This video is dedicated to the movement that has taken place in this country. We couldn't have done it without Barack Obama and the millions of people who work for change everyday...
This year for the first time since the 1960’s many young people have become engaged in politics and now comes a new documentary film that compares today’s youth movement to the one of forty years ago.
The Bay Area’s own Arturo Perez showcases WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE? You'll journey with him as he takes you down a hilarious and emotional roller coaster as he and his two friends search for the voices of the future. WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE? premiered at the Wine Country Film Festival, and is being showcased online at www.FlowersTheMovie.com
Like Michael Moore's SLACKER UPRISING Arturo is streaming the entire film online for all to see for FREE with the hopes that even more people will become energized about voting for Obama this November!
Watch the entire film for FREE now at: www.FlowersThemovie.com
WCCO has an interview from Denver with David Gilbert-Pederson, a Convention delegate from Minnesota. David is the youngest delegate at the Convention. You can watch the video interview here.
DENVER (WCCO) ― With 4400 delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, there's a range of faces and ages. The oldest is from Virginia and he is 90 years young. The youngest of all the delegates in the country, is only 17-years-old, and he's from the great state of Minnesota.While he is still a teenager, he's no political newcomer. David Gilbert-Pederson started working inside campaigns when he was 12. He was making posters, stuffing envelopes and, as he says, standing there and looking cute for cameras.The home-schooled south Minneapolis kid also feels the calling."Whatever decisions adult politicians make will effect my generation and generations to come. And I feel like it's my duty and responsibility to elect leaders that will make it a world I want to inhabit and that I would want my children and my grandchildren to inhabit," David said.David stays in political touch with his cell phone and online. It's been an important new tool in this political campaign directly targeting the all-important youth vote."Senator Obama's coming and his campaign is coming directly to us in our medians -- Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, text messaging," he said. "If I see it on Facebook, cause that's where I'm at anyway, I'm like, ooh this is a cool event. Look, these seven of my friends said they were going to come. I feel like it's a cool thing to do now."From the floor of the Democratic National Convention to casting a ballot, it's a truly memorable year for David."It'll be a great experience to be able to check off those boxes in November," he said.David will turn 18-years-old in October just in time to vote. And according to people at the DNC, he's quite a celebrity in Denver with lots of media wanting to meet the title holder.
Over the last five days, the Minnesota Campaign for Change has seen an overwhelmingly positive response from folks at the State Fair.
We're signing up volunteers, talking to undecided voters, and getting the word out about Barack's plan to bring real change we can believe in to Washington.
Late last night, in honor of the Democratic National Convention, hardworking staff members repainted the Campaign for Change booth in red, white, and blue.
If you're going to be at the fair over the next few days, be sure to stop by Campaign for Change booth on the corner of Cooper & Wright and check it out!
Here are some photos:
The final product!
Have some cool photos from the State Fair? Share them with us!
"If you care about raising the minimum wage, improving the quality of our schools, rebuilding the economy, opening the doors to college for more young people, ending the war in Iraq, and restoring our image around the world, then Barack Obama is your candidate!" —Sen. Hillary Clinton in Tamarac, FL
Tonight, Sen. Hillary Clinton will be speaking at the Democratic National Convention on why it is absolutely necessary to elect Barack Obama to the presidency.
Just last week, Sen. Clinton toured the state of Florida on behalf of Barack. At Florida Atlantic University, Hillary spoke to a packed house on women's issues from equal pay to a woman's right to choose. In Tamarac, Hillary talked about why Barack is the only choice for voters who care about issues that face seniors today. All over the country, Democrats are uniting around Barack Obama.
**Be sure to join one of our Convention watch parties in your neighborhood or even host your own and watch Sen. Clinton's message of unity tonight!**
Today marks the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Denver! Minnesota's very own Amy Klobuchar will address the convention this evening, as will Michelle Obama.
On Thursday, Barack will accept the nomination in front of 75,000 people. Sign up to attend an Convention Watch Party and join your friends and neighbors in celebrating this historic movement.
The Minnesota delegation includes the youngest delegate, 17-year-old David Gilbert-Pederson of Minneapolis.
Here's some other ways Minnesota's delegates are making news:
A lifelong civil rights activist, Lucy Buckner-Watson, of Inver Grove Heights, is here to help fulfill her dying father's dream of seeing an African-American become president of the United States. Iraq war veteran Sam Scott, of Andover, a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, came to express his opposition to the war. Seventeen-year-old David Gilbert-Pederson, of Minneapolis, the youngest delegate to the Democratic National Convention that opens here today, made the trip to pick up campaign tips from his party's wiliest political pros and seek inspiration to work hard for candidates through Election Day. Buckner-Watson, Scott and Gilbert-Pederson are three of the 88 Minnesota delegates who arrived here Saturday and Sunday for the convention that will wrap up Thursday with the nomination of Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for president. The convention may look like a four-day infomercial to folks watching it on television back home. But to most delegates, it's the culmination of months or even years of hard work and a chance to play a meaningful role in the nation's political process. Click here to read the profiles of these six delegates from The Pioneer Press...
A lifelong civil rights activist, Lucy Buckner-Watson, of Inver Grove Heights, is here to help fulfill her dying father's dream of seeing an African-American become president of the United States.
Iraq war veteran Sam Scott, of Andover, a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves, came to express his opposition to the war.
Seventeen-year-old David Gilbert-Pederson, of Minneapolis, the youngest delegate to the Democratic National Convention that opens here today, made the trip to pick up campaign tips from his party's wiliest political pros and seek inspiration to work hard for candidates through Election Day.
Buckner-Watson, Scott and Gilbert-Pederson are three of the 88 Minnesota delegates who arrived here Saturday and Sunday for the convention that will wrap up Thursday with the nomination of Sen. Barack Obama as the Democratic candidate for president.
The convention may look like a four-day infomercial to folks watching it on television back home.
But to most delegates, it's the culmination of months or even years of hard work and a chance to play a meaningful role in the nation's political process.
Click here to read the profiles of these six delegates from The Pioneer Press...
Are you a Minnesota delegate to the Convention? Be sure to share your story!
Eagle County Democratic Convention Kick-Off Party
An Invitation to Send Debbie to Denver
Wednesday, August 20, 2008 - 5:30 – 7:00pm
Fiesta's Café & Cantina Edwards Plaza, 57 Edwards Access Road, Edwards, CO 81632 970-926-2121 (map)
Hosted by the Marquez Sisters, Beth Runyon, Beth Reilly and Others
Please join friends, family, delegates, Democrats and well wishers as we send Eagle County's own DNC Committeewoman Debbie Marquez to Denver.
The evening will include food and drink.
Opportunity for all Eagle County Democrats that are planning to attend the convention festivities in Denver a chance to meet, mingle and collaborate on their Denver plans.
Sign-up to attend or host convention watch parties throughout the county when Senator Obama accepts the party's nomination on Thursday, August 28th at Mile High/Invesco.
Help launch the Eagle County service day drive to gather food items for the local Salvation Army food bank.
Meet the local field organizers for the federal campaigns and maybe a candidate or two.
Get your Obama yard signs, bumper stickers and buttons.
Buy some nifty peace sign and Obama jewelry donated by the Runyons.
Pick-up a schedule of all of the fun events surrounding the convention – you can also view the huge list of events at the SquareState.Net Google calendar, the Denver Convention Host Committee and at DemConWatch web page. There are so many events, not one list has everything.
We're just about 6 days away from the start of the Democratic National Convention in Denver, where, in a little over a week, Barack will accept the Democratic nomination for president.
Next Thursday, Barack will accept the nominatino in front of more than 75,000 supporters in Denver and millions of viewers across the country. ECM Papers writes about Lucy Buckner-Watson, a convention delegate from Minnesota on whom the historic nature of Barack's August 28th speech is not lost:
One state delegate at the Democratic National Convention who will be listening closely when Sen. Barack Obama delivers his expected acceptance speech next week will be Lucy Buckner-Watson of Inver Grove Heights. That Obama’s speech is scheduled on Aug. 28 — precisely 45 years from when Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech — is hardly lost on Buckner-Watson. She was there that day in Washington. “I don’t think I thought of it as seriously as an occasion as it was until we actually started to hear Dr. King’s speech,” said Buckner-Watson, then a high school activist from Akron, Ohio. “It was awesome,” she said. “And another thing that blew me away was no disturbance. Out of those thousands of people from everyplace, no disturbance,” she said.Click here to read the rest of the article...
One state delegate at the Democratic National Convention who will be listening closely when Sen. Barack Obama delivers his expected acceptance speech next week will be Lucy Buckner-Watson of Inver Grove Heights. That Obama’s speech is scheduled on Aug. 28 — precisely 45 years from when Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech — is hardly lost on Buckner-Watson. She was there that day in Washington. “I don’t think I thought of it as seriously as an occasion as it was until we actually started to hear Dr. King’s speech,” said Buckner-Watson, then a high school activist from Akron, Ohio. “It was awesome,” she said. “And another thing that blew me away was no disturbance. Out of those thousands of people from everyplace, no disturbance,” she said.
Click here to read the rest of the article...
The Minnesota Campaign for Change is organizing house parties across the state to watch his speech Click here and sign up to host or attend a house party in your neighborhood.
KARE 11 has an article u highlighting the diversity of Minnesota's delegation to the Democratic National Convention, which starts next Monday:
There's a time in every national convention when each state gets to show its face to the world. And, more often than not, it's a white face out in front.It happens as the leaders of state delegations formally cast their ballots. Historically the people in that spotlight, expounding on the virtues of their home states, have been Caucasian.And, while Minnesota's population may be overwhelmingly white, its delegation to the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week will present a more diverse front."Fifty out of 109 Minnesota delegates will be men and women of color," Senator Mee Moua told reporters at a Saint Paul news conference Monday.Moua, a Hmong immigrant herself, will be part of the most ethnically and racially diverse group of Minnesota Democrats ever sent to the D.N.C."We've had not only historic turnout of individuals to participate this year, but we've had historic turnout of individuals who want to go to Denver to witness history."Senator Patricia Torres Ray said that number is already taking Democrats from other states by surprise."Many Latinos in California, New York and Texas say, 'Really? Are you sending 50 people of color to Denver? Are you sure?'"Ray, the first Latina ever elected to the Minnesota Senate, said she has a ready answer."I say yes, I'm very serious because this Minnesota is the same Minnesota that welcomed me 21 years ago as a new immigrant."The breakdown offered by the DFL includes 25 African Americans and immigrants from Africa, ten delegates classified as Asian/Pacific Islander, nine Latinos and six Native American Indian tribal members.While the state party conducted outreach efforts in hopes of attracting more ethnic minority delegates, those individuals still had to do the hard work of winning precinct and district elections to become national delegates."And I will tell you some of those elections were very, very hard fought," Moua said, "I can't even remember how many ballots we had to go through to get people elected to become delegates."Josie Johnson, an African American and long-time party activist, said she was drawn back onto the convention track this year by the opportunity to be part of history with the nomination of either with Senator Barack Obama, or his rival Hillary Clinton."When you get a certain age you think let someone else do it, you've had your turn, sit down," she remarked, "They suggested that this might truly be the year that I truly want to go, and I do."Johnson was part of the state's contingent that traveled to the March on Washington in 1963, where the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior delivered his "I have a dream" speech."He spoke of the day when people would be judged by their character and not by the color of their skin, and here we are in 2008 with the opportunity to do just that."Many first-time delegates are immigrants, including Shanti Shah of Eden Prairie."I'm a Hillary delegate," Shah said, "But we will unite to be one party regardless of our race, gender or national origin."Younger Democrats will also play a role in Denver, with 23 delegates under the age of 35. One of them is David Gilbert-Pederson, who won't turn 18 until October."Even though I can't vote yet," the young Obama volunteer told KARE 11, "It's my prerogative to elect and help elect leaders who will make the right decisions for my generation, and my children's generation."On the other end of the experience spectrum is Rick Stafford, who will be taking part in his ninth national convention next week. He's one of nine Minnesota delegates who are gay or lesbian."And when we talk about diversity, we talk about the fabric and the kaleidoscope of what Minnesota really represents," Stafford said.People around the nation will probably still regard Minnesota as a relatively "white" place, and the most recent US Census figures put the state's white population at 89 percent.But at the DNC in Denver the state's delegation will reveal more of a rainbow colored tapestry, one that insiders say is a truer reflection of more recent demographic trends in Minnesota."As a Native American tribal member, as a gay man, I just think it's thrilling to go to Denver," said Minneapolis City council member Robert Lilligren, "To go a national convention and put a somewhat new and different face on Minnesota."Josie Johnson added, "I believe this convention and the people we have gathered to go and represent Minnesota will make all of you proud Minnesota."
There's a time in every national convention when each state gets to show its face to the world. And, more often than not, it's a white face out in front.
It happens as the leaders of state delegations formally cast their ballots. Historically the people in that spotlight, expounding on the virtues of their home states, have been Caucasian.
And, while Minnesota's population may be overwhelmingly white, its delegation to the Democratic National Convention in Denver next week will present a more diverse front.
"Fifty out of 109 Minnesota delegates will be men and women of color," Senator Mee Moua told reporters at a Saint Paul news conference Monday.
Moua, a Hmong immigrant herself, will be part of the most ethnically and racially diverse group of Minnesota Democrats ever sent to the D.N.C.
"We've had not only historic turnout of individuals to participate this year, but we've had historic turnout of individuals who want to go to Denver to witness history."
Senator Patricia Torres Ray said that number is already taking Democrats from other states by surprise.
"Many Latinos in California, New York and Texas say, 'Really? Are you sending 50 people of color to Denver? Are you sure?'"
Ray, the first Latina ever elected to the Minnesota Senate, said she has a ready answer.
"I say yes, I'm very serious because this Minnesota is the same Minnesota that welcomed me 21 years ago as a new immigrant."
The breakdown offered by the DFL includes 25 African Americans and immigrants from Africa, ten delegates classified as Asian/Pacific Islander, nine Latinos and six Native American Indian tribal members.
While the state party conducted outreach efforts in hopes of attracting more ethnic minority delegates, those individuals still had to do the hard work of winning precinct and district elections to become national delegates.
"And I will tell you some of those elections were very, very hard fought," Moua said, "I can't even remember how many ballots we had to go through to get people elected to become delegates."
Josie Johnson, an African American and long-time party activist, said she was drawn back onto the convention track this year by the opportunity to be part of history with the nomination of either with Senator Barack Obama, or his rival Hillary Clinton.
"When you get a certain age you think let someone else do it, you've had your turn, sit down," she remarked, "They suggested that this might truly be the year that I truly want to go, and I do."
Johnson was part of the state's contingent that traveled to the March on Washington in 1963, where the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Junior delivered his "I have a dream" speech.
"He spoke of the day when people would be judged by their character and not by the color of their skin, and here we are in 2008 with the opportunity to do just that."
Many first-time delegates are immigrants, including Shanti Shah of Eden Prairie.
"I'm a Hillary delegate," Shah said, "But we will unite to be one party regardless of our race, gender or national origin."
Younger Democrats will also play a role in Denver, with 23 delegates under the age of 35. One of them is David Gilbert-Pederson, who won't turn 18 until October.
"Even though I can't vote yet," the young Obama volunteer told KARE 11, "It's my prerogative to elect and help elect leaders who will make the right decisions for my generation, and my children's generation."
On the other end of the experience spectrum is Rick Stafford, who will be taking part in his ninth national convention next week. He's one of nine Minnesota delegates who are gay or lesbian.
"And when we talk about diversity, we talk about the fabric and the kaleidoscope of what Minnesota really represents," Stafford said.
People around the nation will probably still regard Minnesota as a relatively "white" place, and the most recent US Census figures put the state's white population at 89 percent.
But at the DNC in Denver the state's delegation will reveal more of a rainbow colored tapestry, one that insiders say is a truer reflection of more recent demographic trends in Minnesota.
"As a Native American tribal member, as a gay man, I just think it's thrilling to go to Denver," said Minneapolis City council member Robert Lilligren, "To go a national convention and put a somewhat new and different face on Minnesota."
Josie Johnson added, "I believe this convention and the people we have gathered to go and represent Minnesota will make all of you proud Minnesota."
Two weeks from today, Barack will accept the nomination at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
It will be the biggest night of the campaign so far, and you can share the moment with millions of fellow supporters across the country.
Sign up to host or attend a Convention Watch Party on Thursday, August 28th.
Invite your friends and family to watch Barack's speech and build this movement in your community.
At the 2004 convention, Barack spoke about coming together to participate in the politics of hope.
People like you heard that message and now you are making it happen all across the country. Just yesterday we made a remarkable achievement -- 2,000,000 donors owning a piece of this campaign.
At Convention Watch Parties, you can celebrate the commitment and hard work it took to get here. And you can help plan voter registration drives that are being organized in all 50 states on the weekend of August 30th through September 1st.
You've been doing an amazing job of opening up the political process and bringing in as many people as possible.
And there's no better way to reach out to your friends and family than to invite them to be a part of this historic moment.
Sign up to attend a Convention Watch Party in your community.
I hope you'll take this opportunity to continue growing our movement in your community and watch as we make history together.
Thank you for everything you are doing,
Jon CarsonNational Field Director Obama for America
Wow, how desperate does Hillary Clinton have to be ?? It is not fair tol et Michaigan or Florida to have these votes. When it came time for them to have the primary, they opted for an earlier date and got penalized. It was just as well Senator Barack Obama not even on the ballot. Now, Miss Priss ( Clinton)
wants their votes counted so shecan even it out. ! I say NO. They should not have a meeting for that, they should not even consider it. It has to be Barack Obama for positive change. I will not accept any other.
Forget it. they should have stuck to the rules to begin with. Why should we have to tolerate unfairness in this election like we had to when Bush was elected as well. Remember Florida then ?
In case you missed it, the DNCC has posted a little tutorial called "Convention 101" at their website:
http://www.demconvention.com/convention-101/
It's not extensively detailed but it's useful.
This is an example of how 2,000,000 smaller donors to the Obama campaign have already begun to reshape the nature of American politics.
The corporate concentration of power has largely been a matter of concentrating access to campaign money. Spreading the financial load over the populace allows our elected officials to represent the majority, use their best judgment, and do what they really believe would benefit the nation. Bravo, Speaker Pelosi!
Voters take note. Here is a case of really "big money" being denatured by "small money." Obama already has opened up how American politics are practiced, and we the people, should rush through that opening to take our country back.
