My previous blogs have VANISHED (apparently into thin "web" air)!! Oh well, I am not going to spend anytime crying about that. I am also not going backwards (i.e., trying to repost items lost) because the election is less than 60 days away! That being said, I have few exceptions: highlight speeches of the historical 2008 DNC, Obama's acceptance speech, Fact Checking Gov. Sarah Palin and Republican Pres. Nominee John McCain's RNC Acceptance Speeches. With respect to the highlights of the 2008 DNC, I have compiled a list of my favorite speeches with links to the video. The list is in reverse chronological order. If, for some reason, a link is broken, you can always Google the speech or search for it on YouTube.
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION
Denver, CO (August 25-28, 2008)
Pres. Nominee Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZCrIeRkMhA
Sen. Joe Biden’s VP Acceptance Speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVH58DeUThg
Beau Biden Introducing his father, Sen. Joe Biden:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFNdA6fxKpo
Sen. John Kerry’s Speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2PAm4iCtE
Fmr. President Bill Clinton’s Speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3r6xvwPGcY
Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268ncnoitEc
Congressman Dennis Kucinich “Wake-up America” Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE_eKhUC9rI
Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass) Speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAwKHriAj5Q
Michelle Obama’s Speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTFsB09KhqI
Ted & Caroline Kennedy’s Speech
Did you get to hear every one of the speakers below?
Unless you watched C-Span, you missed some amazing speakers!
The Talking Heads may have entertained you with their own opinions.
Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise
Hour #1 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (LOCAL)Call to OrderThe Honorable Shirley FranklinMayor of Atlanta, GeorgiaInvocationReverend Cynthia HaleDisciples of Christ - Decatur, GeorgiaPresentation of ColorsThe American GI Forum Mile High Chapter, ColoradoCongressionally chartered Mexican-American veterans & civil rights organizationPledge of AllegianceKoby Langley From Fort Meade, Maryland, he received the Bronze Star for leadership in the US ArmyCredited with design & implementation of 1st Foreign Torts Claims Policy Act - IraqNational AnthemRocky Mountain Children's Choir A multicultural, multiracial choir committed to forming community around musicRemarks/VideoThe Honorable Eleanor Homes Norton Non-voting Member of the US House of Representatives, District of ColumbiaRemarksTed SorensenSpecial Counsel, advisor and speechwriter to President John F. KennedyResearched and drafted Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage"The Honorable Mike HondaMember of the US House of Representatives, CaliforniaDr. David Gipp Member of the Standing Rock Sioux TribePresident - United Tribes Technical CollegeThe Honorable Linda SanchezMember of the US House of Representatives, CaliforniaThe Honorable Chet CulverGovernor of IowaThe Honorable David PatersonGovernor of New YorkThe Honorable Patrick LeahyUS Senator, VermontHour # 2 4:08 PM – 5:00 PM (LOCAL)RemarksThe Honorable Chris Van HollenMember of the US House of Representatives, MarylandRemarksCecile RichardsPresident of the Planned Parenthood Federation of AmericaDaughter of the former Governor of Texas, The Honorable Ann RichardsCongressional Black CaucusThe Honorable Carolyn KilpatrickMember of the US House of Representatives, MichiganThe Honorable Charles RangelMember of the US House of Representatives, New YorkThe Honorable John ConyersMember of the US House of Representatives, MichiganThe Honorable Bennie ThompsonMember of the US House of Representatives, MississippiMoment of SilenceVideo – “In Memoriam”Remarks The Honorable Dennis KucinichMember of the US House of Representatives, OhioThe Honorable John ChiangState Controller, CaliforniaThe Honorable Jim DoyleGovernor of WisconsinDGA - RemarksThe Honorable Joe ManchinGovernor of West VirginiaHour # 3 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (LOCAL)US Senate WomenThe Honorable Barbara MikulskiUS Senator, MarylandThe Honorable Barbara BoxerUS Senator, CaliforniaThe Honorable Mary LandrieuUS Senator, LouisianaThe Honorable Blanche Lambert LincolnUS Senator, ArizonaThe Honorable Debbie Stabenow US Senator, MichiganThe Honorable Maria CantwellUS Senator, Washington StateThe Honorable Claire McCaskillUS Senator, MissouriThe Honorable Amy KlobucharUS Senator, MinnesotaRemarksThe Honorable Ed RendellGovernor of PennsylvaniaThe Honorable Tammy BaldwinMember of the US House of Representatives, WisconsinThe Honorable Xavier Becerra Member of the US House of Representatives, CaliforniaJohn SweeneyPresident of the AFL-CIORobin GoldenAutoworker from Michigan scheduled to lose his jobVideo - First Time Delegates: Renewing America's PromiseRemarksThe Honorable Rahm EmanuelMember of the US House of Representatives, IllinoisLive Performance Alejandro EscovedoVocals & guitarHour # 4 6:01 PM – 7:00 PM (LOCAL)RemarksThe Honorable Steny HoyerMember of the US House of Representatives, MarylandDemocratic Majority LeaderKatherine Marcano Cedar Rapids, Iowa flood victimAnna BurgerOfficer with SEIU & 1st Chair of America's newest labor federation, "Change to Win"Pauline Beck Homecare worker & member of SEIU from Oakland, California The Honorable Janet NapolitanoGovernor of ArizonaAmerica’s Town Hall - EconomyModerator: The Honorable Jennifer Granholm – Governor of MichiganPanelists: Aimee Christensen, Jim Rogers, Jim Bauer, Jerome RingoRemarksJim WhitakerRepublican Mayor of Fairbanks, AlaskaGloria CravenLaid-off North Carolina textile worker with huge medical billsNancy Floyd Founder of Nth Power – an energy technology investment firm in Portland, OregonHour # 5 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (LOCAL)RemarksThe Honorable Kathleen SebeliusGovernor of KansasThe Honorable Federico PeñaFormer Secretary of Energy and former Mayor of Denver, ColoradoThe Honorable Nydia VelazquezMember of the US House of Representatives, New YorkThe Honorable Robert Casey, Jr.US Senator, PennsylvaniaLilly LedbetterHer actions against Goodyear Tire led to the passage of the Fair Pay Restoration ActKeynote SpeechThe Honorable Mark WarnerGovernor of VirginiaRemarksThe Honorable Ted StricklandGovernor of OhioHour # 6 8:00 PM – 9:04 PM (LOCAL)RemarksRet. Rear Admiral John HutsonPresident, Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, New HampshireLifelong RepublicanThe Honorable Deval Patrick Governor of MassachusettsPamella Cash-Roper Unemployed nurse and lifelong Republican from North CarolinaRemarksThe Honorable Brian SchweitzerGovernor of MontanaHillary Clinton Segment - Video/RemarksThe Honorable Hillary Rodham ClintonUS Senator, New YorkBenedictionRevs. Jin Ho Kang, Yoougsook KangMethodists - Aurora, ColoradoRecessThe Honorable Shirley FranklinMayor of Atlanta, Georgia
From Governor Deval Patrick:
I watched a candidate I already knew was exceptional become a statesman today. In his speech on America's racial divide, Barack Obama was honest, direct, personal and strong without being strident. He told unvarnished and complex truths about his own life in black and white communities he has known -- and he trusted all of us to be able to handle the lack of varnish and the complexity. He never condescends or resorts to sound bites when the issue requires more. He was at his best today. This was more than political damage control. This was a challenge to American voters. Obama is asking us to choose whether we are going to give in -- once again -- to the forces that divide us, or work to unite our fractured national community. And he reminds us that the choice is ours -- not the pundits' or pollsters' or political insiders'. Few other national political figures have the courage to make that challenge under any circumstances, let alone in the midst of a presidential campaign. None of the remaining candidates in this election do. We have had a handful of transformational leaders in our history, leaders who have reshaped and refocused what the American Dream means and revived our commitment to it. Barack Obama showed again today that he is that kind of leader.
I watched a candidate I already knew was exceptional become a statesman today.
In his speech on America's racial divide, Barack Obama was honest, direct, personal and strong without being strident. He told unvarnished and complex truths about his own life in black and white communities he has known -- and he trusted all of us to be able to handle the lack of varnish and the complexity. He never condescends or resorts to sound bites when the issue requires more. He was at his best today.
This was more than political damage control. This was a challenge to American voters. Obama is asking us to choose whether we are going to give in -- once again -- to the forces that divide us, or work to unite our fractured national community. And he reminds us that the choice is ours -- not the pundits' or pollsters' or political insiders'. Few other national political figures have the courage to make that challenge under any circumstances, let alone in the midst of a presidential campaign. None of the remaining candidates in this election do.
We have had a handful of transformational leaders in our history, leaders who have reshaped and refocused what the American Dream means and revived our commitment to it. Barack Obama showed again today that he is that kind of leader.
Canvassers who spent the day knocking on doors in Youngstown, Ohio, gathered at the New Bethel Baptist Church to watch and listen to SEIU President Andy Stern and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick share why they are supporting Barack Obama.Watch a video clip below:
Join us and be a part of history as we knock on one million doors in Ohio to get out the vote for Barack Obama.
Hillary Clinton has been tossing around the word "plagiarism" this week because Obama used a concept and two-word line without crediting its original source, Obama supporter and friend, Governor Deval Patrick (MA.)
According to published reports, Obama was speaking to workers about his plan to retain US jobs at a titanium plant in Ohio, and said Governor Patrick had suggested he use the words.
Barack explained, “Deval and I trade ideas all the time. He has occasionally used lines of mine and at the dinner in Wisconsin I used some words of his. On occasion, Senator Clinton has used words of mine as well."
It was a powerful speech; Obama recited three iconic phrases: "I have a dream - just words? We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal - just words? We have nothing to fear but fear itself - just words? Just speeches?"
The passage was similar , although not quite the same, to a short passage in a speech Patrick had given a few years earlier. But Patrick is not calling it plagiarism, and doesn't seem to care one bit that he was not attributed.
Like most writers, I'm pretty sensitive to plagiarism. It burns me up when I see work of mine that has been lifted, and I am meticulous in my research to assure that my work is my own. But my best friend Lisa Earle McLeod, another author, borrows my lines occasionally, and I occasionally borrow hers.
And we're both fine with that. After joking about it for several years, we have finally given our little habit a name -- "writing partners".
I write fiction, and non-fiction books and columns about relationships. She writes articles and books about spirituality, peace, and frequently, politics. I'm not stealing her work, and she's not stealing mine, but her ideas have made their way into my work, and lots of my best lines have made their way into hers. It's not plagiarism, it's friendship. Her ideas are still hers, my ideas are still mine, but occasionally we help tighten up each others work.
Do I want to get credit for my work? Yes. But sometimes, I'm willing to give up claim to my words for a greater cause.
Like when Lisa and I wrote a column together under her byline about how she helped to get Katrina survivor Mabel Brown out of Houston with her family. Lisa was busy mobilizing her neighbors to save Mabel's family, Lisa gave me the facts, and I got the column started while she was passing out supplies and making trips to the bus station.
When it was finished, we both felt like we had done something meaningful, relevant, world-changing. I didn't particularly care that my name wasn't on the piece, even when it was picked up nationally. I had been a part of something greater. Helping to bring Mable's heartbreaking and inspiring story to the world felt far more important to me than having my name on that byline.
Sometimes it's not possible or practical to share a byline. I thank Lisa in the acknowledgments of my books, she thanks me in the acknowledgments of hers. Occasionally, we'll actually officially write things together. But what we do isn't about the credit -- it's about two friends who believe in each others work, who want each others' voices to touch people and inspire them, who don't mind lending a line or an idea if it will help make a piece funnier, deeper, or more powerful.
Barack Obama and Deval Patrick have been friends for years, and I'm guessing Deval isn't even a little bit irritated that he wasn't credited in one of the many powerful, world-changing speeches that will bring Obama to the white house.
Patrick is going to be proud, unbelievably proud, that he helped get him there.
Sometimes getting credit isn't nearly as important as getting something done.
Lisa
I highly suggest that Obama and Deval Patrick arrange for a sit down with maybe Larry King to discuss these charges and let Deval explain that he and Barack discuss issues all the time and how he's glad Obama repeats what he says. It's like talking points - repeat, repeat, repeat, until it hits home to the American voters.
They might also inclue Michelle so she can explain HER comment. Get the facts out there before lies begin to swell.
Jason Linkins The Huffington Post
Fresh accusations of plagiarism are being hurled at Barack Obama for his use of language on the stump that directly mirrors speeches given by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. But there is no fresh news here: in fact, this rhetorical connection between the two pols was noted by the Boston Globe way back in April of 2007.
In an article titled, “Patrick, Obama campaigns share language of ‘hope,’” Globe reporter Scott Helman noted that the “just words” theme of Deval Patrick’s speech were born out of accusations that mirror the ones Obama is facing now, and that Obama was present on one occasion when Patrick deployed the language:
Of all the things Deval Patrick’s Republican opponent threw at him in last year’s governor’s race, one charge that stuck in his craw was that his speeches were more fluff than substance — that they were, in Patrick’s telling, “just words.” So he devised an artful response.” ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal’ — just words,” Patrick said at a rally in Roxbury right before Election Day. ” ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words. . . . ‘I have a dream’ — just words. They’re all just words.” The crowd erupted as it got Patrick’s point about the power of language. But perhaps no one at the rally understood the point better than Barack Obama, who had joined him on stage that night.
Of all the things Deval Patrick’s Republican opponent threw at him in last year’s governor’s race, one charge that stuck in his craw was that his speeches were more fluff than substance — that they were, in Patrick’s telling, “just words.” So he devised an artful response.” ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal’ — just words,” Patrick said at a rally in Roxbury right before Election Day. ” ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words. . . . ‘I have a dream’ — just words. They’re all just words.”
The crowd erupted as it got Patrick’s point about the power of language. But perhaps no one at the rally understood the point better than Barack Obama, who had joined him on stage that night.
Similarly, the article from April 2007 specifically mentioned that the Obama campaign had every intention of studying the success of his friend, Patrick, as a model for his own Presidential run:
In the midst of his improbable run for office, Obama and his advisers have evidently studied Patrick’s up-from-nowhere victory in Massachusetts and are borrowing themes, messages, and even specific lines for the presidential campaign.
Both men were said by the Globe to be — at the time — “learning from and feeding off each other.” The root of their shared rhetoric was identified as David Axelrod, who advised both campaigns. And while Patrick did notably back away from using Obama’s “Yes we can” refrain — Patrick campaign advisor Dan Payne said at the time, “We definitely didn’t want to copy him, Deval takes pride in his words and he wants to use them uniquely” — there’s no indication that either man objected to sharing rhetorical flourishes.
Similarly, there wasn’t any indication back in April of last year that this matter was any cause for concern or complaint. State Democratic Party chair Phillip W. Johnston spoke of the two men with admiration: “We all said that we could have closed our eyes when Obama spoke [and] it could have been Deval. To us it was a similar kind of message. It’s a message that transcends partisan politics.”
As a resident of Massachusetts I am proud that my Governor is Deval Patrick. I am glad that Barack Obama uses Governor Patrick as inspiration in his speeches. It makes me even more proud that Senator Obama also sees this man's words as inspirational and great. It's nice to see that no matter how inspirational someone can be, that someone inspires THEM. I'm sure that Senator Obama draws on a lot of inspirational figures. I just happen to like that one of them is Deval Patrick.
I can think of nobody better than Deval Patrick for Obama to choose as his running mate. However, that would mean that after only one year in office, I, as a Massachusetts resident, would be loosing him as my governor. I'm not sure I want that to happen. I rather like the idea of having a president, and a governor that makes me feel that things are getting better.
Call me selfish.
Yesterday, the Govenor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, came to new Beford on a swing through South Eastern Massachusetts to help rally support for the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama. Though Patrick's visit was the highlight of the day, things have been buzzing at our New Bedford for Obama HQ at 30 Centre Street, in the historic downtown. Our phone banks has been operating daily for the last week. Our efforts have been supplimented greatly by a dedicated group of Brown University students. All of this would not have been possible if not for the tireless efforts of our coordinator, Matt Gula.
About an hour before Deval Patrick arrived, our office was notified that there were Hillary supporters 2 blocks away at the corner of Elm Street and Route 18. Luckily, we had been having a sign making party and our local and Brown U supporters were ready! We all grabbed signs and walked down to the corner, easily eclipsing the Hillary supporters, who numbered around 10, and we had over 30!!! A channel 10, Providence camera man was at the scene when we arrived. He reportedly told one of our supporters later in the day that there had been some half-hearted beeping from cars in support of Hillary before we arrived. He said that after we arrived, the response from the passing cars increased greatly. We are winning the ground war here in New Bedford, but we have to keep on fighting through to carry Massachusetts for Barack Obama!!!
Here is the link for the article about the event from the Standard Times that appeared in today's edition.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/NEWS/802030345
You don't need me to tell you that Barack Obama brings people together... just look at us on this stage -- you've got the governor of a Northern, "blue" state like Massachusetts supporting the same candidate as two former Governor's of two of the "reddest" states in the country."
I want leadership that's going to help us see the stake we all have in each other again... I'm tired and you're tired of being told that the interests of the north are different from the interests of the south, that the interests of whites are different from the interests of blacks, that the poor and the rich have vastly different perspectives on what's in our national interest... The great moments [we've had] moving forward in this country have come when our leaders were able to invite us to come together, to articulate a vision and motivate us all to move forward.
Governor Deval Patrick was in New Hampshire today to knock on doors in Manchester and speak at house parties across southern New Hampshire to share his belief in Senator Obama’s ability to unite the country around an agenda for change.
In addition to the throngs of still-deciding voters that packed Barack’s event in Nashua this morning, hundreds of canvassers filled our volunteer room today before hitting the streets to knock on doors with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, while dozens more stuck around to work the phones.
Gov. Patrick has seen this kind of energy before: it was a massive grassroots movement that swept him into office in 2006. Today he offered some words of inspiration for the movement Barack has built here in the Granite State.
“Don’t see what you are doing today as a transaction that ends with Tuesday’s vote,” Deval urged. “What you are doing is building a movement of people that will remain involved in their government for years to come.”
Two veterans of Deval’s grassroots movement in Massachusetts, Sam and Tina of Boston, joined him on the streets of Manchester.
Sam is a city council member and former community organizer who believes that Barack and Deval have the right message for this moment.
“As a former organizer myself, I know that Barack will never forget what it was like to work with people to bring about change from the bottom up,” said Sam. “A president with this kind of experience will lead an awakening of civic consciousness that will sweep across the country.”
Tina agreed with her husband, adding, “This campaign is about the people in this room, and that’s just so refreshing.”
I also spoke with Pauline, a Manchester resident volunteering for the campaign for the first time this morning.
“It took me until a few weeks ago to make up my mind,” she laughed, “but judging from the energy in this room, I can see that there really was no other alternative… Barack is the only candidate inspiring people to do something to take control of their government.”
Gov. Deval Patrick is launching a final campaign push on behalf of presidential contender Barack Obama, traveling to three early primary states this week as the Democratic contest continues to tighten.
Officials with Patrick’s political committee say he is planning to make stump speeches in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, with the theme expected to focus on Obama’s ability to pull off a Patrick-style campaign upset on a national scale.
“Deval Patrick has a great story to tell, and it’s very helpful to Obama,” Democratic strategist Michael Goldman said. “Obama is thrilled to have Deval for one reason: He succeeded, and his message turned into a huge victory.”
Patrick had served in the Justice Department in the Clinton administration, but was a political unknown who had never run for office before winning his Massachusetts campaign by a historic margin in 2006. Obama’s slender political resume includes two terms as an Illinois state senator. He is now running for president in the middle of his first term as a U.S. senator.
Obama, 46, and Patrick, 51, both natives of Chicago, often sound remarkably similar during campaign speeches. Both emphasize a message of hope and a need for sweeping political change, encouraging citizens to “vote their aspirations.”
In using that line last week, Obama joked that he borrowed it from Patrick’s campaign.
“I’m stealing this line from my buddy Deval Patrick, who stole a whole bunch of lines from me when he ran for the governorship,” Obama said. “But it’s the right (line). Don’t vote your fears, vote your aspirations.”
Obama’s chief political challenge has been to convince voters that his relative lack of experience in Washington is a benefit and will not limit him in making critical decisions about national security and other matters.
Hillary Clinton has sought to turn Obama’s argument on its head, launching advertisements in New Hampshire saying that true change only comes from experience and decades of hard work in the political trenches.
Recent polls show that Obama and Clinton are in a virtual dead-heat, with both candidates pulling down about 30 percent in Iowa and New Hampshire, and John Edwards trailing by a few percentage points in Iowa and by about 15 in New Hampshire.
Congoboston.com-- Last November 10th, 2007, three school buses loaded with Obama supporters left a parking lot at the 99 Restaurant, across from Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown, Mass to the primary voter’s state of New Hampshire. In response to a call from Deval Patrick, the “historically” first African American Governor of the state of Massachusetts, more than a hundred of supporters signed up and showed up, while enduring some 25 degrees morning weather for a bus field trip to three New Hampshire’s towns. Among many supporters were former Deval’s campaign staff during his 2006 bid for the Beacon Hill, a few Obama-leaning political activists; also came along the “Obama-MA-2-NH” Campaign staff led by Nicole Derse. In total, 500 Obama Canvassers all teamed up for this Rendez-vous in knocking on voters’ doors in NH’s neighborhoods. In facts, last October 22nd at the Boston Common, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick publicly endorsed Sen. Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the race to the White House.
Our own, Franklin Katunda, Congoboston.com’s chief editor participated in the Boston Rally and the Electoral Canvassing, as both the Editor of the most active Boston’s Community News Network for Congolese-Americans and Residents, and most as Campaign Worker. He registered with “Obama For America 08” to support the candidacy of the Illinois Senator to the White House. Using the very same Congoboston’s expertise he has developed as Community Organizer with the use of ( an affordable yet popular technology) - the Internet, Franklin Katunda launched (February 2007) an online network that courted supporters for Barack Obama… At this time, it counts about 106 members nationwide. The group is called “Africans & Americans for Obama.” Franklin wants to gather what he called the “New Majority” Vote around the candidacy of the Illinois Senator for the Oval Office. On its web-blog’s main page, one can read this: “We are a Nationwide Network with a mission to gather and to inform the American electorate in its "New Majority" that includes many unspotted new voters, such as US-naturalized Africans ... All awakened and determined to "Make History", and to electing Senator Barack OBAMA as President of the United States of America in 2008”" The hope generated in me during the Senator’s Springfield Illinois Presidential Bid and the dynamics for change that America needs after decades of failed policies and mismanaged governances, said Franklin who claimed that reason led him to align, head on, with the Obama campaign. Despite the pundits, biased national polls and favors from the media to the established candidate, Hillary Clinton, Franklin, just alike Barack Obama, believes in the audacity that an “improbable quest” can bear in a status quo.“Senator Obama (who wasn’t running for president at that time) inspired me, not only after I heard his DNC speech in 04’, but more he made me adopt him as my role model among African Americans political figures during my graduation day in Boston. This is a while back in June 2006… Amazingly, I was lucky to have him as keynote speaker during my graduation at the University of Massachusetts-Boston ”, Commented Mr. Katunda. His network for Obama extends from the Washington DC-Virginia-Maryland area where he has enrolled in a public affairs/media internship to Dallas Texas, where he hosted at a friend’s house, a little earlier in the race (April 07); it was part of a Nationwide Grassroots House Barbecue for Obama. About thirty people, Texans from all backgrounds and racial groups showed up for that social gathering at Kale Kasonga’s. As part of the Boston’s Chapter of the group “Umass-Boston for Obama”, he enrolled along with Brad Stoler (a former Umass-Boston Alumnus and friend) in the Manchester NH campaign office, providing phone banking (to update voters from the headquarters, through local phone calls) and participating in the most New England weather-challenged door-to-door canvassing in the NH neighborhoods.
“Time is now for American voters and especially new voters: US-naturalized Africans and (19 and+) first time voters to get involved and be part of the history in the making” said, Mr. Katunda. Diring his Dallas event, he inspired many voters, such as Andy Ribaudo of Dallas Texas to start his own high school online group, "Our World" at the latest barbecue in the Lone Star State.
“I don’t think there is any thing to loose supporting Obama at this point and time, and history will only reward audacious citizens for trying.” conferred to us Franklin, who write as an online community news editor of Congoboston.com. In closing, we reproduce here an extract from the bus chatting: “ Governor, Sen. Obama inspired me when he gave a speech at my graduation (June 2nd 2006) at Umass-Boston; before heading to your fundraiser to support your bid for Governor of Massachusetts; and this happened on the same day afternoon at the Hines Convention Center, if I’m not mistaking… Today, I find myself priviledged to be onboard this bus with you and shake your hand. (A Citizen of Massachusetts and his Governor), both heading up to NH to support him for the Oval office… Isn’t it amazing?” -- Franklin Katunda Dear readers ( US citizens or legal residents), to get involved in or support this movement for change as it goes beyond just the 2008 Elections, please send an email at Franklinkatunda@yahoo.com, and a reply will follow with an invitation to join the group. The main target will be to “get out” the African Vote in New Hampshire in the primaries (January 2008). Here below is the story about the field trip from the Boston Globe and a picture of Franklin Katunda posing with the Honorable Deval Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts onboard the bus that took them to Nashua NH (A picture courtesy of an Obama Supporter)
Please copy and paste the following link on the address bar to see the photo:
My DocumentsMy PicturesObama.Paris.BostonObama.Paris.Boston 013.jpg
By the Congoboston Staff,© November, 2007
Here are a few photos from my trip to Nashua on November 10th. Still don't get why the Hillary people were wasting their time there chanting at people who were obviously unpaid volunteers (and therefore a lost cause for conversions) at the Obama Nashua HQ. Meh. It was great to hear Governor Patrick speak, and despite a few moments when we wondered how much our door knocking was really doing, it felt great to be involved and to speak to people about the issues. So many undecided voters! I get the feeling that the people in NH stay undecided right up until the last minute.
Oh, while I'm thinking of it, does anybody know what Obama's stance is on Second Amendment rights? Not like anybody is really reading this, but if you happen to see this post and you know, hook me up... that's definitely something I need to research before going back to the Live Free or Die state.
On Saturday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick led over one hundred supporters from Massachusetts into southern New Hampshire to knock on doors for Barack, as part of a statewide canvass that drew over 500 people.
The day began in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where Governor Patrick met with his fellow Bay Staters and fired them up before boarding waiting busses and heading to New Hampshire. Governor Patrick told the crowd, “This election is not just about who we want, but about who we are. I want a president who understands that. I want Barack Obama.”
Mary, a former volunteer for the Patrick campaign, said, “What brings me out here today is the same spirit of people taking back their government that drives the Obama campaign.”
The buses arrived at our Nashua office, where they were greeted by sign-waving New Hampshire Obama supporters. Chants of “Fired up! Ready to go!” filled the air, as Governor Patrick stepped up to the microphone to rally the crowd.
He didn’t disappoint, telling the canvassers that victory in New Hampshire could only be claimed by going door-to-door and talking to voters one-on-one.
Governor Patrick said, “You decided to take your time and your shoe leather to go and make a pitch personally to somebody. And then when you get that voter, tell them to pass it on, because that is how we will win—and deserve to win.”
Daniel, a first-time volunteer, said, “I keep remembering how I felt watching the returns come in during the 2004 presidential election and promising myself that I’d never sit on the sidelines again.”
The Bostonian is volunteering for Barack Obama because, as he says, “I’d like to trust our next president, and I think by that measure Barack is the clear choice.”
Governor Patrick didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk: canvassing a neighborhood in Nashua and talking to Granite Staters about how we can change this country. That’s politics the New Hampshire way.
Take a look at Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's inspiring introduction at last night's rally:
If you're a Massachusetts resident, you can make a big impact in neighboring New Hampshire. Click here to join Deval and take part in the movement to elect Barack.
Over 9,500 supporters rallied on the historic Boston Common tonight as Governor Deval Patrick publicly declared his support for Senator Obama.
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Governor Patrick -- who rode a remarkable grassroots movement to victory in the Bay State -- delivered a stirring introduction:
For once, I want a campaign that’s not about the candidate, but about us. Not about a resumé, but about character. Not about connections or convenience, but about conviction. Not about smearing the competition, but about lifting us all up. Not about the right and the left, but about right and wrong. Not about yesterday, but about tomorrow. I don’t care whether the next president has experience in the White House. I care whether he understands life in your house. I don’t care whether the next president has already met foreign heads of state. I care whether he knows something about how people live and think in distant cities and villages and can remember that our actions affect them, too. I don’t care whether the next president is the first black president or the first woman president or the first whatever, to tell you the truth. I care that the next president has moral courage, a political backbone, the humility to admit what he doesn’t know, and the wisdom to learn from others.
For once, I want a campaign that’s not about the candidate, but about us.
Not about a resumé, but about character. Not about connections or convenience, but about conviction. Not about smearing the competition, but about lifting us all up. Not about the right and the left, but about right and wrong. Not about yesterday, but about tomorrow.
I don’t care whether the next president has experience in the White House. I care whether he understands life in your house.
I don’t care whether the next president has already met foreign heads of state. I care whether he knows something about how people live and think in distant cities and villages and can remember that our actions affect them, too.
I don’t care whether the next president is the first black president or the first woman president or the first whatever, to tell you the truth. I care that the next president has moral courage, a political backbone, the humility to admit what he doesn’t know, and the wisdom to learn from others.
Barack took to the stage and the crowd erupted. And, as a lifelong Red Sox fan, I can attest -- it was loud even by Boston crowd standards.
“Governor Patrick and I share the belief that hope transforms lives and that a grassroots movement can not only help win an election, but bring real change to a state and a country,” said Senator Obama. “What I am seeing on the ground in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina is the will to win and today I am asking the people of Boston to play an active role on this campaign to change this country.”
