Aug

6

Turning the Page on American Foreign Policy

Filed Under Barack Obama, Election 2008 | Leave a Comment

Last week, Senator Obama discussed American foreign policy and there is one part of his speech in particular that struck a cord with me:

And we know what the extremists say about us. America is just an occupying Army in Muslim lands, the shadow of a shrouded figure standing on a box at Abu Ghraib, the power behind the throne of a repressive leader. They say we are at war with Islam. That is the whispered line of the extremist who has nothing to offer in this battle of ideas but blame — blame America, blame progress, blame Jews. And often he offers something along with the hate. A sense of empowerment. Maybe an education at a madrasa, some charity for your family, some basic services in the neighborhood. And then: a mission and a gun.

We know we are not who they say we are. America is at war with terrorists who killed on our soil. We are not at war with Islam. America is a compassionate nation that wants a better future for all people. The vast majority of the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims have no use for bin Ladin or his bankrupt ideas. But too often since 9/11, the extremists have defined us, not the other way around.

When I am President, that will change. We will author our own story.

We do need to stand for democracy. And I will. But democracy is about more than a ballot box. America must show — through deeds as well as words — that we stand with those who seek a better life. That child looking up at the helicopter must see America and feel hope.

Turning the page on American foreign will require a new perspective, a new strategy, and new story of what America is, who America is, and what America can and must be. Senator Obama is the only one, so far, who has articulated a vision of presenting a new America to the world; an America of both words and deeds.

We do not need more of the same, but rather more of the different because this is a new day that requires new thinking.

If fundamental change is to occur in this country at the highest levels of government, then we need a leader who looks beyond what is political probable to what is practically possible. Senator Obama is that leader.

May

30

Elections Are About Change

Filed Under Barack Obama, California, Election 2008 | Leave a Comment

Elections are about change.

Change in leadership, change in individual and collective sentiments, change in views of our self, each other and our world, and ultimately change in trajectory for the nation.

The 2008 US Presidential Election may seem a long time coming, but it is not. The election is here; the election is now.

In this election I adamantly support Senator Barack Obama because he represents a truly new generation of politics, he symbolizes the notion of hope, and understands that change does not come from the top-down, but the bottom-up.

My hope is that people get more involved in the election which will define the course of our country, our people for generations to come.

To learn more and get involved in Senator Obama’s campaign, visit http://www.barackobama.com/.

Mar

24

Notes from Oakland Organizing Meeting 3/11

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Whoa!

The past two weeks have been filled with classes, papers, exams, meetings, budgets, campaigning, partying and trying to sleep. I am glad that next week is Spring Break; a time for rest and relaxation.

This is the first of a few posts that I am finally taking off the back burner. This post is about the Barack Obama Oakland Organizing Meeting on Sunday, March 11, 2007 at the Marriott in downtown Oakland. You can read my notes from the meeting and pictures.

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BO Oakland Organizing Meeting
Sunday, March 11, 2007

— START Meeting —

Arrived at 12:30PM; Start Time: 12:45PM

BO Video

Welcome and Chants by Julie:
Chants: O Bama, 0 8, Obama 08

How can we help get BO elected?

Thank You for Being Here

How did you find out about this? Words travel electronically
BO Email
Other BO Org email
Word of Mouth

Craig, BOA, Southern California

Welcome, Thank Julie,

Sign Up Sheet (get extra copy)

All of us are committed

We are all workers: phone call, knock on doors, raise $, wave signs,
Right Candidate at the Right Time
Your Campaign, Grassroots Movement, We can change America and change Politics

Movement that we bring people who left out

Enough people need to rise to the challenge, play a role

Invest time and talents

Chief opponent is cynicism, cynicism falls prey to energy
4 weeks since: 3306 grassroots volunteer groups, tens-thousand
ex) Sacramento for Obama: 300 people show up, organization and structure in place, example of what can be done
4416 personal fundraising, low-dollar
3363 people created blogs
38799 profiles networking with people within community and throughout country

1/26: 1 Million Strong for BO:, 300k+

How Can You Help?

Campaign Structure
National HQ: Chicago
Research
Communications
Fundraising
Grassroots Organizing

Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, New Hampshire: hired formidable campaign veterans, first 4 crucial, get operations rocking and rolling

Next two months: California Offices, no definitive time table, web, email, talking, places to go,

1st crucial states:

National Primary: 2/5/08; CA primary will be a critical to nominating process; CA democratic stronghold; as many as 26 states holding primaries, 70% of the population, by the end of Feb 2008 hold delegate selection process

Campaign calendar accelerated, get involved sooner

38 million people, massive battleground, ton of candidates, CA much larger version of Iowa

How Can You Help?
1) Write a Letter to the Editor: how you feel, why you support, how he can change politics in America, write what you feel in your heart, listen to heart and soul

2) House Parties on March 31, 2007: Host a House Party, or team up, include live webcast with BO, raise small dollars, sign people up, invite people to learn about BO, make phone call; download Party Kit; DVDs may be available

3) Sign 5 People Up for My.BO.com: Go online at BarackObama.com

4) Contribute Online: $5-100 can go a long way, need to be able to operate in all states, need resources to communicate,

5) Attend or Volunteer for Rally: 3/17, Oakland City Hall, In Front of Plaza, We are trying to get a bring crowd, bring many, many ways to volunteer, need 100-200 people (at least); need ticket distribution centers, need place where people can get tickets, but if people cannot go online we need to have places were they can get tickets, M-F,
3PM gates open,

Barack Obama is committed to changing our politics, the campaign will continue to honor faith and trust, thrilled to have your commitment going forward, never been apart of a campaign were people have been as energized, candidate to generate enough buzz, true grassroots movement, street by street, community by community, state by state

Thank you all for coming

Mike, How to use BarackObama.com
1) What Can You Do Now? Intense here in CA, while we still grow campaign, ongoing enthusaiasm, we are a young organization
trying desparately to keep up with this movement
website is your field staff, local organizer, put together this meeting,
students use internet to communicate,
most helpful volunteers show people the website;
The website is more than that,
Website is more than information,
you can download video onto laptop, flickr post pictures,

2) Create a Personal Profile: Mike Molfo, only 3 friends, member of a number groups, across the spectrum, create an event,
[staying ahead of the movement]
Grow, grow and grow [but sustain and strengthen],

3) Plan Your Own Events: Find, Create, and Manage
When Field Staff Comes, Opening Offices, they will make events
[official versus unofficial, need to work delicately]

More than a Talk at You Website, Tools to Organize, Mobilize and Take Action, “Make It Happen”

Craig:
- Take Questions: Preface, Not Policy Expert, Cannot Comment on BO stands, Not Local Politico; 2) We have to go to SF soon

Take Donations by PayPal? IDK, No

Local Offices, Hubs of Information/Org’ing,

Every tactic that is necessary to win

I cannot vote, what else can I do?
- Urge, come to HQ, energy at HQ, students can get involved (needs to be more than a campaign

A Lady from San Jose who uses MeetUp.com
Quarter Campaigning
Farmer’s Market
MeetUp.com
Look at Other
Mike

Guest speaker

California Community Colleges: Black Caucus , student, traveling an issues

Volunteer Meeting Rally, 3PM,

14th/Broadway

BO Clothing, etc.; BO.com

Josh: Can we all connect with each other

— END Meeting —

Feb

25

Barack Obama Rally in LA, A Rush

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Monday night, I returned home from San Francisco after attending a Senator Boxer/Obama fundraiser with Rodney.

Tuesday morning, me, Mayra and Justin drove 4+ from Merced to Los Angeles to see Senator Barack Obama!

Upon on arrival to LA, we picked up my friend Saul who attends UCLA.

We then drove over to the Rancho Cienega Sports Complex and had to park 5+ blocks from the complex.

It was awesome! There were so many people, from all walks of life, at the event!

At the close of his speech his talked about Students for Barack Obama (SFBO)! I was cheering when he mentioned SFBO and the power of students to make change. Woo!

Unlike SF, when I missed my chance to shake the Senator’s hand, this time, I was close enough. I tried to take a picture at the exact moment he shook my hand but my camera delayed!

After the rally, we drove to my house to see my parents, ate some pozole, watched a movie and rested.

We left LA at 10PM and didn’t get home until 2AM. The next morning I had work for the Campaign for College Opportunity at 6AM.

What a rush! :-)

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Feb

19

Senator Boxer and Obama in San Francisco!

Filed Under Barack Obama, Links | Leave a Comment

Tonight, Rodney and I traveled to San Francisco for the Senator Boxer and Senator Obama Fundraiser!

It was a lot of fun driving to SF, especially when we ran out of gas.

We stopped in Oakland to search for a gas station. After 15 minutes, we finally found a Shell.

After arriving in San Francisco, we got a bit lost and had to stop at another Shell to get directions. I walked into the station with nothing and left with a map of SF and a pack of gum.

We arrived at the Westin St. Francis Hotel at Union Square and volunteered.

Our work consisted of holding Senator Barbara Boxer signs, greeting people, answering questions as best as we could and directing people to the bathrooms. :-)

Both Senators Boxer and Obama were very inspiring! Barack got the loudest cheers! After his speech and a short story from Boxer, Obama shook peoples’ hands. I tried to shake his hand, but there were too many people crowding his path out the room. Next time. ;-)

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Feb

18

Good to Hear

Filed Under Barack Obama | Leave a Comment

I just finished a Students for Barack Obama conference call with over 20 of my felow student leaders across the country.

It was great to listen and talk with other people who are excited about the campaign and the future!

We talked about what is happening with SFBO and how things are going across the country. We had a lot of questions, ranging from how to start a chapter, to how to respond to a negative op-ed in a local newspaper about the Senator.

I sense deep commitment amongst my peers, but some hesitation and reluctance because, as students, this is the first time we are dipping our toes into presidential campaigning waters.

Politics is daunting to some, confusing to others, but ultimately it is politics that drives change and we, as students, are becoming apart of the change we seek in the world.

Feb

17

The Time for Action is Now

Filed Under Barack Obama | Leave a Comment

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Greetings!

This is my first blog post.

This blog will chronicle my journey across California to “inform people, students in particular, about Senator Barack Obama, his message of hope, vision for the future, and political platform and elect the Senator to become President of the United States with an overwhelming majority of state voters.”

The Time for Action is Now! It’s time to “get to work!”

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