In front of a crowd of more than 4500 in St. Paul yesterday, Michelle Obama said that, for her, this is not just politics. "It's personal. It's personal for me, it's personal for all of us now."
Hard-working people who don't want government to solve all their problems. Folks in this country aren't asking for much. They just want to be able to do what my dad did for me -- get up, go to work every day and earn a decent living. And from my vantage point, as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter, the choice is clear. There's only one candidate who is speaking at all to the issues that I care about.
Hard-working people who don't want government to solve all their problems. Folks in this country aren't asking for much. They just want to be able to do what my dad did for me -- get up, go to work every day and earn a decent living.
And from my vantage point, as a wife, as a mother, as a daughter, the choice is clear. There's only one candidate who is speaking at all to the issues that I care about.
Michelle's story is the American story. Michelle grew up on the South Side of Chicago, attended public schools, and took used scholarships and loans to pay her way through college and law school. After a few years practicing corporate law, she returned to the South Side of Chicago to give back to the city she loves and to help others serve their communities as the executive director of a non-profit.
Michelle reminded folks that Barack was raised by a single mother and his grandparents. And while they didn't have much money, they taught him to believe in the promise of America.
I can't speak for anyone else, but Barack Obama gets it. And he doesn't get it in some philosophical, theoretical way. He gets it because he's lived it.
"Don't we deserve leaders who get it?" asked Michelle.
Find out how you can get involved today and join this grassroots movement for change. Sign up to use our Neighbor to Neighbor tool, set up a personal fundraising page, and join your local Team Obama. We need everyone to do their part to help bring real change to America and make sure we elect a president who gets it.
Check out the pictures from Michelle's Change We Need Rally at Macalaster College:
Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI) is dedicated to the simple idea that shelter from rain, wind and sun is a basic human need. Obama Works is a national grassroots organization comprised of volunteers dedicated to implementing Senator Barack Obama's message of positive change through public service. Both organizations rely extensively on unpaid help - people who do the right thing with no expectation of any payback beyond a smile.
This is what COMMUNITY ORGANIZING is all about!
On September 13th, 2008, the Obama Works Twin Cities volunteers partnered with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity organizers to apply some elbow grease to two projects in Minneapolis. Hearty volunteers under the guidance of Master Gardeners who volunteer with HFHI helped a family beautify their home, and neighborhood.
The family may not be entirely comfortable with operating the lawnmower yet, but they've got curb appeal. They've also got new friends who are invested in their success, new connections to more established residents of their community.
Read the full story at Actualizers, and please pass along this example of how Obama's history inspires acts of community service.
Pictures and video amplify the story of volunteers beautifying a Habitat Home in south Minneapolis on behalf the the new homeowners, immigrants from Somalia who have only been in the house since mid-summer. A cool, rainy September day, but the result was sunshine in the Twin Cities.
The planning was donated. The plants were donated. The labor was donated...Senator Barack Obama's example might not have come to the attention of so many of us if he'd not become a candidate for president -- but community service is ALWAYS a postive action.
Read the whole article | DIGG it!
Billboards like the one above located at the corner of Interstate 94 and 280 are popping up all over the Twin Cities.
From the Associated Press:
MINNEAPOLIS – Delegates to the Republican National Convention who are traveling into downtown St. Paul off Interstate 94 next week will be treated to a billboard-sized welcome from the other party.The Democratic National Committee bought billboard space to display a picture of John McCain embracing President Bush with the message: “Does this look like change to you?”“We’re going to spend every day looking for every opportunity to remind voters in the Twin Cities and across the country that a vote for John McCain is a vote for George W. Bush and his failed policies,” said Damien LaVera, a spokesman for the DNC.That will include not just the billboard but posters on several bus stops that serve the Xcel Center.The Democrats also plan to distribute to reporters a multimedia press kit, which will include flash drives with an extensive catalog of McCain’s record – histories of his votes, past statements and other material the Democrats want to highlight.A team of two dozen Democratic fact checkers will be sending out rapid responses to every GOP speaker.In addition to the visual and multimedia cues, Democrats will hold daily press briefings in downtown St. Paul to counter the Republican message radiating from the Xcel Center. They’re setting up a media center just across the street from the convention center.That’s become standard procedure at the national political conventions, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty is among those Republicans touting the McCain message this week at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.LaVera wouldn’t hint at which Democrats would be tapped for the St. Paul patrol, but said there would be numerous national party figures.They’ll be joined at the daily press conferences by Minnesota Democratic leaders, as well as people who LaVera described as “Minnesota voters” who he said would talk about the impact of McCain’s policies.
Hillary Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention was a home run! It was delivered with passion, grace, class and humor. She issued a clear call for party unity and gave a full-throated endorsement of Obama/Biden '08. She cast this campaign as a fight for the future.
Hillary took on John McCain early and often beginning with, "No way. No how. No McCain!" She tied McCain to the failed policies of the past eight years and warned his election would mean, "More stagnation, less affordable healthcare. More high gas prices, less alternative energy. More jobs shipped overseas, fewer jobs created here at home. More skyrocketing debt and home foreclosures and mounting bills that are crushing middle-class families. More war, less diplomacy. More of a government where the privileged few come first and everyone else comes last." And with an agenda like that, she said, "... it makes perfect sense that President Bush and John McCain will be together in the Twin Cities next week, because it's getting awfully hard to tell them apart."
Hillary quoted Harriet Tubman, a runaway slave and key “conductor”on the underground railroad that led many slaves to freedom. Tubman admonished slaves she was helping escape to freedom, "If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If they're shouting after you, keep going. Don't ever stop. Keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.” Then Hillary reminded us that before we can keep going, we first have to get going again by electing Barack Obama and Joe Biden. "We don't have a moment to lose," she warned, "or a vote to spare. Nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hangs in the balance."
Tonight, we’ll get to see whether Bill Clinton can give such a rousing speech. Last night, Hillary moved the outfield fences back at least another 100 feet! Bill will need to be in top form to keep up with Hillary.
Barack Obama supports an electoral reform called Instant Runoff Voting! You can help put Instant Runoff Voting on the ballot in Saint Paul this November by signing the petition being circulated by the St. Paul Better Ballot Campaign. I am the campaign manager and encourage you to respond to me with any questions you might have after reading this blog and checking out the website at www.betterballotcampaign.org , but first follow this link to learn how to sign the petition:
Link
Here are the basics about Instant Runoff Voting:
FACT: To elect mayor and city council members, Saint Paul holds a nonpartisan two-round election--the September primary and the November general election.
FACT: Less than 15% of registered voters turn out to the primary to choose which two candidates will run off in the general election!
Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) brings:
In 2006, voters in Minneapolis and three other US cities and counties elected overwhelmingly to update their voting systems with Instant Runoff Voting. The movement for better voting has rapidly taken root across the country, with over 20 cities and counties now using or preparing to use Instant Runoff Voting. It is a sensible reform that is endorsed by the League of Woman Voters, the Star Tribune, Sierra Club and several other Minnesota organizations.
