Port St. Lucie, August 12, 2009 – Press Release
Port St. Lucie, FL - On Saturday, August 29, Iduka Corporation will hold its inaugural “Little Black Dress Party for College Affordability” event in Port St. Lucie to bring members of the community together to show support for college students with varying financial needs. The event will take place in Saint Lucie West at Elements Martini Bar, 2096 NW Courtyard Circle, Port St. Lucie, FL 34986.
Online registration is available at http://www.iduka.citymax.com/events1.html. Pre-registered participants will pay $5 at the door, all other attendees without RSVP will pay $10 donation for entry. The event will begin at 6:00 p.m. Drink specials and finger food will be served until 10:00 p.m. Ladies in black dresses are eligible to win prizes! Ladies get one free drink. Please register early, as space is limited!
Iduka Corporation is a non-profit organization that has a pending application for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status. Our mission is to promote college affordability by connecting students with lenders, schools, and community service organizations through an Internet based micro-loan program.
Our goal is to provide students and their families one more financial tool to help them in their pursuit of higher education. We make this possible by offering an innovative plan based in a Web-based micro-lending system that connects students with lenders, and incorporates, whenever possible, student volunteerism as a mean for students to pay back their loans.
Media contact:
Darlene Craddock
darlene.craddock@iduka.org
772-284-6455
www.iduka.org
www.iduka.citymax.com
www.facebook.com/iduka.microloans
Article from the ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 'Hope' springs anew for Washington University grad students
November 19, 2008 -- Carianne Noga, a graduate student of art at Washington University, ties tags of hope onto a sculpture outside the University City Post-Office. Noga and fellow student Maya Escobar started soliciting people's hopes to place on the sculpture. (Christian Gooden/P-D) By Margaret Gillerman ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH 11/29/2008
UNIVERSITY CITY — Georgia O'Keeffe found inspiration in the light and shapes of New Mexico.
Mary Cassatt found hers in mothers and children.
Maya Escobar and Carianne Noga, two graduate students at Washington University's Sam Fox School of Art and Design, found inspiration for their latest project from the long lines on Election Day at a Ben and Jerry's ice cream shop in the Loop.
There, on the sidewalk outside the shop, which was giving away scoops of ice cream to voters, the two women felt excitement and hope among voters. They said they found that same feeling across the street in the long line of voters waiting to vote at the Loop polling place.
Before the polls closed, they had begun to create their "I hope…" project.
They first staked out a site: outside the University City Post Office at 561 Kingsland Avenue.
They then provided people with bright red tags and paint markers for them to write down their hopes for a better future.
The tags then are affixed to a permanent lattice wood sculpture already on site outside the Post Office.
"As difficult as it can be sometimes to voice our wishes and dreams, it can be strengthening," the artists say in explaining their mission. "We can be reminded of the rest of the world outside our own immediate concerns. In this period of great change and near infinite possibilities, it is time for us to voice our hopes."
While the project is for all people, Escobar said it holds special meaning for young people.
"This is our moment to make a difference for our communities," Escobar said. "We need to be aware — of our national situation, of the economy."
Many of the hopes expressed — most recorded anonymously — so far are noble and universal: "I hope for world peace" and "My hope is that hate is no longer."
Some of the hopes are personal. "I hope to not fear death," wrote one.
Others have a distinctly political bent: "I hope we get out of Iraq and don't go to war with Iran." And some are just fun, like the person hoping for "chocolate cake for dessert ..."
A University City police officer named Hope — Reginald Hope — shared with them his own hope: for safety for police officers. A fellow officer was killed while on duty near the Loop last month.
Washington University Chancellor Mark Wrighton gave his hope and "wishes for better health and greater prosperity for all."
The artists also are encouraging people to submit their hopes online at togetherwehope.com.
[click here for full story]
PLEASE VISIT HTTP://TOGETHERWEHOPE.COM AND SHARE YOUR HOPES FOR THE FUTURE
http://www.theledger.com/article/20081024/NEWS/810240405
I am Krystal Greene, or as the article states, Krystal Green. As the article states, I was attending Florida State University. To even get accepted to FSU was amazing. It was difficult, but it was something to work for. One day I got a call from my mom that her car had been reposessed. She couldn't get to work, and didn't know what to do. I was 4 hours away and I felt so helpless. A few weeks later she fell behind on her mortgage. I couldn't stand being that far from here with her stress levels being so high. I was scared she was going to have a stroke or heart attack. My fiance' and I made the decision to move back home to Lakeland and try to help her. About one month later she got the foreclosure papers, and I have yet to find a job. Now I am going to community college, and riding out what is left of my scholarship. My parents credit is worse than mine, and I cannot get student loans. Once my scholarship runs out I will have to postpone college to work and save up for tuition. I am not ashamed of that, it is simply what has to be done. If anything, it has made me determined to make a change and vote for the man who can see my struggle, not the one who is completely out of touch with my situation. I'm frustrated, angry, but determined.
Early Voting is easy for college students in Iowa. Click here to find your early voting location right now.
Young voters: You have our attention By Samantha Miller The Gazette IOWA CITY — Four hundred and sixty-eight people, mostly University of Iowa students, lined up outside the early voting site in the Old Capitol Town Center on Monday.Meanwhile, 218 people voted at Mayflower Residence Hall as a full schedule of daily satellite voting kicked off in Johnson County, the county Auditor’s Office reported. A galvanized student population is demonstrating fervor rivaling what it showed during last year’s city election here, when a proposed 21-and-older bar ordinance was defeated, largely because of a passionate student voting base.The Gazette interviewed 30 UI students leading up to tonight’s final presidential debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama and 29 people said they will vote in the Nov. 4 election. The who’s and whys, however, greatly varied.“Obviously, since we’re the future generation, it’s our responsibility,” said freshman Marit Berg, 18, of Waukesha, Wis. Berg voted for Obama at the Old Capitol Town Center site.Four of every five eligible voters ages 18 to 24 is registered to vote in Johnson County going into this week. They comprised 21,471 voters, up from 18,485, or 68.5 percent of the eligible 18- to 24year-olds, last year.That’s a staggering number, even by standards in Johnson County, which has a liberal university town, where political activity usually is high and people are inundated by political commercials and brochures.“It’s an interesting place,” said Lisa Allen, deputy auditor of elections in the county. Interestingly, several students planning to vote still have not determined for whom. For many, the economy will be a main factor.Freshman Seth Mosbrucker, 19, of Bettendorf, said, “I’m going to vote for the person who I think will best suit the economy right now.” He added, “I want my money.” UI freshman Maggie O’Brien, 18, of Crystal Lake, Ill., said she doesn’t feel she understands enough, especially economic issues, yet to make an informed decision.“Right now I’m just trying to take everything into consideration so that I understand,” she said. “I just want to make sure I know everything.” Undecided Nick Westlund, a 19-year-old sophomore from Cedar Rapids, said, “I’m definitely trying to pay more attention this election, and that’s why I want to be sure I’m voting for someone who’s representing my ideas.” Obama supporters said he’ll bring change, though what that change represents varied among students.Daniel Smith, 22, a Minden junior, said he wants to see change in the government.Andrew Weber, 18, an Iowa City freshman, said Obama’s different from many politicians because “he’s not necessarily about America being the best, but about America trying to be a team player.”
IOWA CITY — Four hundred and sixty-eight people, mostly University of Iowa students, lined up outside the early voting site in the Old Capitol Town Center on Monday.
Meanwhile, 218 people voted at Mayflower Residence Hall as a full schedule of daily satellite voting kicked off in Johnson County, the county Auditor’s Office reported. A galvanized student population is demonstrating fervor rivaling what it showed during last year’s city election here, when a proposed 21-and-older bar ordinance was defeated, largely because of a passionate student voting base.
The Gazette interviewed 30 UI students leading up to tonight’s final presidential debate between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama and 29 people said they will vote in the Nov. 4 election. The who’s and whys, however, greatly varied.
“Obviously, since we’re the future generation, it’s our responsibility,” said freshman Marit Berg, 18, of Waukesha, Wis. Berg voted for Obama at the Old Capitol Town Center site.
Four of every five eligible voters ages 18 to 24 is registered to vote in Johnson County going into this week. They comprised 21,471 voters, up from 18,485, or 68.5 percent of the eligible 18- to 24year-olds, last year.
That’s a staggering number, even by standards in Johnson County, which has a liberal university town, where political activity usually is high and people are inundated by political commercials and brochures.
“It’s an interesting place,” said Lisa Allen, deputy auditor of elections in the county. Interestingly, several students planning to vote still have not determined for whom. For many, the economy will be a main factor.
Freshman Seth Mosbrucker, 19, of Bettendorf, said, “I’m going to vote for the person who I think will best suit the economy right now.” He added, “I want my money.” UI freshman Maggie O’Brien, 18, of Crystal Lake, Ill., said she doesn’t feel she understands enough, especially economic issues, yet to make an informed decision.
“Right now I’m just trying to take everything into consideration so that I understand,” she said. “I just want to make sure I know everything.” Undecided Nick Westlund, a 19-year-old sophomore from Cedar Rapids, said, “I’m definitely trying to pay more attention this election, and that’s why I want to be sure I’m voting for someone who’s representing my ideas.” Obama supporters said he’ll bring change, though what that change represents varied among students.
Daniel Smith, 22, a Minden junior, said he wants to see change in the government.
Andrew Weber, 18, an Iowa City freshman, said Obama’s different from many politicians because “he’s not necessarily about America being the best, but about America trying to be a team player.”
From the right-wing e-publication NewsMax.com.
A new poll released Monday says young voters pick Barack Obama over John McCain. The poll by USA Today, MTV and Gallup finds that 75% of young people are registered to vote and among youth voters Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama has a two-to-one lead over Republican candidate Senator John McCain.
Sixty three percent of respondents say they'd vote for Obama today vs. 30 percent who would vote for McCain - an overwhelming edge and the biggest generational gap between two candidates ever seen since exit polling began in 1976.
Increasing turnout among young voters in 2004, 2006 and in the 2008 primaries indicates to many analysts that young people will be out in force in November, despite the perception that this demographic consists of unreliable voters.
Their strongly Democratic partisan bent could be good news for Democrats for years to come, given that political attitudes in past elections have shaped partisanship through voters' lifetimes.
Regardless of which side of the aisle young voters fall on, 82 percent agree that this election is among the most critical in recent history. The USA Today/MTV/Gallup poll finds that young voters see Obama as much more likely to understand their lives and share their priorities. He's also the one they'd rather sit down and have a beer with, have as their teacher or report to as their boss.
Read more:
http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/young_voters_poll/2008/10/06/137679.html
I’ve often heard less than exemplary critiques of my generation, the baby-boomer’s babies. “They don’t care, they’re apathetic, they take everything for granted, they’re lazy, they have no work-ethic, no drive, no inspiration”. Did it ever occur to them that we were waiting for someone to inspire us? Tonight, I’m here to say that we do care. That we care perhaps more than any generation before us. I am sick of politics the way Washington, D.C. plays it. Whatever happened to working together, to recognizing the problems and trying to find solutions, instead just arguing over who’s to blame?
I want to be part of an America that is respected around the world as a moral leader, as a beacon of freedom and hope and innovation. An America that fights for her citizens. For their healthcare and education and their civil liberties. I want to be part of an America who upholds her promises of religious freedom, of freedom of speech, of freedom of the press, of freedom that brings us together in the cause for justice, instead of tearing us apart. And when America calls her military into service – our brothers and sisters and best friends – I want her to be honest about what they’re fighting and dying for. Considering how many countries around the world that are steeped in bloodshed and chaos and decades of injustice, I want an America that fights because it’s the best and last resort. Not because of oil or policy or to pay-off weapons contracts or please fundraisers and special interest lobbyists.
I want to be part of an America that remembers her dream. The dream where success is not dependent on how much money you have, but how willing you are to work for it. The dream of sending our children to college, of not worrying whether or not you’ll be able to buy the groceries your family needs, of turning down chemo because you’re insurance doesn’t cover the treatment or medication. I want to be part of an America that takes back our role as an environmental leader. This is it. There isn’t going to be a second or third or fourth chance. Now is the time for change. Now is the time to make the difference. It won’t be easy. But it’s never been easy.
Yes We Can!
On Wednesday, September 24th, GO-IDAHO hosted a meet ‘n’ greet mixer for students and young adults, and we had a great time. Due to the excellent hospitality afforded to us by the owners of the Melting Pot, we took over the patio for a warm, fall evening full of wine, cheese fondue, and politicking! We always know an event like that is a success when people are walking in off the street just because they saw our signs and wanted to become a part of the movement.
Some local supporters voiced their diverse opinions on why it matters so much to them that we elect Barack Obama:
- “As a student, it’s very important to me that we have a president who understands how hard it is to pay for college these days. I think more than any other candidate in my lifetime, Barack Obama knows what it’s like to be fresh out of college looking at a painful student loan debt.” – Justine, Student at Boise State University
- “The thing that drew me the most to Obama is his stance on immigration. When I listen to him, I can tell that he has lived outside the country and understands how hard it can be for families to be torn apart by a broken system.” – Chryssa, Advertising Professional
- “I support Barack Obama because we all need a breath of fresh air!” – Jenny, Student at Boise State University
- “I support Barack Obama because no candidate in my voting life has ever made me think he or she is really for the American people until now. He doesn’t take money from corporate fat cats who want to own his administration. He really will lead this country in a direction that favors its citizens - and he actually will do it, and he will CHANGE this country.” Lisa, Community Organizer
- “The reason I support Barack Obama is because he's inspirational at a time when people need a leader, not someone to fix their problems, but someone to inspire them to work harder, do more, use less, and come together to make a greater America.” Ahmad, IT Specialist
Sound like fun? We’d love to see you plan some other events in your own area of Idaho. Planning and hosting an event is easier than you’d think! Through the use of various new media tools (including my.barackobama.com, facebook, and myspace), we spread the word effectively and had a strong group of supporters. These supporters met other, like-minded young people and learned of some great upcoming canvasses and other campaign events in which they could get involved. If you’d like to get involved with GO-IDAHO, or would just like information on how to start your own group, you can find us through any of the following means:
1. Check my.barackobama.com to find, post, and host local events to support Obama;
2. Check our grassroots site, which has been active for longer than most of our volunteers and continues to keep timely updates: www.idahoforobama.org;
3. Join the GO-IDAHO myspace page at www.myspace.com/idahogo; and
4. Find our facebook page by searching Groups for “Generation Obama Idaho.”
GO-IDAHO's Mission Statement: As the next generation of civic, political, and social leaders in Idaho, we between the ages of 18 and 35 have the unique responsibility of framing the future of our remarkable state. The mission of the Idaho chapter of Generation Obama (GO-IDAHO) is to harness the enthusiasm and awareness that Barack Obama has brought to the young people of Idaho, and to translate that passion into active engagement of our peers, service to our community, and new voter turnout in November. Although we are often dismissed by our predecessors as being uninvolved, apathetic, and inexperienced idealists, the truth is that we wield an awe-inspiring power to effect real change throughout Idaho. GO-IDAHO intends to impact the 2008 election with a youth and new voter turnout that has not been seen before during our lifetimes, and to do so by demonstrating that our generation will no longer acquiesce to the negative politics of the past several decades. We will work positively and with all of the vigor and energy of our youth to ensure that Barack Obama is elected the next President of the United States of America.
john mccain has made a grave mistake in choosing sarah palin as his running mate, the woman knows next to nothing of foreign policy. After the way the republicans maligned Barack and accused HIM of being inexperienced, they turn around and nominate a woman with even LESS experience? AND, they mistakenly think Hillary supporters will vote for her just because she is a woman.
Also, most working women will be offended by the obscene amount of money cindy mccain, sarah palin and laura bush have spent on just ONE outfit, when the working women can barely buy clothes at all, and are lucky to be able to feed and clothe their children. That alone should be good reason to NOT vote for mccain/palin.
Those people who have lost jobs and houses and can barely afford to send their kids to school will not want to vote for someone who cannot remember how many houses they own, or who pad their expense accounts with their children's travel expenses.
Intelligent women will not vote for palin, and if anything, most women, particularly working women and single parents of both sexes, will realize she is not experienced enough to create change that will make their lives any easier.
mccain & co are going to be very surprised, they are vastly UNDERestimating the young voters. Young people are sick and tired of seeing their friends off to war, they are sick and tired of being told they don't need birth control and/or sex education. They are sick and tired of being denied jobs, housing and education, of being fleeced at the gas pump and unable to even enjoy recreation due to inflated fuel prices.
They need and want education, jobs, health care, housing, day care, veterans' benefits, government reform, energy policies, good foreign relations, but mccain/palin are largely ignoring this growing faction of young people who are desperate for someone who is willing to work for and with them. They have different needs than their parents and grandparents, yet the mccain campaign is blasting them with the same old 78rpm broken records from past campaigns.
Baby Boomers like myself do still remember the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Black Panthers, Kent State, Civil Rights, especially the March on Washington, Anti-war protests, and other issues from the 60's. We remember those friends and relatives we lost in the Vietnam War.
Our children and grandchildren have heard us speak of all these things, and how they affected our lives, and now those children are experiencing similar turmoil in our world today, it is affecting them just as much, if not more, than those things that we were so passionate about in the 1960's. (And STILL are!)
Our young people are largely being ignored by mccain/palin and co., but when they come out in legion to vote for Barack Obama, Joe Biden & Justice for All, not just a few rich oil barons, I think the mccain faction will be crushed like the pesky mosquitoes they are.
The debates will show mccain and palin to be lacking in direction as they are, and will make blatantly clear how they are self-serving and funded by corporations, especially Big Oil. The two combined can not compare to the educated and articulate, well-thought plans that Joe Biden and Barack Obama will discuss.
As Al Gore said in his convention speech of Aug. 29, "..the carbon fuels industry - big oil and coal - have a 50-year lease on the Republican party and they are drilling it for everything it's worth. And this same industry has spent a half a billion dollars this year alone trying to convince the public they are actually solving the problem, when they are in fact making it worse every single day."
That is most certainly true, and We, The People, are sick and tired of being fleeced, working longer for less money and benefits, unable to devote time to our families and enjoying being together. Those of us at retirement age want Social Security stabilized.
Most US Voters today want truth in advertising, especially during a political campain, and are sick of the doublespeak and lies of the nixon/reagan/bush/bush eras. The bush cabinet is nothing but glorified white collar criminals and who could trust any of them to restore prosperity, repair our reputation worldwide, let alone fix the economy, let alone their "understudy", john mccain? Young voters have not had a good choice for President (until NOW!) since Bill Clinton left office.
Even many of those who supported Hillary, and who might not like Barack Obama will vote for him because they're intelligent enough to understand they will never get their needs met under the status quo, and if mccain/palin are elected, there will be NO hope at all for young people in particular, and very little for anyone else. We would see a rerun of the past 8 year bush horror movie under mccain and palin.
Barack Obama and Joe Biden can unite this country once again, make us proud to live here, and guide and direct The People as we set about making Our Government Of, By & For The People again.
Joe Biden is strong in foreign policy, he has a lot of experience, and that, coupled with Barack's vision and fresh outlook can make a huge difference in all our lives. john mccain and sarah palin are NOT equipped to do this.
If anyone cares to know, I'm a caucasian woman, 62 years old, and I CAN NOT WAIT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA AND BIDEN and take OUR country back!
Not only does Barack represent the next generation of politicians, but the movement has always been on the cutting edge of doing what it takes to get more younger people involved--to show them that they truly have as much a role in this process as anyone else, if not more. For example, the forthcoming announcement of Barack's Vice Presidential pick through text message: participants can text "VP" on their cell phones to 62262 (OBAMA) to be the first to know who the VP pick is (Read about it here in the Columbus Dispatch).
But of younger voters, it's not just 18 to 29 year olds who have a stake in this election. This inspiring story from Maureen, an organizer in the Cincinnati area, lets us know just that.
We had a group of 5 boys in yesterday. They are probably 10 years old. They come in every once in a while and make posters and eat chips. Mostly it seems like they just want a place to hang out. Yesterday while I was working one of them came up to me and asked, “Can Barack Obama change the world or just the U.S.?”“Oh, he can definitely change the world,” I responded. I told him about how he could make sure we didn’t get into wars we shouldn’t be fighting, about how the U.S. could help kids in poorer nations all over the world get an education by funding schools. “So he can change the world,” he said. “Yup.” He then walked back to one of his friends and said, “See, I told you he could change the world.” Now that’s the type of fights I want to see 10 year old boys having.
My girlfriend & I just got home from registering voters who were standing in line for the premiere showing of "The Dark Knight." (Thanks to fellow volunteer, Melanie Shouse, for suggesting this great idea!)
What a great opportunity for reaching out to brand new voters!! About a third of the voter registration cards we collected tonight were from people born in 1990 -- young adults new to the democratic process, but FIRED UP and ready to vote for change! Other cards were from college students who are registered where their parents live, but wanted to make sure they could vote here -- in person -- this November. They usually don't bother to vote, some said, but this time they know it counts.
Above all, people seemed grateful that we were there. Getting registered was on their minds, but they weren't sure where to go. Over and over people thanked us for being there, or said simply, "Yep -- already registered. Go Obama!"
I know the theaters are going to be packed all weekend, and it works really well to catch movie-goers while they wait in line for seats (some of our new voters had been in line for 4 hours or more). I definitely plan to go back out there tomorrow evening, and I invite others to join me. We need all the voters we can get here in St. Louis to help turn Missouri BLUE in November!!
(If you'd like to join me at the Moolah Theatre & Lounge on Lindell Blvd. tomorrow night, I'll be there from 5 to 6 pm, in advance of the 6:05 pm showing. There is also a 9:05 showing that will surely attract a big crowd -- I hope someone can take that shift as well! I'll create an event where you can RSVP on this website.)
Fired up in St. Louis,
Jen G.
The same unbeatable energy of young people that fuels Barack's movement is here in Cleveland today, with all efforts devoted to rocking out at the Warped Tour.
Throngs of people hover from stage to stage, catching bands like the Street Dogs, MC Chris, and the Bouncing Souls. It couldn't possibly be hotter outside, but that didn't get anyone down--there was even a Slip-n-Slide and a free water spray, in addition to all the tents promoting bands, t-shirts, websites, and causes.
The cause that's catching everyone's attention is of course that of the Obama campaign. Besides manning their own tent, volunteers and organizers are out among the crowd in full force, casting a wide net for any and all unregistered voters. Clipboard in hand, they've registered over 180 voters already, and Obama Warped Tour coordinator Julie says they've snagged more than 2000 total over the course of the tour. Obama Organizing Fellow Farooq registers one such voter below.
But supporters are not solely among the audience. Numerous bands and band members have expressed enthusiasm, to say the least, about Obama's candidacy, many willing to let their voices be heard in the name of Barack. For example, the Bouncing Souls, shown below, made it known that they are hard-core Obama fans.
After giving a shout-out on camera to the voters of Ohio, the Souls hit the main stage here and rocked Cleveland hard. With such dedicated volunteers and organizers in place, and a healthy dose of voter registration forms filled out, the campaign can expect to rock Ohio just as hard come November.
So, on my morning commute I was listening to POTUS 08 on XM (my usual routine) and heard an interesting poll result from Zogby. It said that despite McCain's own statements about not being solid on economic issues, that in general he's seen by likely voters as "more likely to handle economic issues better" than Barack -- by about 5%.
The staggering sub-fact here was that McCain's lead on that measure was at its largest with a specific demographic: people under 30. Amongst young voters, his lead jumped to almost 30 points. In other words, his entire 5% margin in this measure was attributable to young people saying they think he's "more likely to handle economic issues better" than Barack. And, this is a group, that on the whole, Barack totally owns.
So, here's a little mini-campaign we can all engage in: make it clear to young voters that "old" doesn't equal "smart with money," which is probably something that's been pounded into all our heads in our youth. John McCain will be terrible for the economy, and we need to make sure that young voters get that message loud and clear.
I have asked my county party how to get young people involved in our county party. I think Democrats have failed to create a farm team of leaders, volunteers, and candidates who know the issues, know how to work on and run campaigns, and win as candidates.
I've asked people on www.henrydems.org discussion group to think of ideas to get young people innolved in our county party.
Come join the discussion: http://campaignwindow.com/HenryCountyDems/discuss/index.cfm?Fuseaction=ViewTopic&topic=How_do_we_help_§ion=discuss
Detailing "AMERICA'S" Campaign; In Spoken Word Form...
Here is the link to a 30 second contest ad detailing the empowering and impacting Obama presidential campaign. A simple setting makes for an inspirational message to be paid attention to, and makes for a powerful and effective way to reach younger and/or new generation voters. During this political season we all must pay attention to the issues that matter, and this ad strongly pinpoints those issues and further testifies to the fact that America is in need of a strong and trustworthy leader; and that leader is Senator Barack Obama.
Just copy and paste the link, tell me your thoughts, and then pass it along. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO0JLsri4_g
I started out really excited about Barack Obama running for president, but I was hesitant to get on board early on. In 2004, I had been a hardcore Deaniac for months before anyone had even heard of him. I watched him make an improbable rise to frontrunner status only to see it all come crashing down after Iowa. When Obama began running for president, I held back and did not get my hopes up because I was afraid I'd get my heart broken again.
It wasn't until after Iowa that I was ready to even start rooting for Obama, and it was after South Carolina that I decided I just couldn't stay on the sidelines anymore. But since I have gotten involved, I have had this nagging feeling that something would happen to upset the apple cart and make everything fall apart just like what happened with Dean four years ago. And in the past few weeks, particularly since last Friday, I've been afraid that that moment has come. My respect for Obama did not waiver, but I had my doubts about whether or not he was ready and whether America was ready for him.
fter hearing his speech yesterday, I knew he was not only ready to be president but ready to be a great president. As John Robin Baitz wrote yesterday, "This, then, is what it means to be presidential. To be moral. To have a real center. To speak honestly, from the heart, for the benefit of all." I may be young, but I have enough knowledge of history and enough experience in Washington to know that it is rare that a politician as honest and authentic as Barack Obama comes along.
For years, I have watched "West Wing" and hoped that one day we'd have a candidate and maybe a president who is as genuine and moral as Josiah Bartlett (or either of the candidates vying to succeed him in later seasons), a president who was willing to put principle above politics at least once in a while. I thought Barack Obama might be that leader, but after yesterday I am convinced. Obama proved yesterday that he has the vision, courage, and integrity to be president.
The question now is, is America ready? Are we enlightened enough to put aside racial tensions in order to elect an extraordinary leader? Or we pass up this chance because we are just not ready, because we haven't reached that point in terms of racial reconciliation? Nobody knows, and the recent polling data as well as the outrage to what feels to me like a manufactured controversy over Obama's pastor are not encouraging. But for anyone who loves this country but recognizes that we have yet to live up to our full potential, the vision Obama eloquently laid out for America yesterday is a vision worth fighting for.
Please check out this report on how to win over young voters:
http://www.civicyouth.org/PopUps/Young_Voters_Guide.pdf
