Posts with the tag Deval Patrick

The Democratic National Convention 2008 –Highlights

Stephanie Williams — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 09:59:23 EDT

My previous blogs have VANISHED (apparently into thin "web" air)!! Oh well, I am not going to spend anytime crying about that. I am also not going backwards (i.e., trying to repost items lost) because the election is less than 60 days away! That being said, I have few exceptions: highlight speeches of the historical 2008 DNC, Obama's acceptance speech, Fact Checking Gov. Sarah Palin and Republican Pres. Nominee John McCain's RNC Acceptance Speeches. With respect to the highlights of the 2008 DNC, I have compiled a list of my favorite speeches with links to the video. The list is in reverse chronological order. If, for some reason, a link is broken, you can always Google the speech or search for it on YouTube.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

Denver, CO (August 25-28, 2008)

Pres. Nominee Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZCrIeRkMhA

Sen. Joe Biden’s VP Acceptance Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVH58DeUThg

Beau Biden Introducing his father, Sen. Joe Biden:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFNdA6fxKpo

Sen. John Kerry’s Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dO2PAm4iCtE

Fmr. President Bill Clinton’s Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3r6xvwPGcY

Sen. Hillary Clinton’s Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=268ncnoitEc

Congressman Dennis Kucinich “Wake-up America” Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE_eKhUC9rI

Gov. Deval Patrick (D-Mass) Speech:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAwKHriAj5Q

Michelle Obama’s Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTFsB09KhqI

Ted & Caroline Kennedy’s Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE_eKhUC9rI

If You Were Watching C-Span, You Heard All of the Speakers

Jill 4 Obama — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:57:49 EDT

Did you get to hear every one of the speakers below?

Unless you watched C-Span, you missed some amazing speakers!

The Talking Heads may have entertained you with their own opinions.

Tuesday, August 26 2008: Renewing America's Promise

Hour #1 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (LOCAL)

Call to Order
The Honorable Shirley Franklin
Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia

Invocation
Reverend Cynthia Hale
Disciples of Christ - Decatur, Georgia

Presentation of Colors
The American GI Forum
Mile High Chapter, Colorado
Congressionally chartered Mexican-American veterans & civil rights organization

Pledge of Allegiance
Koby Langley
From Fort Meade, Maryland, he received the Bronze Star for leadership in the US Army
Credited with design & implementation of 1st Foreign Torts Claims Policy Act - Iraq

National Anthem
Rocky Mountain Children's Choir
A multicultural, multiracial choir committed to forming community around music

Remarks/Video
The Honorable Eleanor Homes Norton
Non-voting Member of the US House of Representatives, District of Columbia

Remarks
Ted Sorensen
Special Counsel, advisor and speechwriter to President John F. Kennedy
Researched and drafted Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage"

The Honorable Mike Honda
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

Dr. David Gipp
Member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe
President - United Tribes Technical College

The Honorable Linda Sanchez
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

The Honorable Chet Culver
Governor of Iowa

The Honorable David Paterson
Governor of New York

The Honorable Patrick Leahy
US Senator, Vermont

Hour # 2 4:08 PM – 5:00 PM (LOCAL)

Remarks
The Honorable Chris Van Hollen
Member of the US House of Representatives, Maryland

Remarks
Cecile Richards
President of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Daughter of the former Governor of Texas, The Honorable Ann Richards

Congressional Black Caucus
The Honorable Carolyn Kilpatrick
Member of the US House of Representatives, Michigan
The Honorable Charles Rangel
Member of the US House of Representatives, New York
The Honorable John Conyers
Member of the US House of Representatives, Michigan
The Honorable Bennie Thompson
Member of the US House of Representatives, Mississippi

Moment of Silence

Video – “In Memoriam”

Remarks
The Honorable Dennis Kucinich
Member of the US House of Representatives, Ohio

The Honorable John Chiang
State Controller, California

The Honorable Jim Doyle
Governor of Wisconsin

DGA - Remarks
The Honorable Joe Manchin
Governor of West Virginia

Hour # 3 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (LOCAL)

US Senate Women
The Honorable Barbara Mikulski
US Senator, Maryland
The Honorable Barbara Boxer
US Senator, California
The Honorable Mary Landrieu
US Senator, Louisiana
The Honorable Blanche Lambert Lincoln
US Senator, Arizona
The Honorable Debbie Stabenow
US Senator, Michigan
The Honorable Maria Cantwell
US Senator, Washington State
The Honorable Claire McCaskill
US Senator, Missouri
The Honorable Amy Klobuchar
US Senator, Minnesota

Remarks
The Honorable Ed Rendell
Governor of Pennsylvania

The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
Member of the US House of Representatives, Wisconsin

The Honorable Xavier Becerra
Member of the US House of Representatives, California

John Sweeney
President of the AFL-CIO

Robin Golden
Autoworker from Michigan scheduled to lose his job

Video - First Time Delegates: Renewing America's Promise

Remarks
The Honorable Rahm Emanuel
Member of the US House of Representatives, Illinois

Live Performance
Alejandro Escovedo
Vocals & guitar

Hour # 4 6:01 PM – 7:00 PM (LOCAL)

Remarks
The Honorable Steny Hoyer
Member of the US House of Representatives, Maryland
Democratic Majority Leader

Katherine Marcano
Cedar Rapids, Iowa flood victim

Anna Burger
Officer with SEIU & 1st Chair of America's newest labor federation, "Change to Win"

Pauline Beck
Homecare worker & member of SEIU from Oakland, California

The Honorable Janet Napolitano
Governor of Arizona

America’s Town Hall - Economy
Moderator: The Honorable Jennifer Granholm – Governor of Michigan
Panelists: Aimee Christensen, Jim Rogers, Jim Bauer, Jerome Ringo

Remarks
Jim Whitaker
Republican Mayor of Fairbanks, Alaska

Gloria Craven
Laid-off North Carolina textile worker with huge medical bills

Nancy Floyd
Founder of Nth Power – an energy technology investment firm in Portland, Oregon

Hour # 5 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM (LOCAL)

Remarks
The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Governor of Kansas

The Honorable Federico Peña
Former Secretary of Energy and former Mayor of Denver, Colorado

The Honorable Nydia Velazquez
Member of the US House of Representatives, New York

The Honorable Robert Casey, Jr.
US Senator, Pennsylvania

Lilly Ledbetter
Her actions against Goodyear Tire led to the passage of the Fair Pay Restoration Act

Keynote Speech
The Honorable Mark Warner
Governor of Virginia

Remarks
The Honorable Ted Strickland
Governor of Ohio

Hour # 6 8:00 PM – 9:04 PM (LOCAL)

Remarks
Ret. Rear Admiral John Hutson
President, Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, New Hampshire
Lifelong Republican

The Honorable Deval Patrick
Governor of Massachusetts

Pamella Cash-Roper
Unemployed nurse and lifelong Republican from North Carolina

Remarks
The Honorable Brian Schweitzer
Governor of Montana

Hillary Clinton Segment - Video/Remarks
The Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton
US Senator, New York

Benediction
Revs. Jin Ho Kang, Yoougsook Kang
Methodists - Aurora, Colorado

Recess
The Honorable Shirley Franklin
Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia

Obama's Challenge to American Voters

Manya4Obama — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 04:56:08 EDT

From Governor Deval Patrick:

I watched a candidate I already knew was exceptional become a statesman today.
In his speech on America's racial divide, Barack Obama was honest, direct, personal and strong without being strident. He told unvarnished and complex truths about his own life in black and white communities he has known -- and he trusted all of us to be able to handle the lack of varnish and the complexity. He never condescends or resorts to sound bites when the issue requires more. He was at his best today.
This was more than political damage control. This was a challenge to American voters. Obama is asking us to choose whether we are going to give in -- once again -- to the forces that divide us, or work to unite our fractured national community. And he reminds us that the choice is ours -- not the pundits' or pollsters' or political insiders'. Few other national political figures have the courage to make that challenge under any circumstances, let alone in the midst of a presidential campaign. None of the remaining candidates in this election do.
We have had a handful of transformational leaders in our history, leaders who have reshaped and refocused what the American Dream means and revived our commitment to it. Barack Obama showed again today that he is that kind of leader.

Video: SEIU President and Massachusetts Governor in Youngstown, OH

Michael Pipe — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 00:25:04 EST

Canvassers who spent the day knocking on doors in Youngstown, Ohio, gathered at the New Bethel Baptist Church to watch and listen to SEIU President Andy Stern and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick share why they are supporting Barack Obama.

Watch a video clip below:

Join us and be a part of history as we knock on one million doors in Ohio to get out the vote for Barack Obama.

A writer's perspective on Barack Obama and plagiarism

Lisa Daily — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 00:27:23 EST

Hillary Clinton has been tossing around the word "plagiarism" this week because Obama used a concept and two-word line without crediting its original source, Obama supporter and friend, Governor Deval Patrick (MA.)

According to published reports, Obama was speaking to workers about his plan to retain US jobs at a titanium plant in Ohio, and said Governor Patrick had suggested he use the words.

Barack explained, “Deval and I trade ideas all the time. He has occasionally used lines of mine and at the dinner in Wisconsin I used some words of his. On occasion, Senator Clinton has used words of mine as well."

It was a powerful speech; Obama recited three iconic phrases: "I have a dream - just words? We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal - just words? We have nothing to fear but fear itself - just words? Just speeches?"

The passage was similar , although not quite the same, to a short passage in a speech Patrick had given a few years earlier. But Patrick is not calling it plagiarism, and doesn't seem to care one bit that he was not attributed.

Like most writers, I'm pretty sensitive to plagiarism. It burns me up when I see work of mine that has been lifted, and I am meticulous in my research to assure that my work is my own. But my best friend Lisa Earle McLeod, another author, borrows my lines occasionally, and I occasionally borrow hers.

And we're both fine with that. After joking about it for several years, we have finally given our little habit a name -- "writing partners".

I write fiction, and non-fiction books and columns about relationships. She writes articles and books about spirituality, peace, and frequently, politics. I'm not stealing her work, and she's not stealing mine, but her ideas have made their way into my work, and lots of my best lines have made their way into hers. It's not plagiarism, it's friendship. Her ideas are still hers, my ideas are still mine, but occasionally we help tighten up each others work.

Do I want to get credit for my work? Yes.
But sometimes, I'm willing to give up claim to my words for a greater cause.

Like when Lisa and I wrote a column together under her byline about how she helped to get Katrina survivor Mabel Brown out of Houston with her family. Lisa was busy mobilizing her neighbors to save Mabel's family, Lisa gave me the facts, and I got the column started while she was passing out supplies and making trips to the bus station.

When it was finished, we both felt like we had done something meaningful, relevant, world-changing. I didn't particularly care that my name wasn't on the piece, even when it was picked up nationally. I had been a part of something greater. Helping to bring Mable's heartbreaking and inspiring story to the world felt far more important to me than having my name on that byline.

Sometimes it's not possible or practical to share a byline. I thank Lisa in the acknowledgments of my books, she thanks me in the acknowledgments of hers. Occasionally, we'll actually officially write things together. But what we do isn't about the credit -- it's about two friends who believe in each others work, who want each others' voices to touch people and inspire them, who don't mind lending a line or an idea if it will help make a piece funnier, deeper, or more powerful.

Barack Obama and Deval Patrick have been friends for years, and I'm guessing Deval isn't even a little bit irritated that he wasn't credited in one of the many powerful, world-changing speeches that will bring Obama to the white house.

Patrick is going to be proud, unbelievably proud, that he helped get him there.

Sometimes getting credit isn't nearly as important as getting something done.

Lisa

Plagiarism Charges Need Explained

Coonsey — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:33:23 EST

I highly suggest that Obama and Deval Patrick arrange for a sit down with maybe Larry King to discuss these charges and let Deval explain that he and Barack discuss issues all the time and how he's glad Obama repeats what he says. It's like talking points - repeat, repeat, repeat, until it hits home to the American voters.

They might also inclue Michelle so she can explain HER comment. Get the facts out there before lies begin to swell.

Obama, Patrick Collaboration Noted Specifically By Globe Back In April 2007

Matthew G — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 03:37:47 EST

Jason Linkins
The Huffington Post

Fresh accusations of plagiarism are being hurled at Barack Obama for his use of language on the stump that directly mirrors speeches given by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick. But there is no fresh news here: in fact, this rhetorical connection between the two pols was noted by the Boston Globe way back in April of 2007.

In an article titled, “Patrick, Obama campaigns share language of ‘hope,’” Globe reporter Scott Helman noted that the “just words” theme of Deval Patrick’s speech were born out of accusations that mirror the ones Obama is facing now, and that Obama was present on one occasion when Patrick deployed the language:

Of all the things Deval Patrick’s Republican opponent threw at him in last year’s governor’s race, one charge that stuck in his craw was that his speeches were more fluff than substance — that they were, in Patrick’s telling, “just words.” So he devised an artful response.” ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal’ — just words,” Patrick said at a rally in Roxbury right before Election Day. ” ‘We have nothing to fear but fear itself’ — just words. . . . ‘I have a dream’ — just words. They’re all just words.”

The crowd erupted as it got Patrick’s point about the power of language. But perhaps no one at the rally understood the point better than Barack Obama, who had joined him on stage that night.

Similarly, the article from April 2007 specifically mentioned that the Obama campaign had every intention of studying the success of his friend, Patrick, as a model for his own Presidential run:

In the midst of his improbable run for office, Obama and his advisers have evidently studied Patrick’s up-from-nowhere victory in Massachusetts and are borrowing themes, messages, and even specific lines for the presidential campaign.

Both men were said by the Globe to be — at the time — “learning from and feeding off each other.” The root of their shared rhetoric was identified as David Axelrod, who advised both campaigns. And while Patrick did notably back away from using Obama’s “Yes we can” refrain — Patrick campaign advisor Dan Payne said at the time, “We definitely didn’t want to copy him, Deval takes pride in his words and he wants to use them uniquely” — there’s no indication that either man objected to sharing rhetorical flourishes.

Similarly, there wasn’t any indication back in April of last year that this matter was any cause for concern or complaint. State Democratic Party chair Phillip W. Johnston spoke of the two men with admiration: “We all said that we could have closed our eyes when Obama spoke [and] it could have been Deval. To us it was a similar kind of message. It’s a message that transcends partisan politics.”

Deval Patrick

Dave — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:14:07 EST

As a resident of Massachusetts I am proud that my Governor is Deval Patrick. I am glad that Barack Obama uses Governor Patrick as inspiration in his speeches. It makes me even more proud that Senator Obama also sees this man's words as inspirational and great. It's nice to see that no matter how inspirational someone can be, that someone inspires THEM. I'm sure that Senator Obama draws on a lot of inspirational figures. I just happen to like that one of them is Deval Patrick.

I can think of nobody better than Deval Patrick for Obama to choose as his running mate. However, that would mean that after only one year in office, I, as a Massachusetts resident, would be loosing him as my governor. I'm not sure I want that to happen. I rather like the idea of having a president, and a governor that makes me feel that things are getting better.

Call me selfish.

Obama Road Show Raises the Roof in Boston

Jonathan from Acton, MA — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:16:01 EST

In a late night rally on February 4, 2008, Senator Barack Obama returned to Boston, the city where four years ago his political career soared to national prominence when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention.

At a downtown convention hall on the eve of Super Tuesday, Obama electrified a capacity crowd of nine thousand. This was no mean feat, considering that many in the crowd had already stood on their feet for five hours outside the World Trade Center, patiently waiting in a line that stretched for many blocks through the streets of South Boston.

Deval Patrick in New Bedford for Obama

Jason Smith — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 09:32:31 EST

Yesterday, the Govenor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, came to new Beford on a swing through South Eastern Massachusetts to help rally support for the presidential candidacy of Barack Obama. Though Patrick's visit was the highlight of the day, things have been buzzing at our New Bedford for Obama HQ at 30 Centre Street, in the historic downtown. Our phone banks has been operating daily for the last week. Our efforts have been supplimented greatly by a dedicated group of Brown University students. All of this would not have been possible if not for the tireless efforts of our coordinator, Matt Gula.

About an hour before Deval Patrick arrived, our office was notified that there were Hillary supporters 2 blocks away at the corner of Elm Street and Route 18. Luckily, we had been having a sign making party and our local and Brown U supporters were ready! We all grabbed signs and walked down to the corner, easily eclipsing the Hillary supporters, who numbered around 10, and we had over 30!!! A channel 10, Providence camera man was at the scene when we arrived. He reportedly told one of our supporters later in the day that there had been some half-hearted beeping from cars in support of Hillary before we arrived. He said that after we arrived, the response from the passing cars increased greatly. We are winning the ground war here in New Bedford, but we have to keep on fighting through to carry Massachusetts for Barack Obama!!!

Here is the link for the article about the event from the Standard Times that appeared in today's edition.

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080203/NEWS/802030345

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick & Former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus Visit Charleston

T. Neil Sroka — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:28:41 EST

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and former Mississippi Gov. Ray Mabus joined former South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges, who announced his support for Barack earlier this month, at a town hall meeting with supporters and undecided voters in downtown Charleston earlier this afternoon.

For former Gov. Mabus, who visited Greenville, SC last month, just having the town hall meeting said a lot about the kind of campaign Barack is running across the country.

You don't need me to tell you that Barack Obama brings people together... just look at us on this stage -- you've got the governor of a Northern, "blue" state like Massachusetts supporting the same candidate as two former Governor's of two of the "reddest" states in the country."

Because of that demonstrated ability to gain support from folks across the ideological spectrum, Mabus said, Barack would force Republicans to compete for every vote in all 50 states, rather than assuming that they already had traditionally conservative states like South Carolina or Mississippi locked up and only really competing in eight or nine so-called "swing states." "If they are made to do that," Mabus quipped, "We will win!"

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick also tied his support to Barack's ability to unite a country that all too often is made to feel divided by its leaders.I

I want leadership that's going to help us see the stake we all have in each other again... I'm tired and you're tired of being told that the interests of the north are different from the interests of the south, that the interests of whites are different from the interests of blacks, that the poor and the rich have vastly different perspectives on what's in our national interest... The great moments [we've had] moving forward in this country have come when our leaders were able to invite us to come together, to articulate a vision and motivate us all to move forward.

Barack Obama is that kind of leader, Gov. Patrick said, because he's already built a movement of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents behind him that's centered on helping us achieve our own aspirations. And, he added, "If we vote our aspirations, Barack Obama will win and so will we."

Are you ready to get involved in this movement and help others here in South Carolina vote their aspirations too? If so, sign-up now to help us Get-Out-the-Vote in the Palmetto State over the next six days.

Gov. Deval Patrick in Manchester, NH

Eddie Lee, Obama Staff — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 21:01:52 EST

Governor Deval Patrick was in New Hampshire today to knock on doors in Manchester and speak at house parties across southern New Hampshire to share his belief in Senator Obama’s ability to unite the country around an agenda for change.

Hitting the Streets in Manchester, NH: 3 Days to Go

Michael Negron — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 14:13:15 EST

In addition to the throngs of still-deciding voters that packed Barack’s event in Nashua this morning, hundreds of canvassers filled our volunteer room today before hitting the streets to knock on doors with Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, while dozens more stuck around to work the phones.

Gov. Patrick has seen this kind of energy before: it was a massive grassroots movement that swept him into office in 2006. Today he offered some words of inspiration for the movement Barack has built here in the Granite State.

“Don’t see what you are doing today as a transaction that ends with Tuesday’s vote,” Deval urged. “What you are doing is building a movement of people that will remain involved in their government for years to come.”

Two veterans of Deval’s grassroots movement in Massachusetts, Sam and Tina of Boston, joined him on the streets of Manchester.

Sam is a city council member and former community organizer who believes that Barack and Deval have the right message for this moment.

“As a former organizer myself, I know that Barack will never forget what it was like to work with people to bring about change from the bottom up,” said Sam. “A president with this kind of experience will lead an awakening of civic consciousness that will sweep across the country.”

Tina agreed with her husband, adding, “This campaign is about the people in this room, and that’s just so refreshing.”

I also spoke with Pauline, a Manchester resident volunteering for the campaign for the first time this morning.

“It took me until a few weeks ago to make up my mind,” she laughed, “but judging from the energy in this room, I can see that there really was no other alternative… Barack is the only candidate inspiring people to do something to take control of their government.”

THE BOSTON HERALD: Deval set to back Barack once more

Dr. Susanne Hussein Freeborn — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 03:30:26 EST

By Casey Ross | Wednesday, December 26, 2007 | http://www.bostonherald.com | 2008 Campaign News
Photo by Mark Garfinkel

Gov. Deval Patrick is launching a final campaign push on behalf of presidential contender Barack Obama, traveling to three early primary states this week as the Democratic contest continues to tighten.

Officials with Patrick’s political committee say he is planning to make stump speeches in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, with the theme expected to focus on Obama’s ability to pull off a Patrick-style campaign upset on a national scale.

“Deval Patrick has a great story to tell, and it’s very helpful to Obama,” Democratic strategist Michael Goldman said. “Obama is thrilled to have Deval for one reason: He succeeded, and his message turned into a huge victory.”

Patrick had served in the Justice Department in the Clinton administration, but was a political unknown who had never run for office before winning his Massachusetts campaign by a historic margin in 2006. Obama’s slender political resume includes two terms as an Illinois state senator. He is now running for president in the middle of his first term as a U.S. senator.

Obama, 46, and Patrick, 51, both natives of Chicago, often sound remarkably similar during campaign speeches. Both emphasize a message of hope and a need for sweeping political change, encouraging citizens to “vote their aspirations.”

In using that line last week, Obama joked that he borrowed it from Patrick’s campaign.

“I’m stealing this line from my buddy Deval Patrick, who stole a whole bunch of lines from me when he ran for the governorship,” Obama said. “But it’s the right (line). Don’t vote your fears, vote your aspirations.”

Obama’s chief political challenge has been to convince voters that his relative lack of experience in Washington is a benefit and will not limit him in making critical decisions about national security and other matters.

Hillary Clinton has sought to turn Obama’s argument on its head, launching advertisements in New Hampshire saying that true change only comes from experience and decades of hard work in the political trenches.

Recent polls show that Obama and Clinton are in a virtual dead-heat, with both candidates pulling down about 30 percent in Iowa and New Hampshire, and John Edwards trailing by a few percentage points in Iowa and by about 15 in New Hampshire.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/news/national/politics/2008/view.bg?articleid=1062799

Gov. Patrick Joined us in Nashua NH

Franklin Katunda — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 10:29:18 EST

Congoboston.com-- Last November 10th, 2007, three school buses loaded with Obama supporters left a parking lot at the 99 Restaurant, across from Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown, Mass to the primary voter’s state of New Hampshire. In response to a call from Deval Patrick, the “historically” first African American Governor of the state of Massachusetts, more than a hundred of supporters signed up and showed up, while enduring some 25 degrees morning weather for a bus field trip to three New Hampshire’s towns.

Among many supporters were former Deval’s campaign staff during his 2006 bid for the Beacon Hill, a few Obama-leaning political activists; also came along the “Obama-MA-2-NH” Campaign staff led by Nicole Derse. In total, 500 Obama Canvassers all teamed up for this Rendez-vous in knocking on voters’ doors in NH’s neighborhoods. In facts, last October 22nd at the Boston Common, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick publicly endorsed Sen. Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the race to the White House.

Our own, Franklin Katunda, Congoboston.com’s chief editor participated in the Boston Rally and the Electoral Canvassing, as both the Editor of the most active Boston’s Community News Network for Congolese-Americans and Residents, and most as Campaign Worker. He registered with “Obama For America 08” to support the candidacy of the Illinois Senator to the White House. Using the very same Congoboston’s expertise he has developed as Community Organizer with the use of ( an affordable yet popular technology) - the Internet, Franklin Katunda launched (February 2007) an online network that courted supporters for Barack Obama… At this time, it counts about 106 members nationwide. The group is called “Africans & Americans for Obama.”

Franklin wants to gather what he called the “New Majority” Vote around the candidacy of the Illinois Senator for the Oval Office. On its web-blog’s main page, one can read this: “We are a Nationwide Network with a mission to gather and to inform the American electorate in its "New Majority" that includes many unspotted new voters, such as US-naturalized Africans ... All awakened and determined to "Make History", and to electing Senator Barack OBAMA as President of the United States of America in 2008”

" The hope generated in me during the Senator’s Springfield Illinois Presidential Bid and the dynamics for change that America needs after decades of failed policies and mismanaged governances, said Franklin who claimed that reason led him to align, head on, with the Obama campaign. Despite the pundits, biased national polls and favors from the media to the established candidate, Hillary Clinton, Franklin, just alike Barack Obama, believes in the audacity that an “improbable quest” can bear in a status quo.

“Senator Obama (who wasn’t running for president at that time) inspired me, not only after I heard his DNC speech in 04’, but more he made me adopt him as my role model among African Americans political figures during my graduation day in Boston. This is a while back in June 2006… Amazingly, I was lucky to have him as keynote speaker during my graduation at the University of Massachusetts-Boston ”, Commented Mr. Katunda.

His network for Obama extends from the Washington DC-Virginia-Maryland area where he has enrolled in a public affairs/media internship to Dallas Texas, where he hosted at a friend’s house, a little earlier in the race (April 07); it was part of a Nationwide Grassroots House Barbecue for Obama. About thirty people, Texans from all backgrounds and racial groups showed up for that social gathering at Kale Kasonga’s. As part of the Boston’s Chapter of the group “Umass-Boston for Obama”, he enrolled along with Brad Stoler (a former Umass-Boston Alumnus and friend) in the Manchester NH campaign office, providing phone banking (to update voters from the headquarters, through local phone calls) and participating in the most New England weather-challenged door-to-door canvassing in the NH neighborhoods.

“Time is now for American voters and especially new voters: US-naturalized Africans and (19 and+) first time voters to get involved and be part of the history in the making” said, Mr. Katunda. Diring his Dallas event, he inspired many voters, such as Andy Ribaudo of Dallas Texas to start his own high school online group, "Our World" at the latest barbecue in the Lone Star State.

“I don’t think there is any thing to loose supporting Obama at this point and time, and history will only reward audacious citizens for trying.” conferred to us Franklin, who write as an online community news editor of Congoboston.com.

In closing, we reproduce here an extract from the bus chatting: “ Governor, Sen. Obama inspired me when he gave a speech at my graduation (June 2nd 2006) at Umass-Boston; before heading to your fundraiser to support your bid for Governor of Massachusetts; and this happened on the same day afternoon at the Hines Convention Center, if I’m not mistaking… Today, I find myself priviledged to be onboard this bus with you and shake your hand. (A Citizen of Massachusetts and his Governor), both heading up to NH to support him for the Oval office… Isn’t it amazing?” -- Franklin Katunda

Dear readers ( US citizens or legal residents), to get involved in or support this movement for change as it goes beyond just the 2008 Elections, please send an email at Franklinkatunda@yahoo.com, and a reply will follow with an invitation to join the group. The main target will be to “get out” the African Vote in New Hampshire in the primaries (January 2008). Here below is the story about the field trip from the Boston Globe and a picture of Franklin Katunda posing with the Honorable Deval Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts onboard the bus that took them to Nashua NH (A picture courtesy of an Obama Supporter)

Please copy and paste the following link on the address bar to see the photo:

My DocumentsMy PicturesObama.Paris.BostonObama.Paris.Boston 013.jpg

By the Congoboston Staff,

© November, 2007

Photos From MA2NH Canvassing Initiative

Rena — Fri, 16 Nov 2007 23:11:43 EST

Here are a few photos from my trip to Nashua on November 10th. Still don't get why the Hillary people were wasting their time there chanting at people who were obviously unpaid volunteers (and therefore a lost cause for conversions) at the Obama Nashua HQ. Meh. It was great to hear Governor Patrick speak, and despite a few moments when we wondered how much our door knocking was really doing, it felt great to be involved and to speak to people about the issues. So many undecided voters! I get the feeling that the people in NH stay undecided right up until the last minute.

Oh, while I'm thinking of it, does anybody know what Obama's stance is on Second Amendment rights? Not like anybody is really reading this, but if you happen to see this post and you know, hook me up... that's definitely something I need to research before going back to the Live Free or Die state.

NECN clip of Deval Patrick arriving in Nashua, NH to campaign for Obama

Rena — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 19:38:30 EST

I was standing out in front of the Nashua HQ office when the bus with Gov. Patrick arrived. Here's a pretty good news clip... Particularly amusing for me because I'm the one he's shaking hands with. :)

Deval Patrick Leads Canvass from Massachusetts to New Hampshire

Michael Negron — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 12:55:34 EST

On Saturday, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick led over one hundred supporters from Massachusetts into southern New Hampshire to knock on doors for Barack, as part of a statewide canvass that drew over 500 people.

In 2006, Governor Patrick captured a come-from-behind victory thanks to an army of grassroots volunteers willing to go door-to-door to spread his message of change. For the first time since endorsing Barack for president, Governor Patrick rallied his supporters to venture north to talk to their Granite State neighbors about Barack’s vision for America.

The day began in Charlestown, Massachusetts, where Governor Patrick met with his fellow Bay Staters and fired them up before boarding waiting busses and heading to New Hampshire. Governor Patrick told the crowd, “This election is not just about who we want, but about who we are. I want a president who understands that. I want Barack Obama.”

Mary, a former volunteer for the Patrick campaign, said, “What brings me out here today is the same spirit of people taking back their government that drives the Obama campaign.”

The buses arrived at our Nashua office, where they were greeted by sign-waving New Hampshire Obama supporters. Chants of “Fired up! Ready to go!” filled the air, as Governor Patrick stepped up to the microphone to rally the crowd.

He didn’t disappoint, telling the canvassers that victory in New Hampshire could only be claimed by going door-to-door and talking to voters one-on-one.

Governor Patrick said, “You decided to take your time and your shoe leather to go and make a pitch personally to somebody. And then when you get that voter, tell them to pass it on, because that is how we will win—and deserve to win.”

Daniel, a first-time volunteer, said, “I keep remembering how I felt watching the returns come in during the 2004 presidential election and promising myself that I’d never sit on the sidelines again.”

The Bostonian is volunteering for Barack Obama because, as he says, “I’d like to trust our next president, and I think by that measure Barack is the clear choice.”

Governor Patrick didn’t just talk the talk, he walked the walk: canvassing a neighborhood in Nashua and talking to Granite Staters about how we can change this country. That’s politics the New Hampshire way.

Video: Gov. Deval Patrick's introduction

Sam Graham-Felsen — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:41:41 EDT

Take a look at Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick's inspiring introduction at last night's rally:

If you're a Massachusetts resident, you can make a big impact in neighboring New Hampshire. Click here to join Deval and take part in the movement to elect Barack.

Over 9,500 rally with Barack and Gov. Deval Patrick in Boston

Sam Graham-Felsen — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:38:20 EDT

Over 9,500 supporters rallied on the historic Boston Common tonight as Governor Deval Patrick publicly declared his support for Senator Obama.

(AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Governor Patrick -- who rode a remarkable grassroots movement to victory in the Bay State -- delivered a stirring introduction:

For once, I want a campaign that’s not about the candidate, but about us.

Not about a resumé, but about character. Not about connections or convenience, but about conviction. Not about smearing the competition, but about lifting us all up. Not about the right and the left, but about right and wrong. Not about yesterday, but about tomorrow.

I don’t care whether the next president has experience in the White House. I care whether he understands life in your house.

I don’t care whether the next president has already met foreign heads of state. I care whether he knows something about how people live and think in distant cities and villages and can remember that our actions affect them, too.

I don’t care whether the next president is the first black president or the first woman president or the first whatever, to tell you the truth. I care that the next president has moral courage, a political backbone, the humility to admit what he doesn’t know, and the wisdom to learn from others.

Barack took to the stage and the crowd erupted. And, as a lifelong Red Sox fan, I can attest -- it was loud even by Boston crowd standards.

“Governor Patrick and I share the belief that hope transforms lives and that a grassroots movement can not only help win an election, but bring real change to a state and a country,” said Senator Obama. “What I am seeing on the ground in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina is the will to win and today I am asking the people of Boston to play an active role on this campaign to change this country.”

Making those phone calls is easy...and fun...seriously!

Brian Corr — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 19:48:17 EDT

So...have you tried making those phone calls to get people to the Boston rally on Tuesday night?

I'm finishing up doing it right now and it's super easy and people are really nice and happy to get the calls (unlike many campaign calls I've made over the years.) And a lot of people (somehow) hadn't even heard about the rally yet.

The interface is simple and easy, and it breaks it up into clear steps. And the calls go very fast!

So, go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/contact/main/boston right now and make a few calls -- and you can only use it between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. so you don't wake people up :-)

More Endorsements in Kansas, Missouri and Massachusetts !!!

Franklin Katunda — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 12:45:58 EDT

Obama wins endorsement of Missouri-Kansas SEIU councilThe Associated Press | October 19, 2007

Staff Written

WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama on Thursday won the endorsement of the Missouri-Kansas State Council of the Service Employees International Union.

The council represents more than 15,000 members in both states.

SEIU decided last week not to make a national endorsement in the Democratic presidential primaries. But the union freed its state chapters to make their own endorsements.

"Sen. Obama has the judgment and vision necessary to lead our country in the right direction," said Sherwin Carroll, president of the council.

The Illinois Sen. was endorsed earlier this week by SEIU chapters in Illinois and Indiana, which have about 170,000 members.

Obama's Democratic rival, John Edwards, has been endorsed by 10 other state chapters of the union, including the crucial state of Iowa. Those chapters represent nearly 1 million members, or about half the union's national membership.

Obama has been ramping up his campaign organization in Missouri. Last week, his campaign opened an office in Kansas City and he plans to open another office in St. Louis within the next two weeks, spokesman Ben LaBolt said.

Read the full article from The Associated Press

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Patrick to back Obama's campaign

The Boston Globe | October 18, 2007 By Frank Phillips

Governor Deval Patrick will throw his support behind Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential campaign, an endorsement that could give the Illinois senator a boost in the crucial New Hampshire primary and may help Obama blunt some of Senator Hillary Clinton's recent success in winning African-American support.Administration officials confirmed that the governor called Obama yesterday to pledge his endorsement, and Patrick's volunteers began working out the details of a public rally in Boston Tuesday.

Patrick also called Clinton yesterday to break the news that he would endorse her opponent. Patrick has strong ties to the New York senator from serving as a Justice Department official during the Clinton administration. Both Bill and Hillary Clinton had lobbied Patrick for his endorsement.Patrick chose Obama because the governor believes the country is hungry for a fresh leadership style, one that stirs up strong voter enthusiasm, Patrick administration officials said.The most immediate advantage for Obama is Patrick's ability to dispatch volunteers, who were a major factor in his gubernatorial victory last year, to New Hampshire to campaign.

Patrick sent e-mail last night to 40,000 workers and supporters, informing them of his decision.Many national and state polls suggest Clinton is in the lead and Obama has stalled in a distant second place. And recent polls indicate that Clinton has built a lead of more than 20 percentage points over him among the Granite State's Democratic primary voters.Political specialists said the value of the endorsement will depend on what Patrick can deliver in terms of Massachusetts volunteers willing to travel to New Hampshire on weekends to knock on doors.

The Massachusetts governor's endorsement, on its own, doesn't count for much in the Granite State, said Dante Scala, an associate professor of political science at the University of New Hampshire."Patrick's ultimate value will be in terms of people power, because typically in New Hampshire, endorsements by out-of-state political figures don't hold a lot of weight," he said.Patrick's endorsement could count highly in southern New Hampshire communities that are oriented to Massachusetts and, in particular, Boston-based media. Those areas have a large population of voters who could be open to a pro-Obama message, Scala said.

Patrick is expected to argue in the coming weeks that Obama can lead a "generational call," a rally to inspire young voters to rebuild the country and restore its standing around the world. Patrick feels that the issue of Obama's relative inexperience is overblown, administration officials said.Jeffrey Berry, a political science professor at Tufts University, said Patrick's endorsement will be significant because it will reinforce Obama's most potent weapon: his broad-based appeal to voters."

For Obama, a Patrick endorsement is another sign there is a new, young generation of dynamic black leaders who can appeal across racial and partisan lines," Berry said.Patrick and Obama have traveled similar personal and career paths. Both have roots in Chicago, hold Harvard law degrees, and have emerged in the past several years as the principal figures in a new generation of African-American political leaders. Both have passionate grass-roots support.They met when Obama was a civil rights lawyer in Chicago and Patrick was head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. Obama campaigned for Patrick several times during the governor's race, raising money for him in Chicago in late 2005, when Patrick's gubernatorial bid looked like a longshot. They dined together recently on Martha's Vineyard at the home of a friend."We understand they have been longstanding friends and they share the same strategists," said Mo Elleithee, a Clinton campaign press spokesman.There could be some limits on Patrick's time to campaign.

Patrick's first-year agenda is on the line on Beacon Hill until the legislative session ends Nov. 21. Patrick will also miss a week in December when he leads a Massachusetts trade mission to China.New Hampshire lawmakers are considering whether to move the state's primary election to as early as Dec. 11. If not, the primary will be held in early January.A recent CNN poll suggests Clinton holds a significant lead over Obama among black voters. Just last week, the New York senator pulled off a coup when US Representative John Lewis, Democrat of Georgia and a hero of the civil rights movement, endorsed her.

Read the full article from The Boston Globe

What you can do TODAY: Pulling out all the stops for Tuesday's rally

Brian Corr — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 11:43:49 EDT

Here's what you can do RIGHT NOW to help make Tuesday's rally incredibly successful -- and I've gotten these additional detail directly from Chicago about exactly what they need. So there are three things you can do (and ask you friends as well).

1) Publicity and handing out fliers with us all over Boston (from Fenway to the Head of the Charles): email Eli Forsythe DIRECTLY at eli.forsythe at gmail.com (include name and phone number so Eli can call you and confirm) and say what day and what 3-hour time slot you can do:
* Sat: 11-2, 3-6, or 5-8
* Sun: 10-1, 1-4, or 5-8
* Mon: time TBD, include availability

2) On Sunday, from 5-8 PM, the campaign will be running a phone bank from Harvard Law School, Pound Hall in Room 201, to tell supporters about the Boston rally. Please sign up at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/organizing/4vhcb bring your cellphone, and join us!

3) If you aren't able to get out and hand out fliers or phonebank, or if you have a bit of extra time, you can use the easy calling page at http://my.barackobama.com/page/contact/splash/boston and help spread the word to Obama supporters in the area!

And finally, RSVP (if you haven’t already) at http://www.barackobama.com/boston to be part of this a huge rally at the Parkman Bandstand on Boston Common on Tuesday, October 23rd at 6:30 with Barack Obama and Deval Patrick! And once you've signed up, tell your friends!

Let's pull out all the stops over the next few days for this!

Are You Joining Barack and Deval in Boston: Tue., Oct 23?

Brian Corr — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 10:00:55 EDT

Today's news is that there is a wonderful chance to get our friends and colleagues to see the excitement and hope that we all feel:

Sign up at http://www.barackobama.com /boston to be part of this a huge rally in Boston next Tuesday, October 3rd with Barack Obama!

Please join us: we need to make this a HUGE RALLY and keep building on the momentum of Deval Patrick's endorsement of our candidate!

Here are the details:

* When: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 -- Doors open at 7:00 PM
* Where: TBD
* Sign up at http://www.barackobama.com /boston
* How: The event is free and open to the public. Tickets are not required, but an RSVP is strongly encouraged. Click here to RSVP and receive your rapid-entry pass: http://www.barackobama.com /boston

Once you've signed up, tell your friends!

Allies' approaches differ on race issue

V, aka VCubed/Virginia V — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 17:22:22 EDT

In a nutshell, the columnist sees Jesse Jackson as a divider, Barack Obama as a uniter on race and reconciliation among opposing sides in politics as well. NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE - Boston Globe

By Peter S. Canellos, Globe Columnist | September 25, 2007

WASHINGTON - Of all political marriages of convenience, the union of Senator Barack Obama of Illinois and the Rev. Jesse Jackson, a fellow Chicagoan, is among the most freighted. The two men need each other's support, yet also need to keep their distance. Each serves as a standing critique of the other, yet they profess to share similar goals.

When Jackson, who endorsed Obama for president last spring, was quoted last week as saying that his favorite candidate was "acting like he's white," Jackson mostly hurt himself. Both blacks and whites could take offense, and the remark appeared to violate Jackson's own arguments against a racial litmus test. He quickly backtracked.

|MA State Convention

Marian Duggan-Markos — Mon, 21 May 2007 08:48:16 EDT

I was a delegate to the MA state convention this past Saturday, where there were three very surprising resolutions passed...

House Parties -- How to Host

Owen Jones — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 16:30:19 EST

I found this very cool bit of info in the comments section attached to another great blog piece that I highly recommend, recounting how Deval Patrick used the kind of 'new politics' Obama is talking about to win in MA (here is a link to that piece: Link />The information I found interesting, though, was a set of directions on how to get on the list to host a house party. MoveOn.org used house parties regularly and well in 2004, and I expect that Obama will be using very similar strategies this time. House parties are a *great* way to meet folks and gear up the energy! I think this is the kind of thing that local groups can really hit the ground running with. Here are the directions as I found them:
"HOUSE PARTYS ACROSS THE USA WITH BARACK OBAMA COMING SOON use Volunteer button
I just spoke with the wash DC office and the Chicago Office and sometime in late march they will be hosting house parties simultaneously across the USA.

SIGN UP FOR HOUSE PARTIES BY USING THE VOLUNTEER BUTTON AND OFFERING TO HOST A HOUSE PARTY SOMEWHERE AROUND LATE MARCH. (date to be anounced soon)

fill out the application to volunteer and put in the comment lines = willing to host house parties.

ALSO PLEASE REPOST THIS TO EVERY GROUP YOU ARE A MEMBER TOO TO GET THE WORD AROUND.

They will be contacting everyone who volunteers soon and Barack Obama will be speaking live with everyone simultaneously who attends those house parties through video or audio.

Also they will be using these house parties for fundraising so please call the main office to get your fundraising package.

You can get an Organization Kit from the Obama campaign (866-675-2008) it talks about organizing fund raisers.

PS: If you have any questions about these house parties please email me at ObamaHousePartys@aol.com = ObamaHousePartys AT aol Dot com

NOTE: I am not an official representative but i am open to helping to get everyone on board since its not listed as of yet on their web site.

respectively yours

Danielle Clarke"
My wife, Michele, and I will certainly be hosting in our neighborhood and we would love to brainstorm with others about how to make these events really soar...

Deval Patrick's campaign provides a blueprint for how we should respond to attacks by HRC and Republicans

Daewoo "Hussein" Kim — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 01:41:31 EST

A month ago - long before HRC and Obama's campaigns were trading accusations about David Geffen and Robert Ford - here is part of what I posted on a Seattle Obama blog regarding what Obama and his supporters need to do to withstand attacks:

This is the campaign strategy I expect Senator Obama to use when
running for President: a very positive, uplifting, message of unity.
Though Dukakis and Kerry were criticized for not counterattacking
efforts to swift boat them, I fully expect Obama will run an entirely
positive campaign, including in the general election, even in the face
of swift boat attacks. As Senator Obama's ambassadors, I believe we
(his supporters) have an obligation to be just as disciplined, and stay
on message: building up Obama without ever disparaging Clinton . . . or Republicans.

Let's get started...

Alex Williamson — Fri, 16 Feb 2007 00:31:58 EST

Welcome! I am very excited about this campaign, and if you're reading this you probably are too. I'd like to get the ball rolling on a campus organization as soon as possible. I was very impressed by the organization and success of the 'Deis for Deval campaign last year, and I'd like to build on that. Any one with that kind of experience, whether with Democracy for America, the Patrick campaign,or any other campaign with ideas of how to get started, that would be greatly appreciated.

The Case for Obama - from anonymousliberal.com

jab — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 12:22:06 EST

The Anonymous Liberal has posted an extremely persuasive essay on why Democrats should rally behind Obama's campaign. Let's try to circulate this widely.

Obama Officially Announces

David S. — Sun, 11 Feb 2007 01:05:59 EST

Well, no big shock (this one will soon rank up there with the announcement that Helen Mirren has won the Oscar for "The Queen"), but Obama announced this morning that he is officially in the 2008 Race. So begins what should be a wild fight to the finish. And so begins my blog. I've never blogged before, but recently I've been inspired by the example set by some college friends before me, who've proven that those of us bored at work or looking to procrastinate will truly read ANYTHING - no matter how inane.

My sister Sara also egged on my blogging by noting that my unshaven, long-haired look pretty much supports every mental image the American people have about bloggers. I mean she's right -- there is no way CNN is going to interview a well-groomed blogger dressed in a suit and tie. I guess I should note, however, that Sara is likely to have mixed-emotions about my decision to start a Blog. As a Wellesley College alumna (2003), she is a strong Hillary supporter, along with my mother (Wellesley College 1972 - she even lived in the same dorm for a year as a young Hillary Rodham!).

After I sent an email out to my family telling them to donate to Obama, Sara and I had a nice little chat on the phone. After discussing the potential ramifications my support for Obama could have on family relations (eg, possible disinheritance, selective memory loss when talking about me -"David? Who? Oh... Right, our son who... Well...He...Oh, never mind...."), Sara made an apt comparison: my support for Obama and her support for she-who-must-not-be-named, may eventually come to resemble Civil War era squabbles, where families in border states fell to pieces after John sided with the Union and James joined up with the Confederacy. Although there may be a SLIGHT amount of hyperbole here -- I reckon that no firearms will be involved, for instance -- this could prove to be the cause of some serious tension going foreward, probably manifesting itself in delightful bits of passive agression.

Now in the past, Sara and I have always sided with the same candidates, most recently in our support of newly-elected MA Gov. Deval Patrick, who many have noted is part of a new-class of African-American politicians starting to crop up. But for now, I guess I'm on my own. Maybe that's part of the reason I'm staring this blog. I mean I'm not looking for a new sister or anything (I already have two great ones - yes, Becca, I wasn't going to make my inaugural blog entry without mentioning my twin who currently fights with me on gmail chat not about politics but about more fundamental issues - like whose job provides the best free food perks), but I am looking to find more Obama supporters to communicate with.

Finally freed from the burden of a crushing college work-load, I am excited to throw myself into the 2008 Campaign full-force -- Now only if the Obama campaign could find me a job in New York..HINT HINT. Obama is a candidate of unusual strengths, the likes of which hasn't been seen since Bobby Kennedy. Consequently, I believe that everyone who says that Hillary has the nomination locked up is grossly underestimating the simmering desire of the American people for a NEW approach, for a fresh face who understands just how sick they are of partisan bickering.

Obama is the answer.

Read his books. Listen to his incredible 2004 speech at the Boston convention (when I first became a convert). Senator Obama understands - and in a way free from pretense and political posturing - that Americans simply want a President who they can trust to look out for their best interests. Also, for those of you who are generationally-inclined (ie under 25) check out the Facebook.com group called "One Million Strong For Barack" - it already has 250,000 members, making it the largest group that I have ever seen. There is no group of a comparable magnitute for Senator Clinton - she just doesn't inspire the kind of fervent devotion that Obama does. And in the long run, that will catch up to her. Despite the fact she has the money advantage, the name advantage, the organization advantage, she is lacking in her ability to truly connect to people - something her husband was best known for. And so, ironically, Obama may be viewed as the TRUE Clinton candidate (as some media commentators have already mentioned). President Clinton was a man of the people, and so too, is Obama. And as the weeks roll by in this campaign, the supporters of Obama will start to get the word out: He is the Real Deal. So to everyone reading this - please try and do your part - tell a friend, sign up to volunteer, give some money. Involvement in the political process provides me with a feeling of incredible empowerment - I promise that you'll find the same.

And with that, time to enjoy my 8AM Sunday Morning wake-up call. A bloggers work is never done, and my fight for the Union - I mean Obama, will have to wait til tomorrow.