Looking for LIVINGSTON descendants of slaves from Orangeburg County, South Carolina and the following towns: North, Livingston, Elizabeth TWP, Bull Swamp P.O., Neeses, Norway, Willow.Also in Cannon, Newberry County, SC.
Tony Livingston - 1820 Wesley Livingston - 1862 John W. Livingston - 1896 Ernest Livingston - 1915 Idella LIVINGSTON - 1916 Victor Livingston - 1919 Charley Livingston - 1900 Herman Livingston - 1924 Howard Livingston - 1953 (me) Paul F. Livingston - 1897 Pauline LIVINGSTON - 1918 Gertrude LIVINGSTON - 1920 Paul F. Livingston, Jr. - 1922 Edith LIVINGSTON - 1925 John W. Livingston - 1928 Clifton Livingston - 1929 Phillip Livingston - 1901 Dorothy LIVINGSTON - 1919 Dan Livingston - 1903 Clifton Livingston - 1904 Emily LIVINGSTON - 1905 Lonnie Livingston - 1906 Wilson Livingston - 1908
O Neals * Oak Park * Oak Run * Oak View * Oakdale * Oakhurst * Oakland * Oakley * Oakville * Obrien * Occidental * Oceano * Oceanside * Ocotillo * Ojai * Olancha * Old Station * Olema * Olivehurst * Olympic Valley * Ontario * Onyx * Orange * Orange Cove * Orangevale * Oregon House * Orick * Orinda * Orland * Orleans * Oro Grande * Orosi * Oroville * Oxnard * Pacific Grove * Pacific Palisades * Pacifica * Pacoima * Paicines * Pala * Palermo * Palm Desert * Palm Springs * Palmdale * Palo Alto * Palo Cedro * Palo Verde * Palomar Mountain * Palos Verdes Peninsula * Panorama City * Paradise * Paramount * Parker Dam * Parlier * Pasadena * Paskenta * Paso Robles * Patterson * Patton * Pauma Valley * Paynes Creek * Pearblossom * Pebble Beach * Penn Valley * Penngrove * Penryn * Perris * Pescadero * Petaluma * Petrolia * Phelan * Phillipsville * Philo * Pico Rivera * Piedmont * Piedra * Piercy * Pilot Hill * Pine Grove * Pine Valley * Pinecrest * Pinole * Pinon Hills * Pioneer * Pioneertown * Piru * Pismo Beach * Pittsburg * Pixley * Placentia * Placerville * Planada * Platina * Playa Del Rey * Pleasant Grove * Pleasant Hill * Pleasanton * Plymouth * Point Arena * Point Mugu Nawc * Point Reyes Station * Pollock Pines * Pomona * Pope Valley * Port Costa * Port Hueneme * Port Hueneme Cbc Base * Porterville * Portola * Portola Valley * Posey * Potrero * Potter Valley * Poway * Prather * Princeton * Proberta * Quincy * Rackerby * Rail Road Flat * Raisin * Ramona * Ranchita * Rancho Cordova * Rancho Cucamonga * Rancho Mirage * Rancho Palos Verdes * Rancho Santa Fe * Rancho Santa Margarita * Randsburg * Ravendale * Raymond * Red Bluff * Red Mountain * Redcrest * Redding * Redlands * Redondo Beach * Redway * Redwood City * Redwood Estates * Redwood Valley
For many supporters, volunteering isn't enough. They need to show their support in other, far more public ways--they want others to hear their voice for change.
There are the untraditional ways--a music video, a painted pick-up truck, or a website that gives a free song to people who pledge to vote. But the conventional, and still effective way, is to write a letter to the editor. Here are a few from supporters in the Buckeye State, writing about why they support Barack Obama.
From the Chillicothe Gazette - "Obama has the vision to improve America's health care system":
I am a health care worker and have been a nurse since 1977. I have worked in several areas of health care. I would like to share with you one of the many reasons why I support Barack Obama for president. He cares about people and has the knowledge, energy and the ability to work for all of us to see that Americans have access to the health care they need. Currently in the United States, there are 45 million Americans who don't have health care insurance. I feel the health of the people should be a national priority.Here are a few examples of the annual compension packages paid to CEOs of some of the major insurers: United Healthcare $8.3 million, WellPoint, Inc. $5.2 million, Cigna $4.7 million (Atlantic Information Services, April 24, 2006). Can you see where I am going with this?OK, here is what Obama is proposing: If you already have insurance and are satisfied with it, you can keep it. If not, you will be able to buy a new insurance plan that's similar to the plan federal employees receive. If you do not have insurance at all, it will be made available to you. No one will be denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition or illness. If you cannot afford insurance, you will get a subsidy. Employers would be encouraged to offer health care coverage to their employees, and would be assisted by the government in providing this coverage. Obama's plan is not government-run health care, it builds on the employer-sponsored insurance system. The income tax exclusion would be retained and people without employer-based insurance would be offered a refundable tax credit (percentage-based on income).--Vickie Smith, Waverly
I am a health care worker and have been a nurse since 1977. I have worked in several areas of health care. I would like to share with you one of the many reasons why I support Barack Obama for president. He cares about people and has the knowledge, energy and the ability to work for all of us to see that Americans have access to the health care they need. Currently in the United States, there are 45 million Americans who don't have health care insurance. I feel the health of the people should be a national priority.
Here are a few examples of the annual compension packages paid to CEOs of some of the major insurers: United Healthcare $8.3 million, WellPoint, Inc. $5.2 million, Cigna $4.7 million (Atlantic Information Services, April 24, 2006). Can you see where I am going with this?
OK, here is what Obama is proposing: If you already have insurance and are satisfied with it, you can keep it. If not, you will be able to buy a new insurance plan that's similar to the plan federal employees receive. If you do not have insurance at all, it will be made available to you. No one will be denied insurance because of a pre-existing condition or illness. If you cannot afford insurance, you will get a subsidy. Employers would be encouraged to offer health care coverage to their employees, and would be assisted by the government in providing this coverage. Obama's plan is not government-run health care, it builds on the employer-sponsored insurance system. The income tax exclusion would be retained and people without employer-based insurance would be offered a refundable tax credit (percentage-based on income).
--Vickie Smith, Waverly
From the Findlay Courier - "Obama Would Help Rural Ohio"
As the former Ohio state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Office, I can say from experience that state and federal partnership is critical if we are to make much-needed investments in rural Ohio.Barack Obama has two comprehensive and complementary plans that will move rural Ohio in the right direction. He has a vision for rural America and a health care plan for the nation that will enable our communities to thrive and our citizens to have access to affordable and quality health care.Obama knows the unique demands of agriculture and is a strong supporter of the 2008 Farm Bill, which makes historic investments in conservation, renewable energy, and rural infrastructure and provides a safety net to family farmers.Numerous innovations in the 2008 Farm Bill will directly affect rural Ohio, including a micro-enterprise program for small businesses and entrepreneurs, farmland preservation, and expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables for our school children, which helps our youth and farmers alike. John McCain stated that he would have vetoed the bill.--Linda Jones Borton, Ottowa
As the former Ohio state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Office, I can say from experience that state and federal partnership is critical if we are to make much-needed investments in rural Ohio.
Barack Obama has two comprehensive and complementary plans that will move rural Ohio in the right direction. He has a vision for rural America and a health care plan for the nation that will enable our communities to thrive and our citizens to have access to affordable and quality health care.
Obama knows the unique demands of agriculture and is a strong supporter of the 2008 Farm Bill, which makes historic investments in conservation, renewable energy, and rural infrastructure and provides a safety net to family farmers.
Numerous innovations in the 2008 Farm Bill will directly affect rural Ohio, including a micro-enterprise program for small businesses and entrepreneurs, farmland preservation, and expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables for our school children, which helps our youth and farmers alike. John McCain stated that he would have vetoed the bill.
--Linda Jones Borton, Ottowa
From the Wilmington News Journal - "Doesn't want four more years of the same"
I'm an Obama supporter and have been since the very early days of his campaign. I watched him win the Iowa caucus and was so proud of Iowa it moved me to tears as I listened to Barack’s speech that night. I know that none of this makes me unusual because most of his entire following feels the same way, particularly if they are young, college educated, men and women.On to world affairs, when I watched Sen. Obama in Europe and the reception he received, I couldn’t help think how wonderful it would be to have a president that we could be proud of once more. I thought it would be so nice if Americans could visit Europe and not be viewed as ugly Americans.Sen. Obama gives me hope that we can be a nation of innovation, and discovery, and that once again we can lead the world in technology, research, science, medicine and education. We have fallen terribly behind under this backward fundamentalist administration that rejects science.--Nancy Compton, Wilmington
I'm an Obama supporter and have been since the very early days of his campaign. I watched him win the Iowa caucus and was so proud of Iowa it moved me to tears as I listened to Barack’s speech that night. I know that none of this makes me unusual because most of his entire following feels the same way, particularly if they are young, college educated, men and women.
On to world affairs, when I watched Sen. Obama in Europe and the reception he received, I couldn’t help think how wonderful it would be to have a president that we could be proud of once more. I thought it would be so nice if Americans could visit Europe and not be viewed as ugly Americans.
Sen. Obama gives me hope that we can be a nation of innovation, and discovery, and that once again we can lead the world in technology, research, science, medicine and education. We have fallen terribly behind under this backward fundamentalist administration that rejects science.
--Nancy Compton, Wilmington
From the Zanesville Times Recorder - "Get the facts"
I will be so glad when this election is over and we no longer have to listen to the Republicans distort the truth, even in a previous letter published in the Times Recorder. Yes it is true that Obama will raise your taxes if you make more than $250,000, however, those of us who do not will actually see a tax cut. And if you are a senior citizen making less than $50,000 per year he will eliminate all income taxation. These are facts that even those who say we should "get informed" fail to mention.If you want the facts on Sen. Obama you need to turn off those distorted McCain commercials and stop by the Obama headquarters, at 126 Muskingum Ave., and literature will be provided for you. You can also visit the Obama Web site at www.barackobama.com for factual information. I'm sure when you have the true facts you will be ready to cast your vote on Nov. 4, with pride and confidence.Yes we do need change in Washington, the kind of change we will get from Obama and Biden.--Bob Weber, Zanesville
I will be so glad when this election is over and we no longer have to listen to the Republicans distort the truth, even in a previous letter published in the Times Recorder. Yes it is true that Obama will raise your taxes if you make more than $250,000, however, those of us who do not will actually see a tax cut. And if you are a senior citizen making less than $50,000 per year he will eliminate all income taxation. These are facts that even those who say we should "get informed" fail to mention.
If you want the facts on Sen. Obama you need to turn off those distorted McCain commercials and stop by the Obama headquarters, at 126 Muskingum Ave., and literature will be provided for you. You can also visit the Obama Web site at www.barackobama.com for factual information. I'm sure when you have the true facts you will be ready to cast your vote on Nov. 4, with pride and confidence.
Yes we do need change in Washington, the kind of change we will get from Obama and Biden.
From the Mansfield News Journal - "Obama, Biden dedicated to helping women"
I am making 77 cents for every dollar my male counterpart is making. Under John McCain's "Plan for the American Woman" this is acceptable because in John's own words, I "probably need more training." An Obama administration will enforce the Equity Pay Act and fight job discrimination.I'm a single mom working two jobs, with no health insurance, and I'm stricken with breast cancer. Under McCain's plan, I am so messed up. Barack Obama is committed to ensuring that all Americans have health care coverage by the end of his first term.Ohio women, don't take my word for this. Study the issues and find out for yourself. And even if you feel it's too late for yourself, consider the futures of your daughters and granddaughters. We need someone in Washington who respects women, not one who will choose one for his VP for all the wrong reasons. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are truly dedicated to improving the lives of women.--Jeanne Alexander,Lucas
I am making 77 cents for every dollar my male counterpart is making. Under John McCain's "Plan for the American Woman" this is acceptable because in John's own words, I "probably need more training." An Obama administration will enforce the Equity Pay Act and fight job discrimination.
I'm a single mom working two jobs, with no health insurance, and I'm stricken with breast cancer. Under McCain's plan, I am so messed up. Barack Obama is committed to ensuring that all Americans have health care coverage by the end of his first term.
Ohio women, don't take my word for this. Study the issues and find out for yourself. And even if you feel it's too late for yourself, consider the futures of your daughters and granddaughters. We need someone in Washington who respects women, not one who will choose one for his VP for all the wrong reasons. Barack Obama and Joe Biden are truly dedicated to improving the lives of women.
--Jeanne Alexander,Lucas
From the Sun Sentinel - "Independent says that Obama was easy choice for President"
I guess that I am the target audience for the Obama and McCain decision. I am an Independent voter in the state of Ohio. Once again, I believe that Independents from Ohio will decide the election.Over the years I have voted for Democrats, Republicans and even Ross Perot. This year, I am voting for Barack Obama. It was a pretty easy choice.Why do I say this and what do I want? I want the war in Iraq to end. I want someone to look out for the middle class. I want to hold Wall Street accountable for its actions. I want to find alternative energy sources in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I want both political parties to work together. I want a vice president that does not embarrass this country. I want this country to work with our allies, instead of pushing them around. In my opinion, "trickle down economics" is not working. Unchecked free trade is not working. Letting the free market manage Social Security will not work. Putting health care completely in the hands of the free market without regulation will not work. --North Ridgeville
I guess that I am the target audience for the Obama and McCain decision. I am an Independent voter in the state of Ohio. Once again, I believe that Independents from Ohio will decide the election.
Over the years I have voted for Democrats, Republicans and even Ross Perot. This year, I am voting for Barack Obama. It was a pretty easy choice.
Why do I say this and what do I want? I want the war in Iraq to end. I want someone to look out for the middle class. I want to hold Wall Street accountable for its actions. I want to find alternative energy sources in order to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. I want both political parties to work together. I want a vice president that does not embarrass this country. I want this country to work with our allies, instead of pushing them around.
In my opinion, "trickle down economics" is not working. Unchecked free trade is not working. Letting the free market manage Social Security will not work. Putting health care completely in the hands of the free market without regulation will not work.
--North Ridgeville
From the Canton Repository - "Want to hear the sound of jobs in Stark again? Then vote for Barack Obama"
Last summer, a young woman moved in beside me on Genoa Avenue. After a cool, clear evening, she had to ask what that odd pounding noise was that she heard in the night. "A forge," I told her, and proceeded to explain the complicated process of drop forging and how that bass note boom made tools.It dawned on me later that I could have given her a very simple answer. "That sound is the sound of industry." I could have gone on to say. "Listen closely, as it soon may be gone." So much of our county is filled with the deafening quiet one can hear only in an empty sweeper plant, or standing in the vast, unfilled parking lot of a vacant steel mill.These haunting silences are the echoes of the Bush administration. An administration which has, by its promotion of unfair trade deals and tax breaks for companies that take their business off-shore, caused the loss of over 180,000 jobs in Ohio. That is 61 jobs a day! If we, the voters, choose a candidate who has voted more than 90 percent of the time with George Bush, what will we hear for the next four — or eight — years?Silence.One big, empty silence.On Election Day, remember that when you touch that screen, the sound it makes will echo through our future. If you choose to elect Barack Obama, you are choosing to change that sound to the sound of steel mills building wind turbines. To the sound of molds filling with plastic, forming solar panels to help bring us out of this energy crisis. To the sweet sound of jobs, and a healthy middle class.Make that sound, people!--Barbara Lewis, Perry Township
Last summer, a young woman moved in beside me on Genoa Avenue. After a cool, clear evening, she had to ask what that odd pounding noise was that she heard in the night. "A forge," I told her, and proceeded to explain the complicated process of drop forging and how that bass note boom made tools.
It dawned on me later that I could have given her a very simple answer. "That sound is the sound of industry."
I could have gone on to say. "Listen closely, as it soon may be gone."
So much of our county is filled with the deafening quiet one can hear only in an empty sweeper plant, or standing in the vast, unfilled parking lot of a vacant steel mill.
These haunting silences are the echoes of the Bush administration. An administration which has, by its promotion of unfair trade deals and tax breaks for companies that take their business off-shore, caused the loss of over 180,000 jobs in Ohio. That is 61 jobs a day!
If we, the voters, choose a candidate who has voted more than 90 percent of the time with George Bush, what will we hear for the next four — or eight — years?
Silence.
One big, empty silence.
On Election Day, remember that when you touch that screen, the sound it makes will echo through our future.
If you choose to elect Barack Obama, you are choosing to change that sound to the sound of steel mills building wind turbines. To the sound of molds filling with plastic, forming solar panels to help bring us out of this energy crisis. To the sweet sound of jobs, and a healthy middle class.
Make that sound, people!
--Barbara Lewis, Perry Township
Why do YOU support Barack Obama? Why are YOU going to vote for him today?
Here in Riverside, near Dayton, Barack just finished giving remarks at Stebbins High School, where he very clearly laid out the planks of his education platform--which aims to get American children to compete in the globalized world of the 21st century.
Barack was introduced by Greg, a local Dayton parent (and former Republican) who has been closely involved in his child's education. He was a perfect predecessor to Barack, because the fundamentals of Barack's education policy are rooted in the strong conviction that everyone--teachers, the government, and especially parents--must be involved in order for kids to make progress at school. Barack had this to say:
It's time to stop passing the buck on education, and hold ourselves accountable...It starts in our home. It starts in our family. No government program can turn off the TV set, or put away the video games, or read to your children. But we can help parents do a better job.
It's time to stop passing the buck on education, and hold ourselves accountable...
It starts in our home. It starts in our family. No government program can turn off the TV set, or put away the video games, or read to your children. But we can help parents do a better job.
He then floated the idea of posting report cards online for parents, so that they can more easily track their child's progress, and determine for themselves how involved they need to be.
But what Barack made sure that everyone knew at this event was that he is an unwavering advocate of public education. Beyond fully funding No Child Left Behind, he established firm ideas on how to make public schools competitive, so that children are guaranteed the best education and are fully prepared for college. This includes prioritizing the recruitment of well-trained teachers, and helping floundering schools instead of leaving them by the wayside.
All of this was in addition to his consistently mentioned plan to prioritize early childhood education and help pay for the schooling of students who choose public service as a profession. At its heart, Barack's plan calls for the federal support of education programs that have been proven to work. And as for funding? Barack swiftly allayed that concern with a one-liner that had the numerous teachers hungry for change here standing up off their seats:
We can do all of this, for the cost of just a couple days in Iraq.
With a meeting scheduled afterwards with the embattled workers of the DHL subsidiaries in the Wilmington area, who potentially face massive job cuts, today Barack is letting it be known that he cares about the struggles of Southwest Ohio.
August 24, 2008
Obama Chooses Biden as Running Mate
By ADAM NAGOURNEY and JEFF ZELENY
WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama has chosen Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware to be his running mate, turning to a leading authority on foreign policy and a longtime Washington hand to fill out the Democratic ticket, Mr. Obama announced in text and e-mail messages early Saturday.
Mr. Obama’s selection ended a two-month search that was conducted almost entirely in secret. It reflected a critical strategic choice by Mr. Obama: To go with a running mate who could reassure voters about gaps in his résumé, rather than to pick someone who could deliver a state or reinforce Mr. Obama’s message of change.
Mr. Biden is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and is familiar with foreign leaders and diplomats around the world. Although he initially voted to authorize the war in Iraq — Mr. Obama opposed it from the start — Mr. Biden became a persistent critic of President George W. Bush’s policies in Iraq.
I want to take a moment to point out the voting issues I found during the primaries. Some of these might be specific to NC, some might be universal.
1. Voter Registration Mistake. This was the #1 issue I found. People who registered to vote had their voter registered returned to them (several showed me) because they did not check the box that asked if they had been convicted of a felony had their rights been restored. The key here is that EVERY person who showed me their form had NOT been convicted of the felony, but did not check "yes" because they thought that would be indicating that they had been convicted of a felony. If I ran into several people with this problem in a 3 day period, imagine how many are out there. All of us registering voters need to be aware of this issue, and also, I have found that there is a NC registration form that does not ask this question as a check box. We need to find a leader who is very very familiar with the voting system to make sure we are all on board.
The following form has the check box: http://msweb03.co.wake.nc.us/bordelec/downloads/form06.pdf
This form does not have the check box: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/hava/northcarolina.pdf
2. Convicted Felons. There were a few (4?) people I ran into who had been convicted of a felony and had no idea whether their rights had been restored or not. I told them I believed that if they were off probation, then they were elibible to vote, but I did not know. One of them was still on parole. The other 3 did not know how to have their rights restored. Again, knowledgeable leader for this.
3. Poll Center Confusion. In a public housing community on the day of the primary, almost everyone said they did not know where to vote. Their location said "Lake Forest Inc." I initially thought this referred to a school right behind the community (Lake Forest Ac.), and I told about 4 people this, until I ran into a resident who said "Lake Forest Inc." is actually a different building several blocks away. Boy, did I feel stupid. Additionally, in another area, a woman whose home I had visited the previous day recognized me and stopped me in the street. She was driving her mother to vote. Her mother lived in a totally different area of town, and I had no idea. I called 3rd St and found out the location, but the woman and her mother didn't know where exactly it was. I hope they got there. I ran into a few people visiting the neighborhoods I was in who asked where they voted...of course, I wasn't prepared to answer. I think we should make mini maps for every precint for election day that we give out along with canvass materials, and have a map of the county precint polling locations for each precint in our pocket for these kind of issues. The focus here is particularly important for low-income areas where many people do not have cars, internet access, etc.
4. Focus on Young Voters and Low Income Voters. I know we have had some voter registration at Wrightsville Beach and I'm sure that there have been several events at UNCW. The young members of our group I'm sure have other good ideas. Chelsea is talking about having voter registration in some very cool locations around town, with music etc. that will be really successful. My husband and I did a fundraiser for Move On in 2004 called "instruments for change" at the Soap Box, with artists and musicians, we registered voters and got around $500. It was very cool and I think that will work big time. Chelsea is talking to several locations and has a zillion ideas that will make a major impact.
Regarding low income voters, which is where my heart is, I think we should have some Days on the Bus-traveling on the city buses for several hours to reach unregistered voters, and again in late Oct/early Nov to gotv. I also would like to go to the lower income neighborhoods and have some events in neighborhood lawns, ice cream and voter registration or something. How about a puppet show and lemonade for the kids. There are many very committed people all throughout these neighborhoods, and if we can get someone along Princess Pl, within some of the communities along Greenfield-and how about the grocery there? etc.-to help, I think we could be very successful on many levels, including bringing our economically and racially stratified town some hope for the future.
These are my current thoughts about voting, please share your experiences and ideas! I have signed up to host an early day Unite event on June 28. I am thinking this will work best for certain schedules, but I hope there will also be a Wilmington evening Unite event on June 28 and that we can all share information!
Our little burg has been a hotbed of political activity over the past 36 hours. Sunday night I had the privilege of watching Hillary Clinton deliver her stump speech on a glorious spring evening against the backdrop of a purple sky and the USS North Carolina. Monday afternoon I got to watch the Obama traveling medicine show along with 5,000 adoring fans at UNCW's Trask Auditorium.
Two liberal/moderate Democratic candidates, two speeches nearly identical in substance and light years apart in style.
I'd guess roughly 2000 people gathered to hear Hillary on the Federal courthouse steps, next to the Cape Fear River. We spent 45 minutes in a line that snaked along Front Street and down Market, slowly working our way to the security checkpoint. Overall, it felt like a well choreographed event, even though it was scheduled at the last possible moment and Hillary started 30 minutes late.
She was not the cold, cut-throat bitch she often appears to be on television. Hillary was surprisingly warm and personable, and had done her homework – peppering the speech with references to Wilmington and the local economy for the first five minutes.
Then she turned into a policy wonk – going into specifics about her plans for providing universal health care, giving tax breaks to lower income people, making it easier to pay for college, etc. Textbook Democratic speech-making, handing out a little treat to each constituency. Interestingly, she seemed to be running on her husband's record – hearkening back to the economic boom times of the 1990s – while skipping over things like hubby's championing of NAFTA, welfare reform, and other things that probably wouldn't sit well with her base.
It was a polished, professional speech filled with predictable applause lines (Iraq, the price of gas, saving the environment, anything to do with “the two oilmen in the White House”) but rarely personal and never truly passionate. The response was enthusiastic but not overwhelming (except for the woman next to me, who kept shrieking directly into my ear – it's still ringing).
The next day was Obama's turn. Possibly because it was held on a college campus, but most attendees seemed at least a decade younger on average. (And Obama's volunteers were much, much hotter.) Predictably the crowd was also more racially mixed, though I'd guess it was still at least two-thirds white.
Hillary is a savvy, skilled politician, but Obama is a Rock Star. Maybe because it was indoors and the crowd was larger, maybe because you had to scramble to get a ticket (this was a total pain in the ass – I tried three times and came away empty, only to have two land in my lap that morning), but the excitement in the room was visceral. The stomping, whistling, clapping, cheering crowd exploded when Obama arrived on the dot at 1 pm.
Impossibly thin, wearing a baggy white shirt and gray slacks, sleeves rolled up and tie carelessly knotted, he was the antithesis of Hillary packed into her prim and spotless pale blue suit.
On policy, Obama's speech hardly differed from Clinton's. (You can hear a recording of it here.) You could have swapped parts of hers out for his and never known the difference. But when it comes to delivery, they're from different planets.
Obama has developed a terrific rhetorical style where he starts out quietly, strolling across the stage, talking about the problems you and I share like he's in your living room, just plain folks chatting. Then gradually he builds. The volume rises, the phrasing gets crisper and more repetitive. He stops strolling and pauses, tensed in the center of the stage, punctuating the staccato rhythms of his speech with his hands.
“...and so when I decided to run it was in part because I believed that the size of our challenges had outstripped the capacity of a broken politics to solve. And I was convinced that the American people wanted something different, they wanted something new. That they were tired of a politics that was all about tearing each other down, they wanted a politics that was all about lifting the country up. I was convinced of that. I was convinced the American people didn't want spin and PR. They wanted straight talk, truthfulness and honesty from their leadership. And I was convinced that the American people no longer wanted to be divided. They didn't want to be divided by race, they didn't want to be divided by religion, they didn't want to be divided by region, they wanted to come together to solve the problems of the United States of America.”
The crowd explodes in a standing O. Then he'd wait for it to die down and do it all over again. Only now it would be about health care. Or college loans. No Child Left Behind. The housing crunch. The price of oil and global warming. The war in Iraq. Build and release, build and release.
Most of the seats directly in front of the stage were occupied by African Americans dressed for church. They were intimately familiar with this kind of rhythm and bobbed to it in call and response like they were sitting in the pew. Amen, brother. Say it, Obama. Yes We Can.
“Lately my opponents have been trying to make this election about me instead of about you. They've been trying to say, well, you know we don't know him that well, we don't know what he believes, we don't know about his values. Despite the fact I wrote two books – it's all there, what I believe, think, what my story is. I try to explain to them ... how I've seen this country open up opportunity for people who are willing to work hard. They don't expect government to solve all their problems. All they hope is there's a handle there, they can get a handle on moving up. That if they work hard, they're going be able to find a job that pays a living wage. If they work hard, they'll be able to send their child to a good school. If they work hard, they're going to be able to get health care. If they work hard they're going to be able to retire with some dignity and respect. That's why I love this country. That's the change I've seen in my life. That's what every American deserves. That's what America is all about. That's what we're fighting for in this campaign. That's why you're here today. And if you vote for me... if you stand up with me, I promise you we will not just win this nomination, we will win this general election and you and I together will change this country and change the world.”
And that's where it should have ended. But Obama stuck around to answer questions, and the energy waned. He droned a bit in some of his answers, dragging in points he'd forgotten to make in his speech. An elderly woman came to his rescue, going on about clean water and clean politics, garnering huge roars from the crowd and setting up Obama for his best line of the afternoon.
“I'd like to answer your question, but first I have a question for you,” he said. “Will you be my running mate?”
Hillary and Obama both talked about those of us victimized by the last eight years of blinding stupidity, corruption, and ineptitude, but Obama also talked about the parties who've benefited from the Bush era -- the oil companies, the pharmaceutical firms, the car makers, the financiers. He boasted how he went to Detroit to tell them they had to make more fuel efficient cars and to Wall Street to tell them they needed to tamp down their raging greed -- and how his audiences there didn't give him any standing O's. He made a clear distinction between candidates who were in the pocket of Corporate America and those, like himself, who allegedly are not.
McCain has made a deal with the devil. Hillary's big plan is to turn down the thermostat in Hell a few degrees and serve ice cream on Sundays. Obama is saying that, if we pull together, we can take on the forces of Satan and defeat them.
If elected, he will probably get smacked down. Evil has been with us a long long time. The devil has too many friends in Washington and they're on both sides of the aisle. But after hearing him speak yesterday I know at least he's going to try. And that, for me, makes all the difference.
WILMINGTON -- Sen. Barack Obama is heading to Wilmington.
The Democratic candidate for president will be the first to visit our area this campaign season.
The event will be at UNCW's Trask Coliseum at 1:00 p.m. Monday.
Doors open at 11:00 a.m. Tickets are available at the Wilmington Obama Headquarters (511 Third St.) from 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. or the New Hanover County Board of Elections (230 Government Center Dr.) from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tickets will be available for pick-up Saturday.
For more information on the event call (910) 399-1045.
Everything that Senator Obama believes in and stands for was achieved today in the great State of Delaware.
I left Pennsylvania and drove to Wilmington, Delaware where I met more than five hundred fellow Obama volunteers – a diverse crowd of every race, age, gender and background. We came together because we believe in Senator Obama’s vision; we believe in each other.
I paired up with a friend and she and I walked around the streets of Wilmington knocking on every door of a registered Democrat. One by one, we were greeted with excitement as we explained that we were from the Obama campaign. When we learned that a person had already voted earlier that day, we would ask “Did you vote for Barack Obama?,” the answer was almost always “You know I did!”
The children returning from school would spot our Obama stickers and run to us with excitement as they explained that they were voting for Obama (perhaps we can revise the voting age to include elementary students)! We handed the children of all ages Obama stickers and they wore them proudly.
One woman stopped us and explained that it wasn’t that she didn’t like Clinton. She explained, “It’s just time for a change.”
I’m excited tonight knowing that Senator Obama won Delaware because of inspiring all of us to believe in ourselves. I’m optimistic that Senator Obama will win his campaign for the presidency. Yet, I know that he and we have already won.
Senator Obama and we can take great pride in knowing that his dream is now our dream and that our dream is now the dream of the children.
Yes we can! Yes we have!
