Moms-
This has been a long journey from that cold day in Springfield almost 2 years ago when Barack Obama announced his candidacy. Are you feeling the weight of the moment like tomorrow is graduation day for your child or grandchild? Mix of pride, excitement, and worry. All the hopes and dreams and hard work is coming to a defining moment in the journey of life. After the ceremony and party the next chapter, full of promise and support, will begin.
This weekend from coast to coast Moms and our families did our part. Holding rallies (see pictures from the various ones here- http://www.obama-mamas.com/), making phone calls, knocking on doors, reminding our family and neighbors to vote, dropping food and supplies off at the local office, leading getting out the vote activities, and some even pray.
But it is not over yet. We still need to get through the day.
Hope + Action = CHANGE
Time to dig deep to find that energy we have reserved for special times. Time to use your voice - VOTE and don't stop there.
5 more ways to make a difference
-Bring someone with you to the poll so they can vote too. Family, friend, neighbor!
-Maybe there is a long line for voting. This is an opportunity to do your part and encourage folks to stay! Bring extra or drop off: food - drink / Suduko or crossword puzzles / a lawn chair / clothing if cold or an umbrella if wet! (reminder no campaigning though...)
If you already voted:
-Watch the kids while their parents vote
-Volunteer at the local office doing whatever they need
-Make phone calls. Even from home - http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/phonebankmap/
No matter who you are
or
where you are YOU can be the change.
yes Moms we can and will change the world --- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfjQujYrfEk
Mid America Mom
and the Moms for Obama
*See you after the election!
"...We need your service, right now, in this moment - our moment - in history. I'm not going to tell you what your role should be; that's for you to discover. But I am going to ask you to play your part; ask you to stand up; ask you to put your foot firmly into the current of history. I am asking you to change history's course. And if I have the fortune to be your President, decades from now - when the memory of this or that policy has faded, and when the words that we will speak in the next few years are long forgotten - I hope you remember this as a moment when your own story and the American story came together, and history bent once more in the direction of justice..." Senator Barack Obama "A Call to Serve" Iowa 12/07Change can only happen when we make it so. During this last week we hope to give you inspiration, a place to share, and ideas to make your mark on history.
********We issued a challenge last week- to make it to 115,000 calls as a group. We knew it would require a commitment and wondered if that was too much to ask. And as of this Monday morning - Moms we made 6161 calls in one week bringing us to.... 115,369!!! When did anyone think that talking on the phone would payoff ;) ?? But why stop now? So lets commit to making it to 118,000 by the end of Wednesday night! I am committing to 25 tonight after the kids are in bed.Need some tips? They have everything you need online. *******9 ways to make a difference in 9 days1. Donate2. Call3. Knock on doors (even if with little ones!. see From the Roots below)4. Travel to another state to help5. Wear your OBAMA gear6. Watch someone's kids while they voteAt a local office:7. Volunteer 8. Give (PAPER and FOOD!)9. And join a moms for obama rally near you on Saturday! List of locations: http://www.obama-mamas.com/rally.html AND http://www.obama-mamas.com/blog/?p=93
*****Did you know?Remember the 9 year old we told you about in Georgia that is going as a Ballot Box for Halloween? This kid does have an ear to the ground after all. GEORGIA, according to a recent poll, is a Toss Up! So if you live there (vote early!!!) or near please consider helping out. You can read an article about it here- http://www.ajc.com/services/content/news/stories/2008/10/25/gapres.html
Clear your schedule for a half hour on Wednesday evening at 8 ET (not sure about other time zones). Our campaign will be on TV...CBS and NBC and Fox! We have no clue what they are doing with the time but maybe they will model it after Hillary's townhall meeting on the Hallmark Channel?*******From the Roots*Jenny in Ohio responded to our last email with this: Along the Halloween theme. Two other moms and I hosted a pumpkin carving for Obama...entitled Carve a pumpkin, change our country. We invited friends and neighbors, had a fabulous time and raised, through small donations, over $1400.00! Even the ordinary can be extraordinary when we put our minds to it. *Kids and Canvassing CAN go together. From member Anne -http://my.barackobama.com/page/dashboard/public/xqfMHXK
Got a little one at home? Please canvass together in the remaining days. It can seem weird to ponder going door-to-door with a little one, but it can be REALLY effective. The following sums up the great experience I had this evening in my home state - the battleground of Virginia. The campaign is focusing on the 5-7 pm time slot in many areas - so I decided Sunday at 5pm was it.I took my 1 year old son with me to a canvassing event - just the two of us. I said I wanted to go out with another volunteer (it's more fun and safer in pairs). The person I got paired up with had been canvassing four times already. After knocking on twenty doors - with a whopping 14 or so answered, the other volunteer said that people were far more friendly and open due to seeing a little one than any of his other volunteer experiences. A few even asked if we'd bring my son back to trick-or-treat! It didn't hurt that I made sure he was visible. He was in my backpack carrier, just the right height to peer into those tall thin windows that often flank a front door and, well, be seen. We joked about how people think when their doorbell rings. One person = "selling something." Two people might = "selling religion." An older kid = "selling something for school." But a mom and child, or two parents and strollers? Well, it just disarms people, so they open the door wondering what to expect. And that's a great thing when your on the campaign trail.Having my son with me was a real plus. And he enjoyed seeing people and their Halloween decorations on a beautiful, crisp fall evening. I just showed up at the closest campaign office and they sent me to a private home "staging location" a few minutes away and not all that far from home.Juggle young kids & campaign? YES WE CAN!
*Reach out to people about early voting the EASY way.On the headquarters blog - http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/hqblog , last night two community members shared ideas on how to get the word out on EARLY Voting.We love this one from fellow Mom Dkbella - http://my.barackobama.com/page/dashboard/view/public/g4ycS I went online and found all the early vote info for the county where my office is as well as for all the counties in the metro area (Atlanta). I listed the locations/dates and also put links to each counties' elections website. I sent this info in an email to our HR guy and suggested that he send it out office-wide--to help our employees (over 500) and the company--by not having EVERYONE out on the 4th, and by saving folks time from standing in line less hours by early voting than waiting until the 4th. He sent it out with an intro about "Due to the overwhelming interest in this year's election . . ." !!! I was so proud!!! Obamakim - I Voted Early shared: When I was at the campaign office today I asked if it would be OK if I went off of regular canvassing and put an info sheet on our early voting here in Franklin County (Columbus, OH) on everyone's car in the huge apartment complex near me. They said that sounded like a great idea and they gave me a flier with all of the info for me to copy!*********MoreDid you notice that we feature a song on the group profile page? (We just took down this one- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJW67YfLWgs). Some of that music came our way by a fellow Mom! You will hear more about her in a series of blogs we have for you this week called "Lost in the economy noise". The first installment is here - here
Are you counting the time until a new President takes office? We are! You can do it literally with this clock widget - http://amyloo.com/obamacount/obamawidget.htm
*****No matter who you areor where you areYou can be the ChangeMid America Momand the Moms for Obama
This link contains a photo of Barack Obama shaking my mother's hand while in Berlin, Germany. This was an AP newswire photo that went out all over the world. My mom housed a couple of his volunteers and has been volunteering for the campaign as the German head of Democrats Abroad and from her other home in Washington, DC. Obama will be in Raleigh tomorrow, where I live. How cool would it be to show Obama shaking my hand, taken an ocean away from where this was shot? We are two generations of Obama Mamas!North Carolina is a battleground state. This could help on the publicity front. I write for three blogs and would love to cover this story through Twitter and my blogs. I bet you this is a rare opportunity to capture two moms, two generations, an ocean away stumping for Obama.
http://www.dirtandnoise.com/2008/07/obama-mama-redux.html
Two weekends to go Moms and we are FIRED UP and READY TO GO in the grassroots!
Do you believe we need a healthcare solution? Wondering if money will be coming in to pay the bills and is it enough to cover the gas and groceries? Do you want our troops home from Iraq? How badly do you want change? Then commit yourself to doing something, ONE thing for this campaign. And together we will change the world.
Think it is not possible?
*Collectively our group has made over 10,000 phones calls from home in the last 2.5 weeks! Join the army of Moms phonebanking from home for OBAMA! All it takes is a phone and this link on the site -http://my.barackobama.com/page/votercontact/landing Please take one hour before Monday to make calls and help the group reach a goal of 115,000.
*12 people ranging from early 20's to retirees gathered together last Saturday in the back parking lot of a local coffee shop in Northern IL. They ate a few donuts, piled into cars, and headed to a town outside Madison, Wisconsin for a day of door to door canvassing. The local office was ready and packed for the 70 volunteers that showed. My partner and I took one list and made 33 contacts, 16 for Obama, 8 undecided, and 8 voting for another. I do not know about you but I love this result. We are sure to get some of those undecideds! And one woman was so excited to see us that she rushed to her door. She is one dedicated supporter- she has an Obama sign at work! These stories are ones that I cherish. If you live in or near a swing state they would love your help with making these one on one connections! Never done it? I am sure they can pair you with a veteran.
*******
Use your voice- VOTE EARLY! Then November fourth use that time to
CALL 25 people,
DRIVE 3 to the polls,
or WATCH the KIDS of another MOM while she does.
31 states offer NO excuse early voting. Many are open for it now or soon will be. States are AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, ME, MT, NE, NV, NM, NC, ND, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WV, WI, and WY. Those in OR remember to put your ballot in the mail!
Creative ways to reach people!
-- Talk to a telemarketer about Obama? YES! Bobi shares..
Over the past several weeks, I have actually looked forward to picking up my phone and find a random telemarketing salesperson. Why you ask? Because I listen to their pitch and then I turn the conversation into the current economy/issues and how hard things are for everyone. Majority of the time this takes the conversation into the elections and why Barack Obama should be our next President. We are all working so hard on being the one to initiate the persuasion phone calls that we sometimes overlook the obvious that we have a wonderful tool in telemarketing people calling us. Next time you receive that random phone call, take a few minutes to listen to them, persuade them, confirm their vote and better yet, get them to volunteer.
-- Remind people of early voting! Sylva encourages us to call, TEXT, email, IM your friends and family with "Did you vote today?"
-- Are you in Alaska this weekend? Here is part of a note we received from some Moms up there:
Dear Alaska Women for Obama, Your voices are needed one more time -- and for just one hour!This Saturday from 11am - noon, Alaska Women for Obama *wants to have a huge photo op in support of the Obama-Biden ticket.. This is our last organized event to show women outside that women in Alaska support OBAMA!!! And we know the votes cast by women are going to make all the difference in this election. This message will be used in key battleground states. We have red, white, and blue materials to *create a giant Alaska for Obama logo on the Park Stripand we have plans to have pictures and film taken from the top floor of a nearby building. We are lucky to have some really talented film and video people helping us with this-and people who have done this before. The end product is going to be amazing!We've measured the area, laid out the design and we've done the math. Now all we need is you!! We think we'll need at least 100 people to make it work. We need to know by Friday night whether we will have enough people. Please RSVP to geran@chugach.net as soon as possible. Note - Please wear black pants or dark pants if you can. It will help us emphasize the red, white and blue... For the Anchorage event, Meet at L and 9^th at 10:45 a.m (a church is across the street on one side and the Hawthorn Suites on the other). We'll have coffee and hot cocoa available. We'll order sunshine too! Dress warmly, and again, please RSVP to geran@chugach.net
******
Halloween and the campaign. They DO go together.
The other day I wandered into a local costume store with my two little ones. They were already sold out of McCain and Obama masks. I did not ask who was more popular but I like to think Obama is ;)
Speaking of costumes- yesterday I came across an article of a campaign costume idea from a 9 year old in Georgia in the Atlanta Journal Constitution- http://www.ajc.com/services/content/atlanta-holiday-guide/stories/2008/10/22/halloween_ballot_box.html . They will be releasing the "results" later that night.
Anne-Kristine put an event out there "pumpkin carvers 4 obama" - http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gsxv7q encouraging people to carve pumpkins and wear shirts in support of our candidate. Search the campaign website for a template.
Have some Obama stickers? Stick'em on the candy you are passing out.
JOIN us for the Moms for Obama National Rally Day on November 1. We are getting out there and STANDING for CHANGE! A note from Louise on the event-- Hope everyone is doing well! Everyone is so busy all over the country. You all are SO amazing! From the big rallies to the small rallies and all rallies in between, we are busy planning and organizing and together, we are going to make a difference on Election Day!Rally Day is going to be such an amazing event. There are over 17 rallies planned. We continue to receive requests from new moms interested in planning a rally in their town! As more people are turning to the mom vote, we are getting quite a bit of attention and other moms are taking notice and getting involved. Many of the rallies have received dozens of inquiries in recent days from moms who want to help plan or attend and have heard through the grapevine about the Moms for Obama National Rally Day.You all have such great ideas – there are going to be clowns, popcorn machines, face painting, coloring areas, special songs, musical groups, amazing speakers and so much more! It just shows how much we can do when we get together and work towards a goal! Do you want to be involved? Check out the information here- www.obama-mamas.com
JOIN us for the Moms for Obama National Rally Day on November 1. We are getting out there and STANDING for CHANGE!
A note from Louise on the event--
Hope everyone is doing well! Everyone is so busy all over the country. You all are SO amazing! From the big rallies to the small rallies and all rallies in between, we are busy planning and organizing and together, we are going to make a difference on Election Day!
Rally Day is going to be such an amazing event. There are over 17 rallies planned. We continue to receive requests from new moms interested in planning a rally in their town! As more people are turning to the mom vote, we are getting quite a bit of attention and other moms are taking notice and getting involved. Many of the rallies have received dozens of inquiries in recent days from moms who want to help plan or attend and have heard through the grapevine about the Moms for Obama National Rally Day.
You all have such great ideas – there are going to be clowns, popcorn machines, face painting, coloring areas, special songs, musical groups, amazing speakers and so much more! It just shows how much we can do when we get together and work towards a goal!
Do you want to be involved? Check out the information here- www.obama-mamas.com
Anyone holding an election night party? If so please post an event on the site and click on the Moms for Obama box to add it to our event list. A few members already have one planned. This will be one memorable night!
Moms
where you are
you can be the change
Governor Sarah Palin’s Office Refuses to Accept Letter from America’s Moms
MomsRising.org Attempts to Deliver Letter Asking Governor’s Positions on Family-Friendly Issues
See pictures of the attempted delivery here
Fifteen DC-area moms and MomsRising.org Executive Director Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner were turned away this afternoon when they attempted to deliver a letter to Governor Sarah Palin asking her to share her positions on issues like health care, paid sick days and flexible work options. The group was attempting to deliver the letter to the State of Alaska office in Washington, DC.
The letter was signed by nearly 22,000 moms, dads and others from across the United States who would like to know what a McCain/Palin administration would do to support America’s families.
“We are extremely disappointed that we were not even allowed to deliver this letter today,” said Rowe-Finkbeiner. “Health care, paid sick days, paid family leave and afterschool programs are among the issues that are top-of-mind for many families. We were told that we need to mail in our letter and we’re going to do that. We are still counting on Governor Palin to respond to us. ”
The letter says in part:
“It was dazzling to see a mom on the stage at the Republican convention accepting the Vice Presidential nomination. There are too few mothers in the boardrooms and high levels of political office. As members of MomsRising.org we celebrate your path from PTA to Vice Presidential candidate, but we didn't hear much in your speech about what you and your party will do for mothers and families.
“… Our nation can’t afford to ignore the issues of mothers and families any longer. We want to know where you stand on the issues which are critical to mothers like healthcare, fair pay, paid family and medical leave, afterschool programs, childcare/early learning, paid sick days, and flexible work options.
“With now three-quarters of American mothers in the labor force, but a societal structure which hasn’t caught up to that modern reality, we, as a nation, are at a crisis point for our families. Bottom Line: Mothers want to ensure the well-being of their families. No mother should have to choose between taking care of a sick child and feeding her child. And no mother should have to choose between taking her child to the doctor and paying rent.
“Governor Palin, if elected Vice President of the United States, how will you support mothers and families?”
The full text is available on the MomsRising.org web site at www.momsrising.org. MomsRising.org will mail the letter to Governor Palin’s four regional offices, her Washington, DC office and McCain/Palin campaign offices.
The letter is part of MomsRising.org’s MomsVote ’08 effort, which includes Get-Out-the-Vote activities, debate watches, voter registration and educating the candidates about issues that matter to America’s families, like paid family leave, flexible work options, afterschool programs, health care for all children and affordable child care.
___________________________________________________
Moms Need to be Heard
The MomsRising. org team has written five questions we'd like to see posed to both Palin and Biden in that debate (see the questions below (2)). Let's get these questions to the debate moderator so the American public gets a chance to hear both candidates, side-by-side, answering the same questions.When you click the link above, you'll send a message to Gwen Ifill and cc both of the presidential campaigns to let them know that over 21,000 voters want to hear them talk about these issues (which impact millions of Americans) at the debate.Tell your friends to email Gwen Ifill, too! She needs to know how deeply important these issues are for millions of Americans--and that we demand they be addressed now!Thank you!--Kristin, Joan, Mary, Katie, Laura, Roz, Ashley, and the entire MomsRising. org Team1. MomsRising members are tracking all of the candidates' speeches, tallying any mention of issues that impact moms. See their tallies at www. momsrising. org/candidatesbingo. If you plan to watch the presidential debate tomorrow, September 26th, you can tally the issues, too! Get your scorecard at www. momsrising. org/bingocard -- and keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved as the campaigns continue!2. Our questions:* Right now, the birth of a child is the number one cause of a "poverty spell" in America, and 1/4 of families with young children are living in poverty. Do you support a policy to provide paid family and medical leave to parents following birth or adoption of a new child?* Nearly 1/2 of all full-time, private sector workers in the U.S. have no paid sick days. Do you support a policy to provide paid sick days for workers to use when they or their children get sick?* In most American families, both parents work outside the home. Please tell us what your administration would do to help parents secure excellent, affordable childcare?* Studies show that moms are paid 73 cents and single moms are paid about 60 cents to the dollar for doing the exact same job as men. Do you support the Fair Pay Restoration Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act? * A child is born every 41 seconds without healthcare. What kind of Health Care Policy could Americans expect in your administration?
Saturday I visited the KEYSTONE state... an electoral key to CHANGE. Loaded up the two kids and my husband in the car and drove. It was our first major trip since the BIG MOVE and here we were going back to the states! So what did we do? Canvass for this campaign.
For us this campaign is a family affair. My husband is also a supporter and though my girls are 2 and 4- they are campaign veterans. They have been to a caucus, kids for obama playdates, parade going... canvassing. When we got in the car this time they wished we were going to a parade but they were pleased we went canvassing. So 4 hours and a border crossing later we were in Erie- that place on the lake in upstate Western PA.
Great office. A former restaurant. It had plenty of decorated windows and light.
Outdoor music! They did an Obama mix on those speakers. Even some Obama inspired music-- A Reggae song from Coco Tea played. Inside I found plenty of space and well organized. And it was packed when we got there. We came to a Women for Obama rally! I estimate around 100- mainly women (many Moms!) were there.
Also a the local CBS TV station was taking footage. We listened to uplifting speeches and met some of the local leaders, and heard from those running for office. Included was a prep on how engage in conversation at someone's door.
Afterwards many stayed to work. Some went to the computers, others called people, and then yes some took packets to knock on doors, in pairs. I was interviewed by the tv crew -- here is the coverage (I am the one with bad hair at the end) LINK . I made my way to getting a walk list via a line! We were given a packet that seemed light at 36 doors. But it was just right for the kids.
Getting to the route is always a challenge but armed with a GPS and sent to an older part of town it was no issue. This area has seen better days. This working class neighborhood had some homes boarded up or vacant, few needed major repairs to the roof or siding, and the sidewalks were uneven and hard to walk on at times. It was hard pushing a stroller.
My two would help ring and knock. They also would place literature underneath front door mats.
This list was people who we did not yet know who they were voting for. And the response was great. Of who shared- 3 committed to Obama, 2 leaning, and 3 undecided. NONE leaned elsewhere. The best conversation was toward the end. We met a kid on their way out a door and their mother came out. She sat down on the porch while my kids picked her dandelions and my husband and I spoke to her. This stay at home soon to be grandma, Navy Veteran, was OBAMA all the way. Though we did not get her pinned down to a volunteer shift she did know where to go and knew someone that was. I left hopeful that she would.
What am I hearing? People have had ENOUGH. They want to trust in the promise of a better future and want something better than what we've got.
So was the 7 hour round trip to work for CHANGE worth it? My husband enjoyed the conversations and our girls had a nice time outside and loved working with the literature. We talked to 8 people that had not talked to our campaign before. Based on that one conversation with the Veteran I say YES.
And if you want to see just how much America needs CHANGE just knock on some doors! Change comes from the roots and it only happens when we rise up to the challenge.
Art on the wall of ERIE PA Obama office
you can be the change.
Moms for Obama
I have a friend and neighbor whose son will be shipping off to Afghanistan within a few weeks. Her 2 sons are friends with and the same age as my 2 sons (now 18 and 23). Recently, she and I had a little time to reflect on the fact that she won't be seeing him for at least 12 months now. I told her that they are in our thoughts and prayers, and that we are always here for them.
Our discussion eventually found politics and debate on Obama versus McCain. I told her that at age 44, I will be putting a sign in our yard and on our car for the VERY first time ever; that I had contributed to a political campaign (Obama's) for the VERY first time ever; that I was learning and trying hard to more memorably absorb information about the race, the candidates, and the parties from sources like MSNBC, PBS and NPR; and that I was planning on getting more actively involved in the coming weeks as the campaigns go into high gear.
She was impressed, so that was a good thing...but as I listened to her thoughts about McCain being the best answer for enlisted personnel and their families, I found myself thinking that if she's thinking this way and her son isn't even over there just yet, how many other military moms are also thinking this way, and what is the most efficient and satisfying way to overcome their argument?
That then got me pondering on just how much access the Republican party now has to communicate directly "to" (not "with") fellow Americans who are enlisted. The facts and the fairness can be debated later, but the question remains as to whether or not we are we reaching out strongly and solidly enough to this swollen population and making the message clear that "those children" will be much BETTER OFF WITH OBAMA as President, and that McCain would not only bring more of the same, but that he would also bring a MUCH HIGHER liklihood of keeping "US" in harm's way for a much longer period of time? And quite possibly sending them to ADDITIONAL locations as well? Which could then quite possibly lead to the need to reinstate the draft?
I explained that I had watched PBS's, "Bush's War", and the newly released biographies of the candidates on MSNBC. I told her that after watching all the history, there is a clear and separately distinct line between Obama and McCain. Obama has always been striving to find answers, to make sense of things and create soltuions that would inspire actions. How could McCain, having been born into such a "wholistic" military family, ever look at life (or anything, for that matter) in the same way as someone like Obama? How could we as a Nation ever purposefully decide we want a WAR-minded President versus and Open-minded one? How could McCain's personal POW experience not somehow transpire into a truly HUMAN need for some kind of retaliatory action? Wouldn't the President be presented with situations where that type of PERSONAL experience could be or become potentially dangerious and/or a possible conflict of interest?
I told her that I had a true feeling of fear for our Country if McCain were ever elected. I confessed that because I never truly thought Bush would get rewarded with a second term, I didn't participate and pay very much attention because I was busy and I just thought we were smarter than that (and that everyone thought like I did...) I explained that this was why I was taking our current election so seriously, and learning as much as I could, and bringing up the topic as often as possible among my friends, family and neighbors.
My Military Mom friend remains open to further discussion with me, as I remain committed to finding her the right answers for her to sway her opinion and get her and her family to VOTE FOR OBAMA and do so assuredly in the peace of mind that it is THE RIGHT THING TO DO in order to help ensure her son's safe and rapid return home from duty.
Suggestions are welcome and appreciated!!
Obama will cut income taxes by $1,000 for working families to offset the payroll tax they pay.
I'm just your common, everyday mom. Not a soccer mom, or a hockey mom, or any other sport or afterschool activity mom for that matter. Not that my three children didn't participate in extracurricular activites, they did. Nor does it have any bearing that my youngest is now in her Sophmore year of college. I simply don't need the qualifier. I am a mom and as such, I have a lot in common with other mothers.
As a parent and grandparent, I share a common thread with others like me. We have a stake in the future of this nation. Heck, I'm only fifty. I'm hoping I have a personal stake in the next 20 or 30 years to be honest. Yet is my children and grandchildren I think of most when I think of global economy, the environmet, social policies and healthcare.
I want my grandchildren to have good teachers in safe schools where they receive an essential education that prepares them for meeting life's challenges. I want their early education to be a foundation that will serve any ability, whether that be for trade and technology or professions requiring graduate degrees. If they so choose to enter a profession requiring higher education, I want that education to be affordable and I am in favor of service for education opportunities . I want my own children to be able to complete their higher educations without drowning under the burcen of debts that are equal to a home mortgage and still rising.
I want affordable equal health care for anybody who needs it and I believe that it is achievable without a significant increase in taxes on the middle class.
I want an end to special interest and lobbyists influencing the laws and policies of our country. I want an end to Big Oil corporations and those who hold shares in them blocking technology for more fuel efficient trasportation and energy initiatives. I want an end to Big Pharmaseutical corporations blocking scientific advances that would save lives and lower the cost of health care and insurance for everybody. I would like to see uniformity in healthcare billing - the same price for the same procedures/treatments everywhere, billed to everybody, with or without insurance and regardless of whom the insurance provider might be.
I want equal and fair pay for equal jobs.
I want leaders in government who feel a sense of community and service, here at home, and whenever possible in their dealing with other nations, leaders who will first extend a hand of cooperation and respect, yet be prepared to to protect and defend when necessary. Leaders who will create a strong defense, but use it judiciously.
I believe that Brarak Obama stands for these values and will serve his nation with intelligence, hard work and respect. I'm voting for Barak Obama for President of the United States. I hope you will too.
via feministing
As was pointed out by puppyfist and Kinderplatz in comments, Sarah Palin isn't exactly supportive when it comes to teen moms who aren't her daughter. She slashed funding for Passage House, a transitional home for teenage mothers that gives young women a place to "live with their babies for up to eighteen months while they gain the necessary skills and resources to change their lives."
Michelle Cottle at The Plank has the story.
It is the morning after the opening remarks of the 2008 Democratic National Convention, and my eyes still burn from the tears shed last night. Speeches and presentations rich with history, and making history, before our eyes were such a moving sight. I could see that even some of the usual stoic news anchors and commentators developed flushed noses and tear-rimmed eyes as the stage makeup faded and the minutes passed. It isn't the first time I've cried during this campaign, and I know it won't be the last. In fact, it was a reminder to pull out my "crying towel" for our Convention Watch Party this coming Thursday evening.
My green towel with the character "Eeyore" embroidered on one side, was given to me as a Christmas gift from a direct "disciple" of Saul Alinsky (credited as a pioneer of grassroots community organizing today) after my third year as a community organizer. Up until the presentation of this gift, I had not known that five years prior, my pastor had pointed me out to my future mentors at a church service where I happened to tearfully ask for prayers for a friend's mother. At the time, he and his spouse (also a seasoned organizer) said, "You must be joking, she's such a cry-baby!" Even worse, there was doubt all the way around that I could handle such demands of time with a preteen, preschooler, spouse and fulltime job. Still, they kept enough of an open mind to "talk-story" with me and challenge me to take a mix of baby-steps, with a few leaps and bounds, into their world... tears, fears and all.
This is not only a story of what is possible, but another illustration of what a family can do when they support each other to reach their goals with little more than a bit of faith in things not yet seen. My tears of joy this week are for the Obama Ohana (family) who share this faith in each and every one of us!
I spent all day today yesterday thinking that it was Monday. This is just one of the side effects of spending a long weekend in the woods with no television and no news. I think that, on some level, I expected to come home after my camping trip to find that something momentous had happened and that I had missed it. Instead, almost everything is as I left it. I guess that's why it seemed so much like today yesterday, the first day of my week, had to be monday and like I still had plenty of time to get ready for the first actual Dayton Mamas for Obama volunteer shift. I was even trying to schedule a playdate for tomorrow today with family friends. Oops!
It looks like our first kid-friendly volunteer session will be small. But that's ok. We'll build in size with word of mouth and will find the right niche for moms in this campaign. I received a call today from one of the Obama staffers at the Dayton office asking me to contact a couple of potential volunteers to talk to them about the Mamas for Obama idea and ways that they can be involved. I'm hoping that with a little time, but not too much, we'll be able to build something substantial.
I had hoped to have time to write up a detailed post, but I didn't get home tonight until late and then had some computer problems. At this point, I'm sleep typing, so I hope I don't wake up in the morning to discover that I've posted a promise to auction off my daughter in support of the Obama campaign. (Not that it is never tempting, but I suspect that one or more of her grandparents would object and I'd probably come to regret it...) I do, however, want to post something about the meeting so I'll say that it was small, but productive and that we have scheduled our first kid/mom-friendly volunteer session for next Wednesday, the 23rd of July, from 1-4 at the Obama campaign headquarters. There will be some form of semi-structured plan to appease the kids, story time, coloring pages, crafts, something and as soon as I'm more aware of the details, I'll post an event notice like the one that I did for the meeting.
My son is interracial. His father is Black(African American/Native American.. most likely some white too).. I am white (Italian/Ukrainian). I have always heard from people that mixed kids are a bunch of 'mixed nuts.' They never get a god feel for who they are, where they come from or where they want to go. I, myself know that to be false of course... but it's difficult to explain to others who are biggoted by history, hate and the unknown. This is one of the reasons I revel in Barack's success and the way he carries himself in honest, engaging thoughtfulness. There is no way Barack is a 'mixed nut'.
I am not saying bi-racial children don't have times where they sit back and question themselves - but who doesn't? And who needs people telling them how 'different and confused' they should feel?
I felt all my life I wanted to be something other than white... making sure I always described my 'whiteness' in it's entirety... 'I am half Italian and hald Ukrainian'.. as much as to say- "I am the kind of white that isn't really white.." (where I come from people of other races used to tell me I wasn't 'really white' and I took it and ran with it..) I have been ashamed of being white as long as I can remember... because I always had friends of other races- friends who educated me on parts of history not always recorded in the history books.. and I'd think 'My God... I can't be part of that race!'
Later, as I got older I realized that I was responsible for me... my guilt shouldn't come from the past.. it should be in how I interact and handle myself today... Today I know I am me.. just plain old me.. I can have the luxury of saying that because for all intents and purposes- I am white.
For black people, it tends to be different just because no matter how many people really don't look at race, or stereotype, or hate... there are some that do and maybe always will. The highest threshhold for our country is the President of the USA... Commander and Chief.. you can tell your kids all day they can be anything in this world they want to be - EVEN President of the USA.... and white little boys could believe it. Now for the first time- so can other races... to me, most coincidentally- it happens to be an interracial man .
Would Barack be Barack if he were all African.. or all Caucasian? I don't think so.. I believe the man was open to a path he got because of his heritage as well as his intelliect, hard work, mannerisms and because he was so loved.
This is just one of the MANY reasons Barack has my vote and my heart...
