Get to work for Obama

As the primary season got underway earlier this year, we supported John Edwards for the Democratic presidential nomination. But as we watched the Iowa caucus returns on the evening of Jan. 3, we happened upon Barack Obama’s victory speech. As he spoke, a deep yearning was reawakened in each of us, a rekindling of a profound hope—for ourselves, our community and our nation—that things can be better. So we decided to learn more about this candidate. We downloaded Obama’s autobiography, Dreams from My Father, and gave up “The Daily Show” for a couple of weeks to listen each evening to the author candidly and eloquently share intimate details of his life—even aspects that many who aspire to political office would have left unsaid.

Through these activities and others, it became clear to us that Obama’s campaign for the presidency is about more than just the candidate: It’s also about us, the citizens of this nation. For in his books and in his speeches, he encourages us to become accountable, to become engaged and to work collectively to address the challenges that confront us today. So a few weeks ago, we rolled up our sleeves and got involved—volunteering for WNC for Change, the local grass-roots effort to elect Obama; calling voters in Wisconsin, Texas and Mississippi; and contributing money to his campaign.

As we attended the volunteer meetings and visited barackobama.com and wncforchange.com, we discovered that there are thousands of folks of various ages, ethnic groups, political persuasions and socioeconomic backgrounds supporting Obama in Western North Carolina. We have united to reclaim our power from the special interests in Washington and elect leaders like Obama who are dedicated to serving all of us. We invite you to join in as we work to make Barack Obama the winner in the North Carolina Democratic Primary on May 6 and move him one step closer to becoming president of the United States.

— Shonnie Lavender and Bruce Mulkey
Asheville

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16 thoughts on “Get to work for Obama

  1. entopticon

    Opportunities such as an Obama Presidency usually come along only once in a lifetime, so it is of utmost importance that we do not let this historically important opportunity go to waste.

    Already, Obama’s candidacy has set historical precedent through its grassroots campaign. He has successfully raised more money than any other Presidential candidate in history, and the most amazing thing about that is that as opposed to Hillary, he did it with small donors rather than relying on federal lobbyists and fat-cat insiders with their own agendas.

    Obama will present a new face of integrity and dialogue to the world, which will be an invaluable tool in the most important war of all; the war to win hearts and minds so that we can start to put an end to the destructive cycle of violence.

    Thank you Shonnie Lavender and Bruce Mulkey for supporting the greatest Presidential candidate in my lifetime.

  2. travelah

    If Obama can send the carpetbagger Senator from New Illiarkanyork back to her adopted home, he will be good news for the Republican Party. At that point, he will have to apply substance to what so far has been completely empty rhetoric. Why would you run to support a candidate that has not presented any substance to his campaign other than to run on slogans?

  3. Eli Cohen

    It will not take much to defeat the republicons this year, even the stupidest people can see they are wrong for this country. By the way, he has presented plenty of substance, just not the kind you like. (bible thumpin’, war mongerin’, etc.)

  4. Dionysis

    It’s highly unlikely that Obama’s positions, which are substantive, contrary to remarks to the contrary, will be gleaned from watching Fixed News or listening to Rush and his ilk.

    For those who watched Obama on Hardball’s College Tour recently, students at West Chester University asked some very specific questions (as did Chris Matthews). Obama’s answers were detailed, in depth and showed an impressive command of some rather arcane subjects. Those who continue to play the ’empty suit’ routine need some new ammunition, or simply need to broaden their range of information, should they wish to banish that element of ignorance.

  5. dave

    I think it is funny that travelah would mock Clinton for adopting a state for political purposes without pointing out that GW is a rich blue-blood from New England pretending to be a Texan.

    Of course, I listen to Rush and Hannity all day long for the comic releif as well.

  6. travelah

    Dionysis,asserting that Obama has substantive position statements without offering them does not bring anything to the discussion. I too have listened to the man and I hear nothing but empty rhetoric and sloganeering. Point me to a place where I can read his positions on issues that have substance and credibility.

  7. Eli Cohen

    Travelah, why don’t you name an issue and then maybe someone can supply you with a credible position. Truth be known, all you’re interested in is smearing a good mans name. I can tell you one thing, anyone is going to be better than that sociopath gw bush.

  8. travelah

    Ha! 3 chickens in every pot paid for by somebody else. You should have stayed a Communist.

  9. travelah

    It means that his “position” is more empty meaningless drivel very much like the endless promises and unattainable objectives of most politicians… in other words more meaningless promises for the soothing of his own constiuency.

  10. Daniel

    If we look at energy policy, I’ll take just one tiny chunk of Obama’s policy: reduction of carbon emissions. Here’s the first paragraph of that section:

    “Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Obama’s cap-and-trade system will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent auction ensures that all polluters pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving these emission rights away to coal and oil companies. Some of the revenue generated by auctioning allowances will be used to support the development of clean energy, to invest in energy efficiency improvements, and to address transition costs, including helping American workers affected by this economic transition. ”

    How on earth is this “empty rhetoric” or “chicken in every pot”? There are substantial objections to such a system (for one thing, it may result in increased carbon pollution in poor neighborhoods, compared to a tighter regulatory system; when such pollution consists of particulates, this can result in increased health problems among those in poverty), but it’s the opposite of a Communist system, and it’s certainly substantial.

    Other aspects of his program do require money, that’s certainly true. Virtually every politician’s campaign promises involve money, including McCain’s promises to “get the job done” in Iraq. If you’re suggesting that Obama’s promises are more expensive than those of the other major candidates, ball’s in your court to offer proof. If you’re not suggesting that, then you’re just pointing out that ducks can quack: you’re not telling us anything noteworthy.

    Daniel

  11. travelah

    Daniel …

    “Obama supports implementation of a market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by the amount scientists say is necessary: 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050. Obama’s cap-and-trade system will require all pollution credits to be auctioned. A 100 percent auction ensures that all polluters pay for every ton of emissions they release, rather than giving these emission rights away to coal and oil companies. Some of the revenue generated by auctioning allowances will be used to support the development of clean energy, to invest in energy efficiency improvements, and to address transition costs, including helping American workers affected by this economic transition. “

    This is called “BS that Baffles”. It is word fluff with lots of jargon but it really doesn’t state anything with specifics nor does it spell out how he intends to accomplish his objectives. This is standard political garbage.

  12. Daniel

    Travelah, it may baffle you, but that’s not the fault of the campaign, nor is your lack of understanding of the “jargon” the fault of anyone but yourself. If you take some time to educate yourself about that jargon, you’ll learn that he’s actually made a very specific proposal.

    You’re putting his campaign in something of a Catch-22: if he makes a proposal in layman’s terms, you’ll accuse him of vagueness, whereas if he makes a proposal using the language developed for discussing the issue, you accuse him of jargon and baffling BS. I’m quite happy to see that he’s not limiting his language to that of the least common denominator, but is rather using terms of art that most efficiently convey the specificity of the proposal to those who bother to learn what the terms mean.

    If you choose to respond to this, I hope you’ll either admit that you’ve educated yourself as to the meaning of those “baffl[ing]” terms, or you’ll explain with equal specificity why you believe that you understand what the terms mean and that his proposal is not specific. Just coming back with broad, fluffy, insubstantial insults about how broad and fluffy and insubstantial Obama’s campaign is will not even win you an Irony Award, given the current Internet climate.

    Daniel

  13. Eli Cohen

    “T” He’s intelligent, he’s black, he’s a liberal. He’s the antithesis of everything you believe. So what are the odds of you agreeing with anything he says?

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