I think all of us Obama supporters in Licking County can be very proud of the work we did in helping Sen. Obama win Ohio in '08 and become our next President. All of our contributions, no matter how great or small, made a big difference. From knocking on doors and making those phone calls, holding house parties and attending events, to simply talking with friends and family about why we supported Obama, we made the difference. Don't ever forget how powerful these kind of things can be for a political campaign.
I am happy to report that in Licking Co., Sen. Obama did much better in '08 (McCain 57.01% - Obama 41.02%) than Kerry did in '04 (Bush 61.72% - 37.84). Quietly, I always said that Obama didn't have to win in Licking Co. to win Ohio, he just couldn't afford to get crushed like Kerry did. Thanks to you, Obama was anything but crushed in Licking Co., and it made all the difference in the final outcome.
Thank you again.
Mark Johns
Licking County, OH for Obama
Video the Vote is calling on you to help us document issues of voter suppression and disenfranchisement on Election Day 2008 in Your Community!!We need strong leaders to serve as: Local Producers, Shooters and Team Leaders on Election Day to protect the vote and ensure our civil liberties!We can stop vote suppression in it's tracks. I am member of Video the vote. The republicans are still very active in vote suppression. Also we can report problems with voting devices and to document any activity. We need your help to prevent another Florida in 2000 or Ohio in 2004. We will have the time before the elctorial college votes to show the senate any irregularities during this election.
Video The Vote (www.videothevote.org) is a nonpartisan Voter Protection project, which aims to protect the vote by being the eyes and ears where ballots are cast and counted on Election Day 2008. With the help of our partners (Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, Common Cause, Voter Action, People for the American Way, Color of Change, Rock the Vote, Working Assets, many more), and an army of nation-wide citizen dispatchers, videographers and reporters, we will document and report any irregularities that occur at polling places and boards of elections while they are happening, enabling the media and public to watch-dog the electoral process and document issues of voter-suppression across our country. Like any grassroots effort, this campaign depends on the participation of as many people as possible.Do MORE than vote on November 4, 2008! Video the Vote! Help protect the vote! Protect your community! Visit www.videothevote.org or email danie@videothevote.org to get involved today!!!
I want to remind everyone that in Ohio, the early voting period will begin on September 30. The Obama campaign is strongly encouraging everyone intending to vote for Sen. Obama to do so early.
In Licking County, OH, you will need to go to the Board of Elections office located in the County Administration building next to Wendy's on the Courthouse Square. It is easy to early vote there. For the primary, it took me about five minutes, and I avoided the long lines on election day. Plus, you get to vote on a paper ballot instead of on the machines.
Please make sure you early vote, and tell everyone you know that is going to vote for Obama to try and vote early as well. We don't want our voters having to wait in long lines at the polls on November 4.
You are The Boss... which team would you hire?With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, Republican adminstration nationalizing public traded financial institutions and threatening war with Russia, etc. etc., all in all this is an unusually critical election year.Let's look at the educational background of your two options:Obama:Occidental College - Two years.Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude& Biden:University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)vs.McCain:United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899& Palin:Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semesterNorth Idaho College - 2 semesters - general studyUniversity of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalismMatanuska-Susitna College - 1 semesterUniversity of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight..... * If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different." But.... * Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, yours is a quintessential American story. * If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. * Name your kids Willow, Trig, Bristol and Track, you're a maverick. * Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable. * Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded. * If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience. * If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive. * If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian. * If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian. * If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society. * If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very responsible. * If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's. * If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable. OK, much clearer now.
* If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic, different." But.... * Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, yours is a quintessential American story. * If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim. * Name your kids Willow, Trig, Bristol and Track, you're a maverick. * Graduate from Harvard law School and you are unstable. * Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded. * If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience. * If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive. * If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a real Christian. * If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian. * If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society. * If , while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant , you're very responsible. * If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's. * If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DUI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable. OK, much clearer now.
We all know that high school football is big in Licking County, and throughout the state of Ohio. Many different kinds of people attend games every Friday evening.
I was talking with Matt, one of our Obama campaign staffers here in Licking Co., about the idea of having people setup tables outside the enterances to high school football fields this Fall to increase our exposure, have the opportunity to talk to voters, and draw in new supporters. He and I both think it can work, but we need your help to make it successful.
My idea is to have the tables setup prior to the game, before people start entering, and then taken down shortly after the games start. This will allow people sitting at these tables to go into the game if they wish without missing much of the action. It would be nice if we could have at least one Obama supporter that lives near each of the two schools playing, that way each could wear their school's colors with an Obama button on. We'll need the help of the Obama campaign to have literature, voter reg. forms, Obama stickers and buttons, etc., for the tables. If anyone else has some ideas for this, please feel free to share them with everyone.
We need your help and participation to make this work. I feel that we have got to start making a bigger impact in Licking Co. We have all seen the national polls tightening recently. We can't afford to like this election slip through our fingers. If all of us would donate just one Friday evening this season to doing this, I think it could be a huge success. It's probably the most effective way we can reach voters in Licking Co. on Friday nights.
I will help to cover some of Heath High School home football games, and maybe even some road games as well. I know Heath has a home game against Johnstown (8/29) and Utica (9/5). If I could get some help from fellow supporters from Johnstown and Utica for those games, that would be great.
If you live in other school districts, please help cover games at your schools. I'll coordinate what I can, but feel free to step up and contact your school's athletic director to get details on where our tables can be setup. Let me know if you have any questions.
As the November election is drawing ever closer, I want to encourage everyone in Licking Co. to make sure you are helping to lay the foundation for the Obama Campaign's success in Ohio. Be sure to stop by the Licking Co. Democrats HQ at 15 W. Church St., Newark, next to Riley's Bakery. Or call them at 349-8273. There are plenty of easy volunteer opportunities in the area, and ANYTHING that you can do to help will advance our common cause.
If you believe as I do that, as President, Sen. Obama would help put this country back on a path to success, please consider this fact. Monday, August 4, will be exactly THREE MONTHS before the general election on November 4. ONLY THREE MONTHS! That is not much time at all.
Please consider that what you choose to do to help Sen. Obama's campaign during these last three months could have a long and lasting effect. Also, consider that what you choose NOT to do to help Sen. Obama's campaign also could have a long and lasting effect. If, three months before the 2000 election, we were to have clearly understood the damage that George W. Bush's presidency would bring to this country, I suspect many of us would have done much more to prevent it.
Now is our chance to help make sure that damage isn't continued. I encourage each of us to please take stock of what is at stake. Try to schedule on your calendar at least one 2-hour-block of time each week to help out Sen. Obama's campaign. Make it a regular commitment to yourself, just like a regular workout time at the gym. If we all do a little, we will get a lot done, and the time for getting it done is short.
Here in Licking County, I encourage everyone to drop in at the Licking County Democrats HQ at 15 W. Church St. in Newark and schedule your time with them. There are a number of things we can do for Sen. Obama's campaign, the Congressman Zack Space (US-18th) and David Robinson (US-12th) campaigns, and the campaigns of other local candidates. Consider signing up for the Aug. 4 phone banking event at the Licking Co. Dems HQ (http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44kb7) and spend an hour or two that evening reaching out to voters.
The general election will be here before we know it. Will we have helped make sure Licking County was ready?
I'm looking forward to working with you soon.
During the course of the Democratic Primary campaign, I was the unfortunate recipient of occasional e-mails that were spreading the craziest lies about Sen. Barack Obama's background and beliefs. You probably were too.
Now that he likely will be the Democratic presidential nominee, if history repeats itself, these types of attempts on his character, and that of his family, will probably increase. In fact, just a week or two ago, Rush Limbaugh (no bastion of the truth, as everyone should know by now) engaged in this behavior toward Michelle Obama. Thankfully, Sen. Obama's campaign has decided that they are not going to allow lies about him and his family to go unchecked.
I would encourage you to click on the link http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/fightthesmearshome/ and see for yourself the truth about some of the things you've probably read and heard regarding Sen. Obama. And if you should receive one of these e-mails that people have been sending, I would encourage you to reply back to everyone that received the e-mail with the above link, and ask them to read the truth straight from the candidate himself. If you hear someone talking about the lies that are out there, encourage them to go to this website and find out the facts.
It's one thing to disagree with a political candidate's position on issues and decide not to support that candidate based on that. But lies about a candidate (or his/her family) spread by e-mail and radio talk-show hosts should not play a roll in that decision, and they should not be tolerated. With this website, Sen. Obama's campaign is allowing everyone to understand the truths behind these lies and giving everyone the ability to fight back.
Rep. Zack Space has now endorsed Sen. Obama (http://www.coshoctontribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080605/UPDATES01/80605017). It will be interesting to see where the Obama campaign will be making stops in his district. I think Rep. Space will be an important part of the Obama campaign doing better in our area. Let's hope Sen. Obama is around early and often.
Well, if there are any of us that thought this nomination was going to be easy (could there really have been anybody still thinking that?), last night's PA results showed us once again that if we want to have the kind of change we want in Ohio and America, we've all got to work hard for it.
So, it's time for all of us to get back to work (me included) and start reaching out to our follow Americans, talking to them about why it's important to support Sen. Obama. There are two important primaries coming up in Indiana and N. Carolina. Let's all make a little effort to contact voters in those states (particularly our neighbors in Indiana) and encourage them to vote for Barack. If we can all just influence a couple voters to cast a ballot for Barack, together, we will have made quite an impact.
So, don't be down and hanging your head at this point. Let's hit the phone banking here on the Obama campaign website and make an impact in those two states. And don't forget contributions to the campaign. We can get this done. It's just going to take longer and take more work. Let's do it!
In case you missed it, here is a funny bit done on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart about Sen. Obama's "bitter" comments and the media trying to describe him as "elitist". Enjoy!
http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=166074&title=headlines-gaffe-in
I'm kind of stunned at the way the Clinton campaign has been so slow to release documents and information. There are a number of things out there that would be very interesting for all the voters to see.
The Clinton campaign as yet to release the recent tax returns for Bill and Hillary. They have been dragging their feet for some time on this one. If they wanted to have them released, wouldn't it be as easy as calling their accountants to get them released? What would that take, all of 10 minutes to do? Why is the Clinton campaign keeping this information locked up?
Also, there are a couple of lesser-known items that could have even more information about the Clintons' associates than their tax returns. If you don't know, "earmarks" are special funding given to different types of spending programs, usually within a Senator or Congressperson's state or representative area. The Clinton campaign has not released the information about the "earmarks" she has gotten through Congressional spending bills. If there is no questionable information about these "earmarks" why not let them be known? If all Hillary has done is help provide funding for programs that are good for the general public, what harm would be done by everyone knowing about it?
The other lesser-known item has to do with the donations to the Clinton Presidential Library. Recent past Presidents have had libraries built to house the documents and "artifacts" surrounding their times in the Oval Office. People donate money to the building and development of these libraries. If there are special interests that want to cozy up to the Clintons, donations to Bill's library would be one way to do that. Why won't the Clintons release the donors and donation amounts for the library?
And finally, we have the Clinton campaign not wanting to release Hillary's fundraising total for the month of March until around April 20, which is around when campaign laws would require the fundraising information to be made public. Sen. Obama's campaign announced today that it raised $40 million in the month of March (make your future donations to his campaign here http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/LickingCountyOHforObama) from over 400,000 people, which shows the growing strength of his campaign. Why the silence from the Clinton campaign on fundraising totals? The amount raised for March cannot change now, right? If that's so, then why wait?
Perhaps the Clinton campaign believes all of this non disclosure is in her campaign's best interests. If so, what a terrible statement that is about her campaign. Are secrets more valuable to Sen. Clinton than the truth in the public forum?
I will be curious to see if Sen. Obama's surrogates push these issues hard whenever they are on the cable news shows. I would try to push them for a week or so. It seems to me that these items play well to Sen. Obama's strengths and expose Sen. Clinton's campaign to having to answer what might be some tough questions. Let's see if the media runs with these type of stories or not.
For anyone who hasn't been able to see or read the speech that Sen. Obama gave on March 18 regarding Race in this country, you need to experience this. In my opinion, his thoughts which he expressed on this subject are the most honest, powerful, insightful, and hopeful since Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech.
More than ever, I am convinced that Sen. Obama is the right person, at the right time, with the right vision and message for America. We supporters (ALL OF US) need to do everything we can to help ensure his nomination and election in November. His words have inspired me to make another small donation to his campaign, and I challenge each of you to do the same.
I know that a large number of the members of the "Licking County, OH for Obama" group have not yet made a donation to Sen. Obama's campaign through our group's fundraising page. After hearing Sen. Obama's speech in Philadelphia, I strongly urge you to make a donation to help achieve our group's goal. Donate anything you can afford. Even $1 is not too small of an amount! It is fast and easy to do, and simply put, Sen. Obama's campaign cannot accomplish it's mission without financial support from us. Click on the link below to contribute now, and then invite your friends to do the same.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/LickingCountyOHforObama
If you are not a member of the "Licking County, OH for Obama" group, don't let that stop you! Please donate toward our group's fundraising goal as well. Help inspire the others that see our fundraising page to join you in contributing. Together, I know we will help bring about the change that Sen. Obama envisions for our country!
Please click on the link below to watch and read the text of Sen. Obama's March 18 speech:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGBbKG
As most of you know, the primary in Pennsylvania is on April 22. It is a state that is not far away from us in Ohio, and one that is going to be very important to the primary process.
It would be helpful to Sen. Obama's campaign for him to have as many volunteers there as possible. Please consider going to Western Pennsylvania the weekends of April 12-13 and April 19-20 to help out. There probably are many things his campaign will need in that state, and you could help with part of it.
Canvassing is something that has a huge impact on influencing potential primary voters. Not everyone is comfortable knocking on doors, but believe me, it's not that hard. As I canvassed in Licking County last week, the worst part of it was certainly not the people that opened their doors when I knocked, but the weather. And it's going to be warmer in April, I hope.
So keep this in mind as you start to fill your schedules for weekends in April. I hope you'll help make an impact for Sen. Obama's campaign in Pennsylvania.
The Dallas Morning News gets hold of Clinton caucus "training materials," in which supporters are instructed to fight for procedural control of caucuses.
The materials say in part, "DO NOT allow the supporter of another candidate to serve in leadership roles."It goes on to say, "If our supporters are outnumbered, ask the Temporary Chair if one of our supporters can serve as the Secretary, in the interest of fairness."The control of the sign-in sheets and the announcement of the delegates allotted to each candidate are the critical functions of the Chair and Secretary. This is why it is so important that Hillary supporters hold these positions."
"We Are The Ones" a new Video by Will.i.am
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ghSJsEVf0pU
HOPE...or FEAR?
"If one candidate's trying to scare you, and the other one's trying to get you to think; if one candidate's appealing to your fears, and the other one's appealing to your hopes; you better vote for the person who wants you to think and hope." - Bill Clinton 2004
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGW38Zy4bJo
“As Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am all too aware that the threats we face are unconventional. They are sophisticated. They are constantly changing and adapting. And they are very serious. What matters most in the Oval Office is sound judgment and decisive action. It’s about getting it right on crucial national security questions the first time – and every time. The indisputable fact is Barack Obama was right about Iraq when many of us were wrong.
It was a tough call and the single greatest national security question, and mistake, of our time. Today, we remain a country at war, and countless mistakes over the last six and a half years have made us less safe. "
--Sen. Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee
"Hillary Clinton already had her 'red phone' moment". -Senator Barack Obama, February 29, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyC7loMop58&mode=related&search=
New Barack Obama television ad, "Ringing"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=879o1_pxO0c
As most of you know, Sen. Obama has made great strides recently in the polls here in Ohio, and in Texas. However, now is not the time to get comfortable and think that this nomination will soon be decided in Sen. Obama's favor. Quite the opposite. Now is the time to get out and make a victory for Sen. Obama a reality!
So, fellow supporters of Sen. Obama here in Licking County, OH, if you haven't already started to canvass, now is the time to do so. If Sen. Obama can win here in Ohio, he will likely get the nomination. If he does not win here in Ohio, the issue will still be very much in doubt, with Sen. Clinton sure to pull out all the stops to try and secure support from the Super Deligates.
Imagine how you will feel when, after knocking on a few doors and gaining the support of voters in Licking County who were undecided, you've helped Sen. Obama win in our county and state! On the other hand, imagine how will you feel if you haven't tried to get votes for him, and he ends up not winning in Ohio?
Please contact Bobby Hoffman, our Obama campaign Field Organizer as soon as possible to help canvass a few homes this weekend in our county. You can reach him at 843-359-4142. Or, stop in at the Obama Campaign HQ in Licking County, located at 2074 Cherry Valley Rd. in Newark. Sen. Obama needs your help now. We've all said we are among his supporters, and now is the time to show it!
With over a quarter-million views so far, see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fd-MVU4vtU
Why did you write the song?
We only have two weeks to introduce Senator Obama to Latinos in Texas. The song informs them about his humble background, his work as a community organizer, his ability to unite different groups and also to emphasize the need for change. At the same time I wanted the song to include all the different cities and all the regions with significant Latino population like Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, the Valley and San Antonio, and then I wanted the chorus to center on Obama as a candidate fighting for this nation, and he is hoping to keep families united, safe, and also with a health care plan.
We only have two weeks and viral campaigns are easy to communicate to the masses with such short time. We are trying to use new media to communicate his inspiring story.
You already wrote a catchy reggeaton Obama jingle. Why the mariachi music?
Because the reggeaton song really was for Latino youth and now I wanted to create something that would appeal to all different age groups. If you are Mexican American, then mariachi music is listened to by everybody you know. I am very familiar with mariachi music and it also is a very good way to tell a story in a song. I thought senator Obama has not really presented his story to Latinos and I thought this would be a good way to introduce Senator Obama and be played over and over again.
Did you write the lyrics and compose the music?
I wrote the song, the lyrics. I definitely was inspired by other mariachi music, so I don't think that the musical arrangement is that unique. Where I really worked hard were the lyrics so that it would capture what senator Obama is about and the message that needs to be communicated to Latinos
When did you write the song?
Last Tuesday I was sitting at home and like everyone else watching the Potomac primaries. I knew Texas was on the horizon and started writing the song. I recorded it on Friday with a local mariachi group. On the Viva Obama chorus, that's me and some other folks too.
I really looked at the message that needs to be shared with Latinos, to have an impact on senator Obama reaching Latinos. Especially after February 5th when Hillary Clinton was so dominant in so many states with Latino population.
I thought something had to be done to get the word out on Obama.
Obama Video: "VIVA OBAMA"
The Spanish-language melody says:
Obama was born in humble circumstances, “without pretension” and that he will unite America and help families get health insurance. The song says it doesn’t matter if a person is from San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Houston, El Paso or the Valley. What matters is that they vote for Obama on March 4.
With over a quarter-million views so far, the video is the work of Miguel Orozco, an ardent Obama supporter who runs the website AmigosdeObama.com which means “Friends of Obama.” See the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fd-MVU4vtU
Obama Song Spanish Reggaeton- http://youtube.com/watch?v=A0dMxqgS1-8
