it possible,

Vice President Joe Biden

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 10:10:49 EST

New York Times:

President Obama on Thursday promised $100 million along with more American troops for the relief effort in Haiti, vowing that the United States would stand with the impoverished nation as it grappled with the devastation of its capital city.
The Pentagon sent 125 soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division based at Fort Bragg, N.C., and said that by the end of the week their number would grow to 3,000. Military officials said their primary mission would be to provide security as aid began to arrive.
Those Army troops will be supplemented in the coming days by 2,000 Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C., who are scheduled to arrive in Haiti by Monday.
Saying he wanted to “speak directly to the people of Haiti,” Mr. Obama gave a brief address from the White House that was one of the sharpest displays of emotion of his presidency.
“You will not be forsaken. You will not be forgotten,” he said, and stopped to compose himself. “In this, your hour of greatest need, America stands with you.”
He said the financial aid was only a first installment and would grow over the coming year. “Help is arriving,” he said. “Much, much more help is on the way…”

The Hill:

President Barack Obama and House Democrats claimed significant progress Thursday as momentum appeared to increase for swift final action on healthcare reform.

After a year of legislative tussling among Democrats in both the House and Senate and after an intense day of negotiating between Obama and the leaders of both chambers on Wednesday, senior House Democrats indicated they could be ready to put the finishing touches on final legislation before the beginning of next week…
With the finish line in sight, Obama visited Capitol Hill to rally Democrats on healthcare and the rest of their legislative agenda Thursday. Earlier in the day, the president and his senior aides brokered a crucial deal to scale back a tax on high-cost health insurance plans that seemingly cemented the support of labor unions, a powerful Democratic ally, for final action on the healthcare bill…
House Democrats expressed confidence that the compromise on the tax, which is not in the House-passed bill but is the key revenue-raiser in the Senate-passed bill and enjoys the support of the president, provided a boost to the prospects of securing the 218 votes needed to pass the measure…
Following Obama’s 20-minute address to the caucus and a closed-door question-and-answer session between the president and lawmakers, House Democratic leaders gathered for a private meeting to review the progress made over the past two days and prepare for a nighttime meeting with Obama at the White House…
During the private session, Obama sought to inspire the lawmakers to cast their political anxiety about the healthcare bill aside. “This is something that will last. You will look back and say this is one of the most significant accomplishments you’ve ever made,” he said, according to a Democratic aide. “Stay true to your core values and America will be better for it.”

National Public Radio:

A push to overhaul the nation's health care system has cleared another hurdle… The breakthrough came just as President Obama was preparing to address House Democrats, many of whom were skeptical of the Cadillac tax.
"…Today we're on the doorstep of accomplishing something that Washington has been talking about since Teddy Roosevelt was president. And that is reforming health care and health insurance here in America," Obama said.
Obama says he reads the polls, and catches the occasional story on cable TV showing sinking public support for the health care plan. He promised to stand behind his fellow Democrats, in the same way they've stood behind him.
Obama expressed confidence that voters will like the health care plan better once it's signed into law, and they can see for themselves what it does — and doesn't do.
"If the Republicans want to campaign against what we've done by standing up for the status quo and for insurance companies over American families and businesses, that is a fight I want to have," he said.

Boston Globe:

With all eyes trained on Massachusetts' increasingly heated race for a pivotal seat in the US Senate, the major-party candidates made divergent appeals to undecided voters today, with Republican Scott Brown intensifying his rhetoric on terrorism and Democrat Martha Coakley dwelling on economic insecurity…
Coakley, the state's attorney general, toured a New Bedford clothing factory to highlight her job creation plan and sought to link Brown to what she called the "failed economic policies" of the Bush-Cheney administration. She challenged her opponent to take a position on President Obama's new proposal for a bailout tax on the nation's largest banks for up to 10 years, designed to recoup taxpayers' investment in the recovery.

"I would support this proposal because it holds the largest Wall Street firms accountable for their abuses that caused millions of people to lose their jobs, as well as it works to recover the hard-earned taxpayer dollars of the middle class," Coakley said in a statement.
Asked by a reporter, Brown initially declined to state his position on Obama's proposal. Later, his campaign released a statement saying he opposes it…
On Friday, both candidates will get a boost from political titans from their respective parties. Former New York mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, whose leadership on Sept. 11, 2001 made him an icon, will campaign with Brown through the North End. Coakley gets a visit from former President Bill Clinton.
It remains unclear whether Obama will visit Massachusetts on her behalf this weekend, but he recorded a web video that asks voters to rally behind Coakley's campaign and lauds her work taking on "Wall Street schemes, insurance company abuses, and big polluters."

Washington Post:

For its Topic A feature last Sunday, The Post invited a panel of political operatives to offer their advice to the Democratic Party on strategy for 2010 [Sunday Opinion, Jan. 10]. Improbably, one of the operatives asked was Karl Rove, President George W. Bush's longtime chief strategist.
Rove has some impressive campaign victories to his credit. But given the shape in which the last administration left this country, I'm not sure I would solicit his advice. And given the backhanded advice he offered, I'm not sure he was all that eager to help…
The day the Bush administration took over from President Bill Clinton in 2001, America enjoyed a $236 billion budget surplus -- with a projected 10-year surplus of $5.6 trillion. When the Bush administration left office, it handed President Obama a $1.3 trillion deficit -- and projected shortfalls of $8 trillion for the next decade. During eight years in office, the Bush administration passed two major tax cuts skewed to the wealthiest Americans, enacted a costly Medicare prescription-drug benefit and waged two wars, without paying for any of it.
To put the breathtaking scope of this irresponsibility in perspective, the Bush administration's swing from surpluses to deficits added more debt in its eight years than all the previous administrations in the history of our republic combined. And its spending spree is the unwelcome gift that keeps on giving: Going forward, these unpaid-for policies will continue to add trillions to our deficit.
This fiscal irresponsibility -- and a laissez-faire attitude toward the excesses of the financial industry -- helped create the conditions for the deepest economic catastrophe since the Great Depression. Economists across the political spectrum agreed that to deal with this crisis and avoid a second Great Depression, the government had to make significant investments to keep our economy going and shore up our financial system.
That is why President Obama and Congress crafted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Despite Rove's assertion, it is widely accepted that the difficult but necessary steps Obama took have helped save our economy from an even deeper disaster. And while Rove conveniently ignores that it was President Bush -- not Obama -- who signed into law the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program bailout for banks, the Obama administration's rigorous stewardship added transparency and accountability that have cut the expected cost of that program by two-thirds…

Get Out the Vote Time

Christopher Hass — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:04:37 EST

No matter where you are, you can help get out the vote for Martha Coakley by making calls from home tonight using our online tools.

If you live in Massachusetts, you can find your polling location now and make plans to vote on Tuesday.

Video: President Obama to Announce Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee

Christopher Hass — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 11:18:14 EST

President Barack Obama will join his economic team today to propose a Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee to be imposed on the debt of the largest financial firms, in order to ensure that the American people are fully compensated for the extraordinary assistance they provided to Wall Street in the wake of last year's financial meltdown.

UPDATED: You can watch the full video of the President's announcement below:

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:08:15 EST

Washington Post:

President Obama mobilized the U.S. government Wednesday for a massive rescue and relief operation in the devastated capital of Haiti, ordering swift military and diplomatic assistance and pledging an aggressive effort to save the lives of those caught in Tuesday's earthquake.
Naval ships steamed south and flights began shuttling search-and-rescue teams to dig through rubble in Port-au-Prince. Military aircraft flew over the island, mapping the destruction, while U.S. officials coordinated the efforts of nongovernmental aid agencies. Coast Guard helicopters began flying seriously wounded Americans from the U.S. Embassy on the island nation to the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, about 200 miles away.
"With just a few hundred miles of ocean between us and a long history that binds us together, Haitians are neighbors of the Americas and here at home," Obama said, calling the earthquake an "especially cruel and incomprehensible tragedy."
The U.S. government's response accelerated Wednesday as the extent of the disaster became clear. Obama canceled a speech on job creation as his top advisers huddled in the White House Situation Room throughout the day…

Time Magazine:

A White House aide tells me that President Obama issued a clear order Tuesday night, just before 6 p.m., when his national security aide Denis McDonough told him there had been an earthquake in Haiti: He told McDonough that he wanted an aggressive and highly coordinated response.
Aggressive it has been. He was briefed twice on Tuesday night, and briefed again by four different agencies and individuals before 10 a.m. Wednesday. He cancelled a planned speech on clean energy jobs, along with a side trip to Maryland, and spent the afternoon working the phones, talking to the U.S. ambassador to Haiti, to Secretary of State, to the USAID administrator and the leaders of Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and the United Nations.The White House website has been turned into a fundraising hub for the Red Cross, and the White House has emailed its list with an appeal to give money.
The full horror of the catastrophe is not yet clear, and it could be weeks before we truly know how effective the U.S. government response has been. But there is little doubt that Obama is seizing the moment to demonstrate, for the second time in the New Year, that he can perform as a crisis president. In fact, Obama's entire run in 2010 so far been dominated by muscular, public and dutiful demonstrations of authority in the face of crisis…

Wall Street Journal:

President Barack Obama and top congressional Democrats reported "significant progress" toward an agreement on a final health bill Wednesday after negotiations at the White House that stretched for more than eight hours.
In a joint statement, the president, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said they were "encouraged and energized" after making progress in bridging the remaining differences between the two health-care bills passed late last year by the House and Senate.
The president participated in most of the negotiations, according to the statement, and his planned appearance at a Maryland training center to tout clean-energy jobs was canceled as the talks ran past their scheduled time.
The president, who left the bill's details to Congress last year, made his preferences clear on various provisions in Wednesday's meeting, one participant said. The statement said talks would continue Thursday.
Lawmakers tried to resolve conflicts over how to pay for the bill, how to structure a new requirement that employers offer insurance and how to expand the insurance subsidies in the bill to make them more generous for lower earners, according to Democratic aides. The talks moved closer to the House position calling for a national health-insurance exchange, rather than state-run exchanges. No final decisions were reached, the aides said…

Washington Times:

President Obama notched substantial successes in spending cuts last year, winning 60 percent of his proposed cuts and managing to get Congress to ax several programs that had bedeviled President George W. Bush for years.
The administration says Congress accepted at least $6.9 billion of the $11.3 billion in discretionary spending cuts Mr. Obama proposed for the current fiscal year. An analysis by The Washington Times found that Mr. Obama was victorious in getting Congress to slash 24 programs and achieved some level of success in reducing nine other programs…
"This is a very strong beginning for the president's efforts to shape a budget that invests in programs that work and that ends programs that don't," said Tom Gavin, a spokesman for the White House budget office. "The Congress has approved more than 60 percent of the president's proposals, and that's a high mark, that's a strong beginning…"

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): Boston Globe Endorses Martha Coakley for U.S. Senate:

…Democratic Attorney General Martha Coakley, after more than two decades in law enforcement, is no pie-in-the-sky dreamer. Thoughtful and empirical, she views issues like a lawyer building a case. She promises hard work and no illusions. And in some cases, that means scaling back the ambition of government programs to carefully monitor what works and what doesn't. Like the consumer-protection lawyer she is, she looks for measurable results…
…It's easy to find a provision in any major bill that gives one pause, and to brandish it as a reason to scuttle the whole thing. Blocking bills is easy; finding a politically acceptable response to complicated problems is hard.
Voters who want to cast a critical eye on Washington without destroying the Democratic coalition should go for Coakley. Her quiet diligence in pursuing some of the most thankless, but deeply important, tasks in prosecuting child abusers, scouring the fine print of Big Dig contracts to bring back hundreds of millions of dollars, and securing $60 million from Goldman Sachs for its subprime mortgage abuses, contrasts sharply with Brown's five-year record of voting no in a state Senate run by the opposite party.
She is by far the more qualified candidate, in experience and judgment. She has prosecuted hundreds of criminals and helped coordinate plans to protect the state from terrorist threats. As attorney general, she's returned $1 billion to state coffers.
In a normal election, her credentials alone would distinguish her from Brown. But this year, a lot of people want to send a message. The message they should send is this: Massachusetts is fed up with Senate wrangling and wants clear answers on health care, climate change, and loose regulation of financial institutions. Coakley, with her hard work and proven skills, is well-qualified to carry this message to Washington…

"The single most important thing you can do right now to help pass health reform"

Christopher Hass — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:34:22 EST

Earlier today John Spears, the OFA Massachusetts State Director, sent out an email to supporters around the country, asking for their help in the upcoming special election:

I'm John Spears, OFA's state director here in Massachusetts. I don't normally write to you, but I'm reaching out today because we urgently need your help.

In just six days, folks here will vote in a special election to pick their next senator. The race is coming down to the wire, and we have to do everything we can to ensure that progressive champion Martha Coakley wins.

Unless we all join together in this moment, Ted Kennedy's Senate seat could fall into the hands of Scott Brown, Martha's opponent and a right-wing reactionary who has sworn to defeat health insurance reform -- our late Senator's life's work.

But with this special election happening at an unusual time, many voters don't know where or when to vote, and some don't yet realize an election is happening at all.

OFA Massachusetts volunteers are going door to door, talking to voters and making sure they know how critical the outcome of their decision will be next Tuesday. But with so little time remaining, we need folks like you to reach out, too.

I hope you will join with supporters across the country who are calling key Massachusetts voters to get the word out, with our easy-to-use Neighbor to Neighbor tool.

Can you help elect Martha Coakley? Please log-in and start making calls today.

Calling voters is the single most important thing you can do right now to help pass health reform. You don't need any previous experience, and you'll have fun while making a huge difference.

Health reform passed the Senate without any room to spare, and if we lose just one seat, it could tip the balance.

So, this week, it all comes down to this race -- and that means it could come down to you.

Please start making calls:

http://ma.barackobama.com/CoakleyN2N

Thanks,

John

John Spears
Massachusetts State Director
Organizing for America

Help the Victims of the Haiti Earthquake

Christopher Hass — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:05:53 EST

A powerful earthquake shook the island nation of Haiti yesterday, destroying most of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. The Red Cross estimates that about 3 million people -- one-third of Haiti's population -- were affected by the quake.

In an address this morning, President Obama said, “I want to extend to the people of Haiti the deep condolences and unwavering support of the American people following yesterday's terrible earthquake…Our thoughts and prayers are also with the many Haitian Americans around our country who do not yet know the fate of their families and loved ones back home.”

Families of Americans living in Haiti are encouraged to contact the State Department at 888-407-4747.

Urgent humanitarian efforts in Haiti are underway now. To find out how you can help, visit the Red Cross or Mercy Corps.

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:22:16 EST

Washington Post:

The $787 billion economic stimulus package has created or saved between 1.7 million and 2 million jobs, but its impact on the economy ebbed slightly in the final quarter of 2009 compared with prior months, the White House said Tuesday night.
Releasing the administration's second quarterly report to Congress on the stimulus's impact, Christina Romer, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, said a third of the tax cuts and spending in the package is out the door. Her office estimates that the stimulus added between 1.5 and 3 percentage points to the growth in gross domestic product in the final quarter of 2009. That estimate, which is in line with other analyses, is lower than her office's estimate of stimulus-related impact in the third quarter, between 3 and 4 percentage points.
Administration officials said often last year that the stimulus's impact would be felt more over time as spending ramped up, but Romer said in a conference call with reporters that the drop-off in GDP impact was not unexpected. The biggest jolt to the GDP came with the first big surge of spending over the summer, she said, and job creation is now following…

Providence Journal:

For next Tuesday’s special U.S. Senate election, we recommend that Massachusetts voters choose state Atty. Gen. Martha Coakley. Most important to us is that she is the candidate most likely to carry on the work of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy in health-care reform. She’d bring high intelligence, solid credentials and ample political experience to the role.
In her three years as attorney general, Martha Coakley has tackled issues of local importance (the Big Dig, for instance) as well as national significance. She played a supporting role in regional efforts to confront global warming. She also took on the subprime-mortgage debacle, winning a landmark settlement from Goldman Sachs Group for its part in repackaging dubious loans.
Before becoming attorney general, Ms. Coakley was district attorney for Middlesex County. For seven years she headed the office’s child-abuse unit, helping to win a homicide conviction against British nanny Louise Woodward. Another controversial case, of child rape, in 2005, brought criticism that her office had not pursued justice aggressively enough. Yet the defendant, a Somerville police officer, was ultimately sentenced to two life terms. Ms. Coakley made hard calls in scores of these difficult cases, proving herself a sensitive person as well as an effective advocate.
In campaigning, Ms. Coakley has pledged to help push through a health-care reform bill. This remains an urgent priority for all. Now is the best chance Americans have had in years to accomplish this vital reform, but it will not happen without the Bay State’s vital 60th vote. Scott Brown, Ms. Coakley’s Republican foe, has pledged to oppose the bill…

Washington Post:

The nation's largest health insurance group confirmed Tuesday that it quietly funneled millions of dollars to an advertising campaign opposing Democratic health-care legislation even as it was publicly pledging support for reform.
National Journal reported that six major health insurers -- Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Kaiser Foundation Health Plans, UnitedHealth Group and Wellpoint -- contributed up to $20 million to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to help fund a $100 million anti-reform ad campaign that began last year. The magazine, citing two unidentified health-care lobbyists, said the money was solicited by America's Health Insurance Plans, the industry trade group which professed early support for the Obama administration's reform plans before souring on major provisions of the legislation…
The White House and reform advocates seized on the report as further evidence that the insurance industry has been attempting to undermine reform while claiming to support it. White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer wrote in a blog posting that "big insurance companies are fighting tooth and nail to kill health reform that will wrest power from their hands and give it to American families."
Pfeiffer added, "It's no surprise that the insurance companies who profit from the broken status quo would oppose fixing the system..."

Politico:

Democrats are going on the attack today, calling out Republicans and the insurance industry. The GOP will come under fire for threatening to repeal reform from the comfort of their taxpayer-provided health benefits. And insurers will get hit for helping to bankroll the Chamber of Commerce’s anti-reform ads, according to a Democratic leadership aide…
After months of spreading misinformation and engaging in desperate efforts to kill health reform for political reasons, Washington Republicans are now threatening to try to repeal the benefits for Americans that health reform legislation would provide. It’s clear that the GOP’s efforts to defend insurance companies’ massive profits and freedom to abuse consumers won’t end when the President signs this historic legislation. Here are the top 10 benefits Americans stand to gain if the legislation gets signed into law:
1. Protections against insurance company discrimination and losting coverage when you get sick...
2. Insurance security if you lose your job...
3. Relief for small businesses and employers, jobs for Americans...

4. No lifetime limits on coverage...
5. Free preventive care
6. Independent consumer advocates and sunshine on rate increases...
7. Lower drug costs for seniors, lower premiums for early retirees...
8. Better access and stronger protections for women...
9. Extended coverage for young adults...
10. At least 30 million more Americans will finally have health insurance...

Massachusetts Special Election: “The outcome of this race couldn't be more important.”

Christopher Hass — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:02:00 EST

On Tuesday, January 19th, a special election will be held in Massachusetts to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat, and the stakes here are incredibly high. With final votes on health reform legislation still upcoming, every vote in the Senate is key. State Attorney General Martha Coakley's Republican opponent has promised to "force" health reform "back to the drawing board" if elected.

We are closer than ever to passing health reform, but to get the job done, we'll need Martha Coakley's vote in the Senate.

No matter where you live, you can play an essential role. OFA volunteers around the country are calling key Massachusetts voters and making sure they know when and where to vote, and how important electing Martha Coakley is to the country.

Click here to use our online tools to call voters in Massachusetts from home.

And the impact of this election goes well beyond health reform. In a message to Massachusetts Democrats, President Obama explained:

"On January 19th, Massachusetts voters will head to the polls to choose their next senator. We all need Ted Kennedy's seat to be filled by a champion for change -- and Martha Coakley is that champion.
The outcome of this race couldn't be more important. To help Americans get back to work, jump-start a clean-energy economy, and put a stop to abuses on Wall Street that place us at risk, I need every ally possible in the Senate.
You've worked so hard to organize around these and so many other critical issues. And now we're so close to passing health reform -- finally realizing Senator Kennedy's life's work. But we cannot get the job done without Martha Coakley in the Senate.
...Among the nation's finest attorneys general, Martha Coakley has served the public for over 20 years as a tireless advocate for individuals and communities throughout the Commonwealth. Her record of protecting children from abuse and promoting reform in the criminal justice system is truly outstanding.
If elected, I know Martha will work with Senator Kerry and continue the proud tradition of Senator Kennedy as a fighter for opportunity and social justice for the people of Massachusetts and our nation.”

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:00:17 EST

From Politico:

…the White House on Monday highlighted a report from a coalition of watchdog groups awarding the Obama administration an “A” for its openness.
The report — released by the nonprofit groups Common Cause, Democracy 21, the League of Women Voters and U.S. PIRG — gave the administration high marks across the board for its various initiatives to increase transparency and reduce the power of lobbyists, both of which were key elements in candidate Barack Obama’s campaign pledge to change the way Washington works.
The report praised the administration for rules limiting lobbyists from seeking stimulus funds and for putting the White House visitor logs and other documents online, among other reforms…

From the National Journal:

The White House strategy for contesting the midterm election is beginning to take shape.
In an interview with National Journal, senior White House political adviser David Axelrod laid down several keys to strengthening the Democratic position in an election that all signs suggest is shaping up as extremely difficult for his party. Axelrod's checklist includes improvement in the economy, some (but not vastly more) legislative action and, most pointedly, an effort to draw sharper contrasts with Republican positions. His comments may foreshadow a much more pugnacious Democratic message as the election approaches.
"It's almost impossible to win a referendum on yourself," Axelrod insisted. "And the Republicans would like this to be a referendum. It's not going to be a referendum..."
More important than new initiatives, he suggested, would be reframing the debate on what has already happened in Washington since Obama took office. On the one hand, he argued, the campaign will provide Democrats an opportunity to tout legislative successes, like bills strengthening federal regulation of tobacco and credit card companies, that have been almost completely eclipsed by the high-profile confrontations over the economy and health care…
On the other, he hinted, would be sharper efforts to compare the Democratic agenda with Republican priorities. While Republicans are hoping that voters will view the election as a referendum on Democratic performance, he said Democrats will work to frame the election more as a choice between the parties -- and present an aggressive case against the GOP alternative.
"They want to stand with the insurance industry on health care and protect the status quo, then let them defend that in an election," Axelrod said. "If they want to stand with the banks and the financial industries, and protect the status quo, then let them explain that in an election. If the party that over eight years turned a... surplus into the most significant growth in national debt by far in the history of the country and left this president with a $1.3 trillion deficit when he walked in the door and an economic crisis, let them campaign on fiscal integrity. You know... we're certainly willing to have that discussion…”

From the Huffington Post:

Perhaps the New York Times should have waited one more day before running an article questioning whether President Barack Obama is "a wimp or a warrior."
The morning after the paper led a story in its Week in Review section by noting that: "like every Democratic president since John F. Kennedy, President Obama is battling the perception that he's a wimp on national security," CNN actually polled a subset of the issue. And the results seemed to dispel the notion that the topic is hotly debated.
According to the survey, 57 percent of respondents approved of the way Obama had responded to the botched Christmas airliner attack, with 39 percent disapproving of how he handled the situation. Fifty-five percent of Independents approved of how he handled the situation…
…Rather than concerning themselves with strength -- as conventional wisdom holds -- the public seems more interested in competence. They also seem to be more resigned to the fact that a muscular foreign policy isn't the panacea that was promised during the Bush years…

From Talking Points Memo:

…Over the last few days the Democratic National Committee, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Organizing For America have all been stepping up, with the latest news that DNC national press secretary Hari Sevugan is headed to Boston.
A Democratic source in Washington tells TPMDC that the prominent public discussion of potential low Democratic turnout in the Massachusetts special Senate election could have a beneficial effect: Alerting Democrats to the problem and thus helping to boost that very turnout…
"Expect Washington Democrats to be very vigilant, not take their eye off the ball," our source said. "This is an important race. This is Ted Kennedy's seat…"
President Obama's campaign group, Organizing for America, posted a message on Friday urging Democrats from around the country to help out by calling Massachusetts voters: "While the large majority of Massachusetts voters support the Democratic candidate, Attorney General Martha Coakley, special interests have poured in hundreds of thousands of dollars to mislead voters -- and the traditionally low turnout in special elections means this race could be very, very close."

ICYMI: from CQ:

In his first year in office, President Obama did better even than legendary arm-twister Lyndon Johnson in winning congressional votes on issues where he took a position, a Congressional Quarterly study finds.
The new CQ study gives Obama a higher mark than any other president since it began scoring presidential success rates in Congress more than five decades ago. And that was in a year where Obama tackled how to deal with Afghanistan, Iraq, an expanding terrorist threat, the economic crisis and battles over health care.
Obama has been no different from his predecessors in that he's always ready to send a firm message to the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue as he "urges members of Congress" to come together and act. All presidents demand specific action by Congress — or at least they ask for it. But when you look at the votes of 2009 in which Obama made his preference clear, his success rate was unprecedented, according to John Cranford of Congressional Quarterly.

"His success was 96.7 percent on all the votes where we said he had a clear position in both the House and the Senate. That's an extraordinary number," Cranford says…

How to Lose on Health Reform in Three Easy Steps

Christopher Hass — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 15:27:35 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

There's a simple formula for folks like us to make sure health reform falls apart in the final days:
The good news is, that's not our plan. We're fighting as hard as ever, with organizers on the ground to show support for reform, ads in key places to get the truth out, and cutting-edge tools to help the voices of real Americans be heard on Capitol Hill.

It's a massive effort -- and we need your help to keep it up. Can you chip in $25 right now to fuel our final push?

Your work has brought us this far. Now that we're in the final round, let's give it all we've got.

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 09:37:46 EST

From the Wall Street Journal:

A top economic adviser to President Barack Obama, calling the 85,000 jobs lost in December a "setback," said the U.S. must pump more money into programs aimed at spurring job creation and providing assistance to the unemployed.
"The sense that we need to do more is overwhelming," Christina Romer, chairman of the president's Council of Economic Advisers, said on ABC News's "This Week." She reiterated calls for a tax credit to spur hiring, and voiced support for a $75 billion House measure that would provide additional aid to states and the unemployed…
Ms. Romer said job losses were moderating, with the U.S. losing fewer jobs than in the first quarter of 2009, when job losses averaged 691,000 per month. She said the main way to see net job gains was to boost economic growth, but targeted legislation such as a hiring credit would also help...

From the New York Times:

As small teams of Congressional staff members work furiously to hash out the final differences between the two versions [of health reform legistlation], Congressional leaders and White House officials are trying to navigate an increasingly difficult set of competing demands while also fulfilling President Obama’s top goals: that the legislation not add to the deficit, that it reduce long-term health spending and that it cost around $900 billion.
Virtually all of the demands put forward in the end-stage talks would require raising the cost of the Senate bill, projected by the Congressional Budget Office at $871 billion over 10 years...
On Monday, labor leaders will head to the White House to press Mr. Obama to make changes to a proposed excise tax on high-cost insurance policies because they fear that the tax will hit many generous union-sponsored health plans.
As staff talks continue, broad parameters of an agreement are coming into focus. Mr. Obama last week effectively resolved two big disputes by insisting that the final legislation include the proposed excise tax on high-cost insurance plans and the Senate proposal for an independent commission to recommend future cost savings in Medicare and throughout the health care industry. The House did not include either.
Ms. Pelosi and House Democrats are pressing for changes to the proposed subsidies that would increase premium assistance and reduce out-of-pocket costs for individuals and families earning less than 250 percent of the federal poverty level — roughly $55,000 for a family of four...
House Democrats are pushing hard for a national insurance exchange, or marketplace, rather than the state exchanges proposed by the Senate…
The White House communications director, Dan Pfeiffer, warned against predicting any final outcome.
“The president is working with the speaker and the majority leader to bridge the few remaining differences,” he said in a statement. “There have been and will continue to be many discussions on the staff level, but at this point these are just discussions. Those saying they know where the bill is going to end up are making less-than-educated guesses.”

E.J. Dionne oped in the Washington Post:

Reaching agreement on a health-care bill is harder in theory than it will be in practice.
Before the measure lands on President Obama's desk, there will be many crisis points, much posturing and dire warnings of impending failure. There are real differences between the bills passed by the House and the Senate. The last few votes are always the most difficult to get.
But more than negotiators can afford to acknowledge openly, there is broad agreement on the kinds of concessions the Senate can make to the House and still preserve the 60 votes needed for passage. Indeed, some of those concessions will be eagerly sought by progressive Democratic senators…
Almost everyone in both houses wants to find ways of making insurance more affordable. Steps in this direction would include more generous subsidies for the purchase of insurance than those in the Senate bill and expanding its Medicaid provisions…

"No matter where you live"

Christopher Hass — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:50:01 EST

Earlier today, OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird sent out a message about the upcoming special election in Massachusetts:

On Tuesday, January 19th, there's a special election in Massachusetts to fill Ted Kennedy's Senate seat.

While the large majority of Massachusetts voters support the Democratic candidate, Attorney General Martha Coakley, special interests have poured in hundreds of thousands of dollars to mislead voters -- and the traditionally low turnout in special elections means this race could be very, very close.

The stakes here are incredibly high. You know how hard we've fought and how close we've come to finally passing health reform. But also know this: To get the job done, we need Martha Coakley's vote in the Senate.

No matter where you live, you can play an essential role. OFA volunteers around the country are calling key Massachusetts voters and making sure they know when and where to vote, and how important electing Martha Coakley is to the country.

Each voter we reach could be the one who tips the balance.

Can you help by calling potential voters in Massachusetts?

Offering information to voters on how to participate is a great service, and it can be a lot of fun. You can take as much or as little time as you like, and no prior experience is necessary.

Making these calls could be the single most important thing you can do right now to ensure the passage of health reform.

But the impact of this election goes well beyond health reform -- Martha Coakley will be a vital ally to President Obama in helping our families get back to work, launching a clean-energy economy, and reining in the Wall Street abuses that still put so many Americans at risk.

But it all comes down to you. We need you to help get the word out, so please start calling today:

http://my.barackobama.com/CoakleyN2N

Thank you for your help,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

The President's Weekly Address: Health Reforms Benefits in 2010

Christopher Hass — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:27:56 EST

Video Message from Mitch Stewart: "Historic Year, More Work Ahead"

Christopher Hass — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 13:09:01 EST

OFA Director Mitch Stewart recorded a message outlining some of the accomplishments of 2009, the challenges that lie ahead in 2010, and asking for input from supporters on how they want Organizing for America to move forward in the new year:

Share your thoughts: my.barackobama.com/2010

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:55:08 EST

From the New York Times:

President Obama on Thursday ordered intelligence agencies to take a series of steps to streamline how terrorism threats are pursued and analyzed, saying the government had to respond aggressively to the failures that allowed a Nigerian man to ignite an explosive mixture on a commercial jetliner on Christmas Day.
The president also directed the Homeland Security Department to speed the installation of $1 billion in advanced-technology equipment for the screening of passengers, including body scanners at American airports and to work with international airports to see that they upgrade their own equipment to protect passengers on flights headed to the United States.
He said intelligence reports involving threats would be distributed more widely among agencies. He instructed the State Department to review its visa policy to make it more difficult for people with connections to terrorism to receive visas, while making it simpler to revoke visas to the United States when questions arise.
“We are at war,” Mr. Obama said, releasing an unclassified version of a report on the attempted attack.
He pledged not to “succumb to a siege mentality” sacrificing the country’s civil liberties for security, but he called for expanding the criteria for adding people to terrorism watch lists.
It was the second time this week that the president delivered public remarks on the attempted bombing and the intelligence lapses. Administration officials said human error led to perhaps the biggest lapse of all: the failure to put Mr. Abdulmutallab on the no-fly list despite the government’s having information that showed him to be not only a threat, but also a threat with a visa to visit the United States.
The internal report, conducted by Mr. Brennan, blamed a host of errors for the intelligence lapse, including a misspelling of Mr. Abdulmutallab’s name. The mistake led officials at the State Department to the erroneous conclusion that Mr. Abdulmutallab did not have a visa.
“The intentional redundancy in the system should have added an additional layer of protection in uncovering a plot like the failed attack on Dec. 25,” the review found. “However, in both cases, the mission to ‘connect the dots’ did not produce the result that, in hindsight, it could have…”

From the Los Angeles Times:

National healthcare legislation in Congress could slow the growth of medical costs, allowing employers to create 250,000 to 400,000 new jobs a year over the next decade, economists from Harvard University and USC are predicting.
Wading into the hotly debated issue of whether the legislation is a job creator or a job killer, researchers from the two universities say that the reforms under consideration would slow the rate of cost increases and free up money for companies to raise wages and hire more workers.
Specifically, healthcare savings could be achieved through proposals for greater competition in insurance markets, better coordination of care and shrinking administrative expenses, they said in a report to be released today. With those changes, employers could then reallocate money now spent on ever-growing premiums to other business priorities.
"We could achieve huge productivity gains," said Harvard economist David Cutler, one of the study's authors and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank…
The Harvard-USC report could be a boost for President Obama, who has made the economic benefits of health reform a top selling point in his administration's efforts to forge public support for the overhaul.

The president's Council of Economic Advisors said healthcare reform would increase domestic growth, raising family incomes substantially and leading to significant new hiring.

The Harvard-USC economists concluded that industries with high rates of employer-sponsored insurance -- including manufacturing, utilities and financial services -- would see some of the largest employment gains.

"If you have a strong bill that will promote control of healthcare costs, there will be an effect on the number of jobs," said Neeraj Sood, director of international programs at USC's Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics…

From The Hill:

Senate Democrats are crafting a job creation bill that would boost funding for small businesses, public services, infrastructure projects and energy efficiency programs.
An aide to Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Democrats are looking at proposals in those four main areas. But the aide said that senators have yet to finalize their specific proposals.
Durbin, who is writing the bill with Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), has said the Senate will take up the bill soon after they return later this month from the holiday break.
They are considering new transit and highway spending and efforts to help stave off public employee layoffs, as well as a new tax credit for businesses hiring new workers and a program providing incentives for homeowners to retrofit their homes, according to a source off Capitol Hill.
That would be similar to the jobs bill passed by Democrats in the House last month. The House bill did not include the tax credit and “cash for caulkers” proposals, which are supported by President Barack Obama.
The Durbin aide said suggestions of specific provisions in the jobs bill at this point are "pure speculation." The aide noted that Durbin and Dorgan are still sifting through 121 ideas offered by Democratic senators.
The $174 billion House bill included $48 billion for public works projects and $28 billion to help state and local governments avoid laying off workers. It also provides money for more unemployment insurance and COBRA health benefits for the jobless and a full-year extension of the current transportation authorization bill…

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 09:51:42 EST

From the Wall Street Journal:

The White House supports an effort to tweak the health bill so it makes insurance more affordable for the lowest earners…
President Barack Obama met with top Democrats for the second consecutive day Wednesday to hash out the final legislation. The White House is using the more moderate health bill passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve as the basis for a final bill, while adapting some provisions from the more liberal version the House passed Nov. 7.
Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, suggested that much work remained. "The president has been very patient with his time and understanding that we have to get 218 votes and we really have to be able to sell it, not just to our Democratic caucus but to the American people," the New York Democrat said, referring to the number of votes the House needs to pass a bill...
Mr. Obama's message to the House leaders Wednesday was "get it done," said Rep. Henry Waxman (D., Calif.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee…

From USA Today:

White House national security adviser James Jones says Americans will feel "a certain shock" when they read an account being released Thursday of the missed clues that could have prevented the alleged Christmas Day bomber from ever boarding the plane.
President Obama "is legitimately and correctly alarmed that things that were available, bits of information that were available, patterns of behavior that were available, were not acted on," Jones said in an interview Wednesday with USA TODAY…
The White House plans to release an unclassified report Thursday on what went wrong in the incident involving a 23-year-old Nigerian man who tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight…
In Detroit Wednesday, the suspect, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, was indicted on charges that include attempted murder and trying to use a weapon of mass destruction to kill nearly 300 people.
Abdulmutallab, who faces life in prison if convicted, is to appear for the first time in federal court Friday.
"We know what happened, we know what didn't happen, and we know how to fix it," Jones, a retired four-star Marine general, said in an interview in his West Wing office. "That should be an encouraging aspect. We don't have to reinvent anything to make sure it doesn't happen again…"

ICYMI: OFA Deputy Director Jeremy Bird’s piece in Huffington Post:

Twelve months ago Organizing for America was little more than a big idea. Yes, we had the Obama for America email list – an incredible tool – but what we wanted to do was unprecedented. For the first time ever, we set out to transform a political campaign into a long-term grassroots effort driven by issues and a commitment to organizing at the local level.
Back then – before the Recovery Act fight, the health care battle and the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor – we liked to say we were building the plane as we flew it. And we were. We had thousands of volunteers, but not one staffer in the states. Today, we have permanent offices in all 50 states and active volunteers in every congressional district. We’ve built a lasting infrastructure that’s already translated into success in legislative organizing, and we’re eager to train our fire on the elections later this year.
Like most organizers, I’m usually focused on the next step, the next campaign; but in this first week of a new decade, I think it’s the perfect time to remember who OFA is and where we came from...

Organizing for America: Looking Back, Marching Ahead

Christopher Hass — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 12:17:48 EST

Organizing for America Deputy Director Jeremy Bird contributed an exclusive story to the Huffington Post this morning, taking stock of OFA's progress so far:

Twelve months ago Organizing for America was little more than a big idea. Yes, we had the Obama for America email list – an incredible tool – but what we wanted to do was unprecedented. For the first time ever, we set out to transform a political campaign into a long-term grassroots effort driven by issues and a commitment to organizing at the local level.

Back then – before the Recovery Act fight, the health care battle and the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor – we liked to say we were building the plane as we flew it. And we were. We had thousands of volunteers, but not one staffer in the states. Today, we have permanent offices in all 50 states and active volunteers in every congressional district. We’ve built a lasting infrastructure that’s already translated into success in legislative organizing, and we’re eager to train our fire on the elections later this year.

...Last month we held more than 200 volunteer trainings across the country. I traveled to four events in Colorado: two in Denver, one in Fort Collins and another in Golden. At every stop I met volunteers who saw the need for change in their communities and chose to organize with us to make it happen. I met volunteers who took ownership over their turf and relished their seat at the leadership table with OFA staff. The people at our trainings are the folks you rarely read about in the news or see on TV, but they’re the ones building support for the President’s agenda through old fashioned shoe leather and meticulous reporting. They know change won’t come easy and they know it isn’t always pretty, but they’re doing it anyway – neighbor by neighbor and block by block.

...On a campaign, you measure success by winning elections, and by doing it in a way that leaves more behind than when you started. The metrics of success are clear (win more votes) and the end date (Election Day) is certain. Legislative organizing isn’t so clear cut. You measure success by winning on issues, but “winning” is a little messier and more ambiguous than tallying election night results; and as we’ve seen in the health care debate, the finish line is almost never a sure thing.

... The fact is, every policy President Obama pursued in 2009 has either been passed by Congress, or is on the cusp of becoming reality. Did we get every single thing we wanted? Nope. The Rolling Stones were right – you can’t always get what you want. But I am incredibly proud of what OFA accomplished in 2009 thanks to the leadership of our volunteers and our incredibly talented staff of organizers. The millions who continued the fight for change – either by organizing with OFA or another organization – have a unique story to tell about 2009. It’s a story of incredible legislative successes, unparalleled cooperation between groups, unheard of activism in an off-off election year, and continued technological advancement in grassroots organizing.

OFA has taken our lumps and we know we’ve still got a lot to learn – but we’ve come a long way from a big idea. We’re committed to strengthening our infrastructure and fine-tuning our strategy and tactics, which is why every OFA organizer is in the process of conducting one-on-one meetings with their volunteer leaders to evaluate 2009. Right now, we are surveying our supporters about their top priorities in 2010. And OFA state directors are planning another series of listening tours in the next few months.

Six days into 2010, I can tell you President Obama’s grassroots army is enormously proud of what we’ve accomplished. A year ago, the cynics didn’t think we’d make it – just as many pundits prematurely panned Barack Obama’s candidacy. With discipline and diligence, we’ve built a strong, volunteer-based infrastructure. We’ve kept working, kept the conversation going, and expanded our base of support, all the while mounting victory after victory. With a win on health reform in our sites, new legislative battles looming and important elections ahead, I can’t wait to see what we accomplish in the New Year.

Read the full story, complete with a look inside the numbers of what OFA supporters have accomplished so far . . .

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 10:10:40 EST

From the Washington Post:

President Obama said Tuesday that U.S. intelligence agencies could have prevented the attempt to bomb an airliner on Christmas Day, and used a grim and forceful White House statement to demand rapid improvements in efforts to protect Americans from attack.
"This was not a failure to collect intelligence," Obama said after meeting with senior national security and intelligence officials, "it was a failure to integrate and understand the intelligence that we already had. That's not acceptable, and I will not tolerate it…"
A White House official quoted Obama using even more blunt language in the Situation Room meeting. "This was a screw-up that could have been disastrous. We dodged a bullet, but just barely," he reportedly said.
In his public statement, at a lectern set up in the Grand Foyer of the White House, Obama listed steps that have been taken, including expansion of the U.S. "no-fly" list to include people with Abdulmutallab's profile; enhanced screening for anyone flying to the United States from an expanded list of "countries of interest"; additional screening and security on all domestic or U.S.-bound international flights; and an automatic check of terrorism suspects to determine whether they possess valid U.S. visas.
"In the days ahead," Obama said, "I will announce further steps to disrupt attacks, including better integration of information and enhanced passenger screening for air travel." A summary of the ongoing review of the terrorist watch-listing system that did not identify Abdulmutallab, he said, will be made public "within the next few days."

From The Hill:

House and Senate leaders have formally agreed to bypass a bicameral conference committee to merge two healthcare bills, and have opted to instead “ping-pong” the Senate bill over to the House and back again, according to House leadership aides.

Aides said the agreement was reached during a Tuesday evening meeting at the White House with President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and the top two Democrats from each chamber.
The Senate bill will serve as the vehicle by which Democrats hope to send a healthcare bill to Obama to sign into law. Under the “ping-pong” strategy, the House will take up the Senate bill and amend it, then send it back to the Senate for final approval…
Other issues – such as differences in language prohibiting federal dollars from paying for abortion coverage, and tax provisions designed to raise revenue to pay for the bill – will still need to win consensus in one or the other chamber. And where Pelosi signaled an acceptance of the Senate’s approach to the mechanism for providing coverage to millions of Americans, she signaled just as strongly that she much prefers the House’s tax structure, which increases income taxes on the wealthiest Americans in lieu of levying taxes on high-cost insurance plans, as the Senate’s bill does.

Congressional aides also said that Obama told House and Senate leaders that he wanted to strengthen the affordability measures beyond those in the Senate bill, a signal that House Democrats interpreted to mean that Obama will urge the Senate to warm up to the House’s more generous and more widely available – but also more expensive – subsidies designed to help Americans afford health insurance that will be newly mandated.

From the Associated Press:

President Barack Obama is prodding House and Senate Democrats to get him a final health care bill as soon as possible, encouraging them to bypass the usual negotiations between the two chambers in the interest of speed.
Obama delivered the message at an Oval Office meeting Tuesday evening with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and his No. 2, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., joined in by phone.
They agreed that rather than setting up a formal conference committee to resolve differences between health bills passed last year by the House and Senate, the House will work off the Senate's version, amend it and send it back to the Senate for final passage, according to a House leadership aide, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss the private meeting.
Obama himself will take a hands-on role, convening another meeting with congressional leaders at the White House on Wednesday. Pelosi, along with four other Democratic committee chairs, are expected to attend.
The aim is to get a final bill to Obama's desk before the State of the Union address sometime in early February.
Obama agreed at Tuesday evening's meeting to help strengthen affordability measures beyond what's in the Senate bill, the aide said.

From the Huffington Post:

In a season when the political punditry stampeded its way into prognostications of Democratic political disaster this fall, it is well to remember that Democrats -- and the Obama political operation -- have a weapon, the importance of which Washington types don't fully understand: Organizing for America (OFA)…
Organizing for America (OFA) -- formerly Obama for America -- was reorganized after the 2008 election with the object of creating a permanent army of ordinary Americans that could create the grassroots fire necessary to pass Obama's change agenda. Over the first months of 2009, the organization hired staff, set up local operations, began to transform itself from a purely electoral operation into one that could simultaneously line up Congressional votes for Obama's initiatives -- and demonstrate to Members of Congress that it would have their backs next November.
It was built upon the premise that fundamental change is impossible without massive grassroots activity. After all, the insurance companies, big Wall Street banks, energy industry and the Chamber of Commerce had no plans to roll over and play dead just because Obama had been elected with a mandate for change.
The correctness of that assumption became starkly clear in August when the right wing organized -- and big business financed -- the Tea Party movement to try to put a stake in the heart of health insurance reform.
For those of us working to pass health insurance reform it was like the cavalry arriving over the hill. OFA chaired a task force of progressive organizations -- and mobilized thousands of health care reform supporters to attend town meetings across the country. That effort turned the tide in the last weeks of August and saved health insurance reform…
…To its core, the Obama field operation was committed to excellence in execution - to the proposition that no stone could ever be left unturned -- that no task was ever too small to be done right. That's why it won caucuses in tiny states. That's why it never left votes on the table.
In my 40 years of work doing grassroots organizing for issue and electoral campaigns I have never seen a better field operation that the one created by OFA. It was, without doubt, the best field program in American political history.
Many of the same organizers who build OFA during the campaign have created the new OFA. They have crafted a growing infrastructure that will allow millions of everyday people to team up with MoveOn members, rank and file union activists, and leaders from the faith, minority and women's communities to take on the vested interests in every corner of America. Just as it did in the Iowa caucuses, that infrastructure could well provide the foundation for surprising victories - both in Congress and the November elections -- that the Washington pundits think are impossible. After all, surprising the pundits is what OFA does best.

Editorial Boards Around the Country Support Health Insurance Reform

Cloe Axelson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:09:15 EST

The Senate passed its version of health insurance reform legislation on Christmas Eve and now final negotiations are underway between the House and Senate to determine the details of a final reform bill. Since the passage of the Senate bill editorial boards of newspapers from around the country have used their pages to advocate for reform. A few examples:

Kansas City Star: “A major step toward a fairer health care system”

Health reform as practiced by the 111th Congress has been downright ugly. But with the Senate’s passage of its reform bill on Thursday, the prospects for a fairer, better-performing delivery system are finally looking good.
Provisions in the separate bills approved by the House and Senate would bring security to millions of Americans. Middle-income families would pay less for coverage, and small businesses would find it easier to insure their workers.
Americans could not be denied policies or overcharged or refused treatment because they have the misfortune of being sick. Those are long overdue reforms…
If congressional leaders merge the best aspects of each bill, the result will be more than an improvement over the status quo. It will be a transformational step toward fixing a broken system.

Asheville-Citizen Times: “Health bill isn't perfect but is a huge advance”

The U.S. Senate took a giant step Christmas Eve toward making the future healthier for millions of people. Some difficult work remains, but the biggest hurdle has been cleared.
The final vote, as did all previous votes, fell along straight party lines, with 58 Democrats and 2 Independents voting for the bill and 39 Republicans voting against…
Differences aside, the bill that emerges will be the most significant social legislation since creation of Medicare in 1965. Some 15 million people will be added to the Medicaid rolls under the Senate plan, even more under the House plan. Some 30 million more people will be insured, and most people will be required to have insurance…
It's not clear whether there will be a formal conference committee, or whether the two houses will select Democratic leaders to negotiate the final bill. In any case, there is no reason to expect Republicans to be heavily invested in the talks, as they have shown clearly they have no serious interest in crafting this legislation. Only one Republican voted for either bill.
The existing U.S. health care system is a national disgrace. More than 20,000 people — perhaps even twice that number — die each year because they cannot afford the health care necessary to keep them alive. Health costs throw once-productive people onto the welfare rolls.
No society that prides itself on being moral can allow such a situation to continue.
Is either of these bills perfect? No. What bill is? But they represent a start, and they can always be adjusted as problems appear. The important thing now is to continue the task of making affordable health care universally available.

Toledo Blade: “A historic vote”

Christmas and health-care reform have this in common: Not everybody receives the presents they want. But any disappointment concerning the legislation that cleared the U.S. Senate in the early hours of Monday morning should take into account the value of the offering and the extraordinary nature of the moment.
As President Obama rightly said Monday, this was both an historic vote and big victory for the American people. All the misrepresentations, the howling of special interests, and the lockstep determination of the Republicans couldn't stop this Congress from doing what no other could do - pass a health-care reform bill that finally confronts problems that the nation can no longer afford to ignore…
While it is a pity that no Republican wanted to take part in making history, the vote is a holiday gift to many millions of Americans.

Las Vegas Sun: “History in the making”

…The Republican critics of the health care legislation are just trying to divert attention from the real issue. There are more than 31 million people in the country without health insurance who would eventually be eligible for coverage. The critics don’t like to talk about the human toll. What do people without insurance do when they get seriously sick or injured? Suck it up? Face overwhelming bills — and potentially bankruptcy?
These same critics also fail to mention the high cost to the taxpayers who bear the cost of the uninsured using medical services that either get passed on to the taxpayers or the insured in the form of higher costs. When someone who does not receive routine medical care finally goes to see a doctor, the costs are likely to be significantly higher because the health problems are often exacerbated because they haven’t been previously treated.
What many people are missing is the historic nature of the legislation and the incredible effort it took to accomplish it. President Barack Obama noted that seven presidents, Democrats and Republicans, have taken up the cause of health care reform since Teddy Roosevelt called for it in 1912…
…Let the critics say what they will, but the health care bill will go down as one of the momentous pieces of legislation in the history of Congress.
Some observers have compared Reid’s work with other great leaders in the Senate’s history, particularly Lyndon B. Johnson, who was able to muscle the Civil Rights Act through Congress. Like the health care bill, the civil rights legislation was criticized and not perfect, but it significantly addressed a major issue in America that had been ignored for too long…

San Francisco Chronicle: “Senate takes historic vote”

It came after 24 consecutive days of exhausting debate, and the ideas approved promise to affect the life of every American. The Democrats in both the House and the Senate - the Republicans in both houses opted out of the chance to make history - should be proud of their determination…
…What President Obama called "the most important piece of social legislation since the Social Security Act" passed the Senate on Thursday morning, with all the drama befitting a historic moment. It was the first time in more than a century that the Senate had taken a roll call vote on Christmas Eve.

Sacramento Bee: “Health bill, in sum, offers real reform”

After 87 years of fits and starts, this country finally is close to extending health care coverage to most Americans. And this nation soon may be a leader, not a laggard, in stanching soaring medical costs…
It's so close, you can almost touch it. The House passed a bill in November; the Senate on Christmas Eve The key elements in the bills are nearly identical. President Barack Obama believes "reconciling them is not going to be as difficult as some people may anticipate…"
The bill has no master plan, no one-time fix for reducing costs. But as Harvard surgeon Atul Gawande pointed out in a recent New Yorker article, that is as it should be. Almost half of the bill, he writes, is devoted to programs that test "almost every approach that leading health-care experts have suggested" for curbing costs and increasing quality…

Morning News

Cloe Axelson — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 09:51:47 EST

From Politico:

The health care debate resumes in earnest on Tuesday after more than a week of quiet following Senate passage of its landmark bill on Christmas Eve.

The four relevant House chairmen will meet with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her leadership team at 1 o'clock in the speaker's Capitol office to start setting the parameters for negotiations with the Senate.

Then, Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Nev.) will head to the White House for an early-evening meeting with President Barack Obama to discuss the final bill, according to Democratic officials. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and party Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) will participate in the meeting via conference call because neither has returned to Washington from the holiday break…

Democrats in the House are expected to push for increased subsidies for the lowest-income Americans who don't qualify for Medicaid. On the eve of the Senate vote, Democratic aides in the House also suggested they would push for a blend of new taxes to help pay for the subsidies and new programs created by the bill. That could include a tax on high-end insurance plans at a higher threshold organized labor could accept along with a tax on the wealthiest Americans...

From the Boston Globe:

The recession dramatically slowed U.S. health care spending to $2.3 trillion in 2008, but it still grew much faster than the economy as a whole, accounting for more than 16 percent of the nation's economic output, says a new federal analysis.

The eye-popping figure of $2.3 trillion -- that's $7,681 per person -- underscores the challenges confronting President Barack Obama and lawmakers seeking to overhaul the system. Obama has repeatedly cited spiraling health costs as one of the main reasons Congress needs to pass his health plan, and administration officials said the findings highlighted the need for quick action.

"This report contains some welcome news and yet another warning sign," said Jonathan Blum, a top official at the government's Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. "Health care spending as a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product) is rising at an unsustainable rate. It is clear that we need health insurance reform now…"

From the National Journal:

Aside from the DCCC, there is no organization more crucial to Dems' chances in '10 than [Organizing for America,] the organizing offshoot of Pres. Obama's '08 campaign. DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen and DSCC chair Bob Menendez have been increasingly vocal in urging the WH to get involved, saying the Obama agenda rests on the ability of Dems to keep big majorities in both chambers. Simply put, if the group is able to turn out many of the same voters Obama attracted 2 years ago, Dems will survive in several key races…

From the Associated Press:

President Barack Obama is announcing new measures Tuesday to beef up airline security after an alleged terrorist attempt to destroy a Detroit-bound U.S. airliner on Christmas Day…

Obama scheduled a meeting Tuesday afternoon with high-ranking government officials charged with carrying out two reviews he ordered after the botched attack — on screening for airline passengers and on the U.S. terror watch-list system.

After the meeting, to which 20 officials were invited, Obama will talk to the public about his findings, as well as a series of new steps to improve the watch lists and thwart future terrorist attacks, the White House said…

The government also has added dozens of names to its lists of suspected terrorists and those barred from U.S.-bound flights. The addition of names to the government's terrorist watch list and the no-fly list came after U.S. officials scrutinized a larger database of suspected terrorists, an intelligence official said Monday…

People on the watch list are subject to additional scrutiny before they are allowed to enter this country, while anyone on the no-fly list is barred from boarding aircraft in or headed for the United States…

ICYMI: from the editorial page of the New York Times:

Reforming this country’s broken health care system is an urgent and essential task…
President Obama and Democratic leaders have a strong case. They need to make it now. Here are compelling reasons for all Americans to root for the reform effort to succeed and urge Congress to complete the job:

THE HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS The fact that 46 million people in this country have no health insurance should be intolerable. Every other major industrial country guarantees health coverage to its citizens, yet the United States, the richest of them all, does not…

MORE SECURITY FOR ALL Horror stories abound of people — mainly those who buy individual policies — who were charged exorbitant premiums or rejected because of pre-existing conditions or paid out for years and then had their policies rescinded when they got sick.

Such practices would be prohibited completely in three or four years under the reform bills. Before that, insurers would be barred from rescinding policies retroactively and the bills would establish temporary high-risk pools to cover people with pre-existing conditions….

CUTTING COSTS Americans are justifiably concerned about the rising cost of health insurance and of the medical care it covers. The reform bills won’t solve these problems quickly, but they would make a good start.

Despite overheated Republican claims that the reforms would drive up premiums, the Congressional Budget Office projected that under the Senate bill the vast majority of Americans (those covered by employer policies) would see little or no change in their average premiums or even a slight decline. Those who buy their own policies would pay somewhat more — but for greatly improved coverage...

THE TIME HAS COME For decades, presidents from both parties have tried in vain to reform the health care system and cover the uninsured. Still many Americans wonder, given the deep recession, whether it makes sense to do it now. The first thing to keep in mind is that the C.B.O. says that the reform bills are paid for over the next 10 years and would actually reduce future deficits…

2010

Christopher Hass — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 18:10:22 EST

From David Plouffe:

Last Friday marked our passage into a new year, and a new decade.

2010 will be a year of new, exciting challenges. We'll be working hard with President Obama to finish the fight for health insurance reform, put more Americans back to work, and get our economy running strong. We'll fight to protect consumers and our economy from Wall Street abuses, improve transparency in Washington to elevate the voices of the American people, and create a vibrant, clean energy economy. And we'll stand up for the President's allies at the ballot box.

As we've always known, change this big must come from the bottom up. Organizing for America was founded last year based on your feedback, and OFA supporters are at the core of everything we do.

So as we wrap up one year and prepare for the next, we want to hear your reflections on our work together in 2009 and how you want OFA to move forward in the new year.

Can you take a minute to fill out our quick survey on what's next in 2010?
There's no limit to what we can accomplish this year, if we keep working together.

Can't wait to get started:

http://my.barackobama.com/2010

Happy New Year,

David Plouffe

Open Thread

Christopher Hass — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 12:44:39 EST

The President's Weekly Address

Christopher Hass — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 10:18:06 EST

A Message for the New Year from the President

Christopher Hass — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:19:56 EST

Before leaving Washington for Hawaii, President Obama recorded a special message for the New Year:

"Tonight, as Americans across the country gather with family and friends, I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy New Year.

This is always a hopeful time, as we celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another. And while 2009 was difficult for many Americans, we must also look back on this year with the knowledge that brighter days are ahead of us – that although our challenges are great, each of us has the courage and determination to rise up and meet them.

It is that spirit that has kept the American Dream alive for generations, and it is that spirit that will keep it alive for generations to come. Happy New Year, everyone.

2009

Christopher Hass — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:54:17 EST

From OFA Director Mitch Stewart:

Looking back at 2009, it turns out you were right.

Early this year, millions of you chose to keep working together and create Organizing for America, to build on the momentum of the Obama campaign, take on the defenders of the status quo, and make change happen.

Special interests thought they could steamroll you with hundreds of millions of dollars in lobbying and attack ads. Meanwhile, you built a massive organization, driven by local leadership, that reached out to millions of fellow Americans and made your voices heard to Congress in record numbers.

This has been a remarkable year for the movement you've built from the ground up, and I wanted to take a moment at year's end to reflect on everything you've accomplished.
Beth Kimbriel, a mother of four from Richmond, Virginia, has no formal political experience. But every week, as an OFA "Community Organizer," she trains and manages other volunteer leaders to organize effectively around the President's agenda. Hundreds of her fellow OFA Community Organizers around the country have already volunteered more than 200,000 hours doing similar work. Thousands more have taken on other leadership positions in every single state. And we're still growing -- nearly a million people who had never volunteered for the presidential campaign have signed up with OFA this year.

Supporters spread the word throughout our communities, with more than a million conversations with neighbors on the phone and at the doorstep, and 250,000 letters to the editor about how President Obama's policies would help ordinary Americans.

And when Congress was making crucial decisions, you spoke out more powerfully than the special interests ever could. In the last few months, you've made more than 1 million calls to Congress -- including more than 300,000 on one amazing day in October that created huge momentum for health reform. Thousands of supporters attended town halls to counter the shouting mobs and speak out in person. And you even held 37,107 events in every congressional district -- bus tour rallies, phonebanks and forums to inform your neighbors.

These incredible efforts have powered victories on a wide range of issues. OFA volunteers provided a huge boost to help pass the Recovery Act, President Obama's historic budget, an expansion of children's health care, credit card and student loan reform. Your voices helped pass a historic green jobs and energy bill in the House, and the confirmation of the nation's first Latina Supreme Court justice, Sonia Sotomayor, in the Senate. And of course, you were instrumental in passing comprehensive health reform through both houses of Congress for the first time in American history.

With every phone call to a member of Congress, every door knocked on a rainy day, every event held in a town center, you've helped to push this country forward.
Thanks for making it all possible,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Here's a look at just some of the incredible events that OFA supporters took part in this year:

"It starts with you"

Christopher Hass — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 11:46:15 EST

Earlier this month, Organizing for America held more than 200 volunteer trainings across the country in one weekend. Local volunteers gathered in living rooms, community centers, and coffee shops to learn the skills needed to step up and become leaders. It's the kind of story that rarely registers on the national news radar, but it's this kind of tireless, methodical organizing that is the foundation of OFA.

Open Thread

Christopher Hass — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:26:09 EST

Merry Christmas from the President and the First Lady

Christopher Hass — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 11:23:40 EST

For the first time in a weekly address, the President is joined by the First Lady as they celebrate Christmas. They both honor those serving overseas, those who have sacrificed for their country, and the families that stand by them.

You can find ways to lend our troops and their families a home through DOD’s Military Homefront, OurMilitary.mil, and of course the USO.