Story County, Iowa for Obama

Phone Calls from Hillary

Laura — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 20:43:08 EDT

I feel it's important for everyone to know what's coming our way....I'm a delegate here in Iowa for Barack Obama and proud of it! I've been receiving calls all weekend from Hillary Clinton's campaign trying to convince me to switch my support to her for the upcoming convention. I've also heard from other delegates I know for Edwards and Richardson receiving similar calls in recent days.So it's come to this: an utterly despicable attempt to sway the conventions and allegiance of pledged delegates. An action she said she would NOT do.Do we need further proof of just how underhanded Clinton can be? I know it's a sign of desperation, but after all of her latest comments about sharing a ticket with Obama, so you can vote for her...this latest betrayal of the very basic principal of our democracy and votes in action is truly disheartening.

Beware the politics of Deceit!

Fire it Up!

Jeremy Ziemer — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 19:22:53 EST

Dear Supporters of Senator Obama,

Please consider giving a small donation to Senator Obama's campaign and show the special interests that they are not going to dominate this election. Donate at the site below to meet our fundraising goal.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/iowasfbo

Fired Up! Ready to Go!

Best,

Jeremy

Top Ten Reasons I Support Barack Obama!

Chad Nelson — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 03:22:40 EST

After a couple years of closely following the candidates' voting records and watching their debates during the primary season, I am convinced that Obama is not only the best Democratic candidate available, but that he is someone who offers genuine hope for a better America.

The reasons I like Obama more than the other Democrats are listed below. I have not focused in detail on vitally important issues like Global Warming, Health Care, A Women's Right to Choose, Gay Rights and others because the differences between the Democratic candidates on these fronts is minimal at best. On those issues it's more a matter of who we can trust. Who acts out of principle and not out political convenience:

1 - He was active in campaigns and rallies against the Iraq War from as early as 2002. He continued speaking out against the war at a time when polls showed 2/3 of Americans supporting an invasion. This unpopular position shows not only his independent thinking, but his sound judgment as well.

2 - He showed his courage in an early debate by stating that he'd be willing to have dialogue with Iran during the first year of his Presidency. Oddly enough, Hillary attacked him on this issue. He also showed his willingness to challenge the Washington status quo by proposing to engage post-Castro Cuba. The American embargo--which because of political interest groups has not been debated--has ravaged the Cuban economy and added to the plight of the already afflicted poor. His courage in refusing to accept the mold among Washington insiders gives hope that we can change our standing in the world and regain the respect that we once had.

3 - He was a part of the most major ethics reform bill to have been passed in recent years in the Senate. The same efforts were central to his career as an Illinois State Senator. There he helped write one of the rare ethics laws in Illinois, which the Washington Post described as "the most ambitious campaign reform in nearly 25 years, making Illinois one of the best in the nation on campaign finance disclosure." He has since upped the ante and refused to take any money from Washington lobbyists. Hillary Clinton has refused to do the same.

4 - Democracy for America, a champion of progressive values, believes that he, along with Dennis Kucinich and John Edwards, are the only real progressive candidates out there. And his experience is a testament to that. As a state legislator, he worked with both Democrats and Republicans in drafting successful legislation on health care reform. He sponsored a law enhancing tax credits for low-income workers, and promoted increased subsidies for child care. Obama also led the passage of legislation mandating videotaping of homicide interrogations, and a law to monitor racial profiling by requiring police to record the race of drivers they stopped. He sponsored legislation to bar job and housing discrimination against gays, and he received a "100 percent rating from the Illinois Planned Parenthood Council for his support of abortion rights, family planning services and health insurance coverage for female contraceptive." Knowing this there's is little reason to doubt that he is a progressive through and through, with deep convictions that he acted on even when having had to work with a Republican controlled senate for several years as a state legislator.

5- More than any of the other candidates, he realizes that acting on his values and explaining them with conviction will do far more to create a working majority than political calculation for incremental changes. This conviction and his ability to effectively express it is what makes him so appealing to voters who are not only Independent, but Republican too. That he gains their support even though he compromises his values less than his Democratic opponents is a sign that he is the most likely candidate to bring about change.

6 - He was against approving a resolution which deemed that it was a "vital national interest" to act against the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The measure labeled the military force, which is much made up in large part by ordinary Iranians, a terrorist organization and gave an opening to the Bush administration to attack Iran. Although he didn't vote in the measure because he knew it was inevitable that it would pass (76-22), he was outspoken in his opposition from before the day of the vote. His worries about the recklessness of the Bush administration proved true just recently when the NIE report came out saying that Iran had stopped actively trying to build Nuclear Weapons in 2003, proving that the Bush administration was using belligerent language to inflate the urgency of the matter (so as to pursue a military solution). This had "WMD" and "imminent threat" written all over it again. Hillary Clinton, so as to appear "tough" on foreign policy, repeated her mistake of trusting the president once again.

7 - He broadened the scope about which we must think of terrorism. He did this by acknowledging that the threat of terrorism is, among other things, tied directly to the realities of global poverty. This, I believe is a fundamental change in discourse, from one in which the only solution for national security was based on our ability to find terrorists and kill them to one which demonstrates a more complete understanding of the problem. This again shows that he is someone who can think independently and outside the box. Says Obama: "In countries wracked by poverty and conflict, citizens long to enjoy freedom from want. And since extremely poor societies and weak states provide optimal breeding grounds for disease, terrorism, and conflict, the United States has a direct national security interest in dramatically reducing global poverty and joining with our allies in sharing more of our riches to help those most in need [...] As president, I will double our annual investment in meeting these challenges to $50 billion by 2012 and ensure that those new resources are directed toward worthwhile goals. For the last 20 years, U.S. foreign assistance funding has done little more than keep pace with inflation. It is in our national security interest to do better."

8 - Poll after poll has shown over the past year that he has the best chance of any Democratic candidate to beat his Republican opponent.

9 - He has the best chance of beating Hillary Clinton. Clinton has become a symbol for political calculation, someone who wants to win, but who has forgotten why it is important to win. In this vein, she is the only candidate who refuses to present a concrete plan to protect social security; she is the only candidate who has not revealed when she will withdraw our troops from Iraq; and she is the only candidate who refuses to answer clearly on immigration. These recent stances come after years of taking right-wing stances on foreign policy issues, from approving the Iraq war and supporting the original Patriot Act, to voting in support of the use of cluster bombs, and even the Iran resolution. Click here for the history of posts covering Hillary Clinton on this site.

10 - One final reason, which is perhaps the least concrete, but nevertheless possibly more important than all the others, is that he represents a hope for change. This campaign isn't about Obama... it's about us. Ordinary citizens, long apathetic to the process, are starting to care again. People feel like reason has a voice again. I used to not care, was apathetic, and didn't get involved. Now I care. I want to get involved. I want to do something for this country. I want to go buy energy efficient light bulbs and tutor students in math. Most of all... I am not alone. I am part of something bigger than myself. And together we're going to change the world.

This is a repost of: http://contrapuntalnews.blogspot.com/2007/12/i-support-obama.html
Point #10 has been significantly edited and reflects my personal experience.
http://contrapuntalnews.blogspot.com/

Iowa Precinct Captain: Judy in Ames

Caitlin Harvey — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 17:24:46 EST

If you didn't get a chance to watch the Des Moines Register debate this afternoon, Barack gave a commanding performance. You can watch his statement in which he discusses why now is the time for real change in our leadership and political process here. You can click here for his response on energy, here for his response on health care, and here for his response to his advisors and national security. To see our liveblog during the debate, click here.

Judy grew up on a farm in rural Perry, and is a retired consultant for the State Library of Iowa in Des Moines. She has lived in Ames for 35 years with her husband, who works at Iowa State University and is also an Obama supporter. They have two children in their thirties.

Judy has been impressed with Barack since his speech at the Democratic National Convention in 2004, and was excited to see him again at the Hilton Colesium in Ames this past February. She's been really impressed with his campaign in Iowa, saying:

We definitely have an organization here in Iowa and I think it's paying off. The organization and young staff in Ames have really impressed me. They are very dedicated and motivated.

Judy has canvassed for a local candidate running for office in the past, but this is the first time that she's been involved in a campaign this big. She has housed three campaign interns and didn't hesitate when asked to become a precinct captain. She's now in charge of Ames 25.

Judy said, "I really believe Barack's what the country needs right now...he doesn't bring out the partisan stuff."

Judy admires Barack's integrity and enthusiasm, and feels that he is the most trustworthy candidate. She says:

The biggest reason that I support Barack is that I believe what he says. I really think he means it when he says he will work for me.

Judy enjoys being a precinct captain because "it is really fun to talk to people about Obama - I can feel the excitement!"

Iowa Precinct Captain: Tom in Ames

Caitlin Harvey — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:50:47 EST

Tom, a professor at Iowa State University, has been inspired by Barack's campaign since he first saw him speak at the Hilton Coliseum in Ames on February 11. Before that day, he was undecided about who to support, but seeing Barack in person made up his mind.

Tom was amazed by the reaction of the crowd at the event. He said:

Senator Obama really has the ability to inspire so many people. My 15 year old son was there, and after the event was over, he told me, 'he has to be our next president.'

Tom is a member of the Iowa Democratic Party State Central Committee and moved to Iowa 16 years ago. His wife and parents were born and raised in Iowa.

Tom enjoys doing whatever he can to help Barack's campaign, and is the precinct captain for Ames 25. He says he "loves working with other people who feel as passionately as I do about Barack – we feed off of each other."

He says his precinct is a "hyper active precinct" – they've already held three house parties! The second one was held in Tom’s house. Everyone watched a biography video of Barack, then discussed who they would support in the caucus. Half of the people were supporting Barack and half were undecided.

As we went around the room and people talked about issues and the importance of caucusing, the passion kept building. Everyone just wanted to keep talking – finally it got late and I had to cut them off!

Tom is looking forward to making sure that everyone in his precinct turns out on caucus night – Thursday, January 3, 2008 at 6:30 PM.

Note: The Des Moines Register Debate is today and starts in 10 minutes at 1 PM CT – you can watch on CNN, MSNBC, Iowa Public Television or on IPTV.org.

Iowa Precinct Captain: Jay in Ames

Caitlin Harvey — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 13:25:29 EST

Jay, a precinct captain in Ames 22, is drawn to Barack because he takes courageous positions such as going to Florida and announcing the need for a new trade policy with Cuba, going to Detroit, Michigan and speaking about the need for greater fuel efficiency standards, and above all, speaking out against going to war in Iraq when it was politically unpopular. Jay says that Barack’s ability to speak truth to power inspires him because "he has a willingness to make difficult decisions on behalf of the greater good."

Check out some video:

If you’re in Iowa, check out our website and attend your local precinct party tonight to meet other Obama supporters and learn about the caucus. If you’re outside Iowa, please feel free to send our awesome volunteers some letters of encouragement.

The healthcare debate

Laura — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 11:02:20 EDT

I'm sick, truly sick at what is going on in our country regarding healthcare. I was completely blown away at how our president could veto a bill that would enable 9 million children to get healthcare, including vaccines and preventative care to keep them from getting sick, not to mention the care needed if they do get sick. How could he do that? And how could Congress NOT have enough votes to override the veto? Is our country going crazy? We voted in more democrats to avoid just this type of situation. It is obvious to me that our president cares nothing for Americans. During his presidency, he has taken away our rights with little or no challenge, never doing a thing to benefit or help Americans. Meanwhile, he's trashed our country's reputation abroad, our economy, and funneled billions into another country.I want our congress and senate to send a decisive message to President Bush. Tie the healthcare plan onto the war funding he has asked for. 190 billion for Iraq? He's going to have to spend 35 billion to help America's children. Our representatives need to stand up for our youngest citizens and fight for them. Give them hope for 5 years of life for the bargain basement price equal to what President Bush wants to spend over 5 months in Iraq.

Why poll results in critical states are not as important as in previous years

Mr. Mr. — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 18:10:05 EDT

Why poll results in critical states are not as important as in previous years. Obama is attracting thousands of new supporters in these states that are not showing up in polls. A lot of these supporters are newly registered or have never voted, so pollsters do not have their phone numbers to call to ask poll questions. Many of these that Obama have attracted to politics are young people with cell phones who’ll not be called by pollsters. It’s interesting that in straw polls, for example one straw poll at a fair in Iowa, Obama came out on top. The key is, we must continue to sign up people for Obama, get them registered, and get them out to vote in Jan-Feb. If this means picking them up, finding baby sitters for them etc; we must get them out to vote.. It will be tough getting the young people out to vote in the primaries. They have let down past campaigns who relied on them, but we can change this. We must strategies on how to get EACH person we enroll in the Obama dream, out to vote! Iowa, NH, South Carolina, Nevada, and Florida are critical. Let’s individually make a difference. We all know people in one or more of these states. Think on how you can individually be a campaign manager for Obama, marshaling forces to get him nominated as the Democratic candidate. Hold those who support him close so you can get them out to vote on that crucial day. My favorite mantra is: ‘If it’s going to be, it’s up to me!

Obama took lead in straw poll at Iowa fair

Mr. Mr. — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 10:32:28 EDT

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took the lead Thursday in a mock election at the Johnson County Fair, according to a news release sent out by the Auditor's Office.

As of 11 a.m. Thursday, 632 people had used touch-screen voting machines and paper ballots to cast votes, the release said. Obama, a Democratic presidential candidate, took the lead with 163 votes. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., came in second with 115 votes, and former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, a Democrat, came in third with 82 votes.

A total of 474 Democratic ballots were cast.

http://www.press-citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070727/NEWS01/707270330/1079

Barack inspires Webster City

Chris Otness — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 11:40:17 EDT

On Saturday June 16th we had the Webster City Potluck where Senator Obama spoke and met with folks from all over Iowa. The Daily Freeman-Journal noted that this might have been the largest political gathering in Webster City in 25 years.

It’s hard to articulate just how much excitement was in the air but that quote from the Daily Freeman-Journal says it all. People are really responsive to Barack’s vision of a united country striving to meet the challenges each of us face every day. Even though the crowd was big – and it was scorching hot out – many people stuck around to talk face-to-face with Barack afterwards. Pretty impressive!

I also wanted to comment on some of the behind-the-scenes work that was going on. So many volunteers gave up their Saturday just to help out, and the event ran smoothly and everybody did a fantastic job. I've never seen so many people work so hard to make sure that everything was flowing smoothly. But then again I’ve really never seen a candidate like Barack who gets people so inspired to work together and promote change.

On a personal level, one of the best parts of the day was after the event when Senator Obama, probably exhausted from standing in the sun all day and talking with folks, took the time to take a picture with all the event volunteers in a nearby firehouse.

I am pretty sure my mother has already framed this picture and mailed it out to all of her friends.

All in all the event was a big hit and everybody who volunteered or attended had a great time.

If you're in or around Ames, feel free to stop in at our field office at 303 Welch Avenue or give us a call at 515-268-3148. We'd love to see you!

The Latino Voter: What you Need to Know

Jose — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:44:03 EDT

Dear Obama Supporters:

As we all organize for Senator Obama in our respective communities, there may be questions about how we better access and reach out to various communities.

One community that is 40 million strong is the Latino community that I've lived in all my life Since I'm 57 years old and "politically" active in my community for about 40 years...I've got a few thoughts I'd like to share.

First...there are no dumb questions.

Second, there are online resources available to learn more about the Latino voter and the latino community. I urge you to use them as a first step BEFORE doing outreach to that community. Learning about what 'matters' to Latinos is useful as you develop campaign materials and decide what materials should be made available in Spanish. It also gves you a better feel for the kind of questions you may get as you go door to door in a latino neighborhood or encounter Latino voters. Of course , Latinos don't all think alike....but some background on Latino's general political views will be useful to you.

As for those online resources:

There is a interesting video online that features Sergio Bendixen, a respected pollster on the Latino voter. Go to Google's search engine. Write in....Sergio Bendixen and NDN. Hit search button. Then click onto Immigration/Latino Vote Forum With Sergio Bendixen.

There are also excellent factsheets on the Latino Voter and their views on the Iraq War, Education, Economy, Immigration etc. Go to:Link

Thanks,

JOSE TORRES/Latinos 4 Obama

LATINOS CHEER OBAMA

Jose — Sat, 12 May 2007 22:02:27 EDT

In recent days, the campaign took a monumental step when the official Obama website posted Senator Obama's views on IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER.

That simple but profound step made clear to all Americans that Senator Barack Obama believes in fundamental fairness and justice for all people, including the millions of undocumented immigrants who live in the shadows and toil for meager wages to feed their families back home.

A fair and just immigation system is what we all want and most Americans will find that Senator Obama's comprehensive plan makes sense and reflects a balanced approach to this vexing national problem.

As one of 40 million Latinos in this country, I applaud Senator Obama for his conviction to fairness for all and his political courage to give our 'newest' Americans a chance to be part of the American Dream.

All I can say is......God Bless you Senator Obama.

Jose Torres

Election Day Registration: A Positive for Obama?

Jose — Fri, 11 May 2007 14:06:38 EDT

In today's NY Times Op-Ed page, there is an excellent discussion on Election Day Registration (EDR) and why it is important to ensure that every citizen should be able to register (and vote) on election day. Both of the writers of the article are secretaries of states who believe there is sound evidence that it can work effectively and safely.

The article briefly mentions young voters who often forget to register in time and are prevented from voting on election day. I would also mention that many minority voters are often in the same category. And as we know, these are two large voting consituencies that represent a significant portion of Senator Obama's potential supporters.

For that reason alone (as well as others), we should consider lobbying our state legislators to pass the necessary laws to require local authorities to permit EDR.

Our advantage? We have the grassroots organizations in every state to do it.

The more young and minority voters we can get to the poll in our states....the greater the likelihood Senator Obama will be our next President.

What are we waiting for?

Jose Torres, Latinos 4 Obama

Respect, Empower, Include

Paul Tewes — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 15:01:13 EDT

Hi, this is Iowa State Director Paul Tewes. I wanted to take a moment to talk about a slogan we use in our office and also as driving influence in our Iowa campaign: Respect, Empower, Include.

I hope that these three words – which are painted large in the entryway to our Des Moines office – serve as a constant reminder of how this campaign will be conducted in Iowa.

From the start, what drew me to this campaign was the fact that Barack wanted to bring a new kind of politics to America. For me, these three words, Respect, Empower, Include, represent the way that Barack hopes to engage Iowans and all Americans. By having the vision to engage with individuals in a way that shows them respect, empowers and includes them in a campaign, Barack demonstrates that he is the candidate who will bring about the change that the American people demand.

Today, Obama organizers from across the state are coming to the Des Moines headquarters for training and to talk about our path forward to the Iowa Caucuses. During these meetings the staff will talk about how we can use these words as guiding principles in our interactions with Iowans, so that our engagement within communities in Iowa are a reflection of the greater goals of Barack’s campaign.

I'll post a picture of the entryway as soon as i can figure out how to do it...

Rainy days

Paul Tewes — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:03:02 EDT

Its nearing the end of the work day here in Des Moines. Heavy rain these past two days has managed to dampen our clothes but not our spirits. This is just my second time blogging so you’ll have to bear with me while I get the hang of it.

I am the State Director for Obama in Iowa, and the job has certain perks. Just last week I got to travel all across the state – from Council Bluffs to Dubuque, Burlington to Waterlooo – meeting with supporters and checking out all our offices which have been opening up around the state. What a great time. The offices and staff are terrific. And as usual, I was impressed and pleased to meet folks all over Iowa who are excited about Barack and his vision for our State and for our Nation. To find our field office in your area – you can just click on the link to the right.

To commemorate Earth Day, Obama supporters participated in 20 events to clean up the environment in 18 counties across Iowa. The week wrapped up with a rally in Iowa City where Senator Obama spoke to more than 10,000 people on the University of Iowa campus, laying out his plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. You can watch a video of part of the rally on the panel to the right or you can read more about Senator Obama’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by clicking here.

Looking forward – we are excited to hear Barack at Thursday’s first presidential debate to be held in Orangeburg, South Carolina. The Des Moines based staff and friends are holding a watch party at Star Bar on Ingersoll Avenue. If you can’t come out to join us, be sure to watch Thursday on MSNBC at 6:00 PM, or check out the panel to the right to locate a debate watch party in your area.

Selection of MidWest Large Minded or Million Goal Groups including a Midwest Top 150! Join One Million MySpace Friends for Obama'08 here and on MySpace. See URLs below. Thanks!

One Million MySpace Friends for Obama'08 in Iowa — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 11:30:49 EDT

1.) My.BarackObama.com: Link (PLACE HOLDER)

2.) Official MySpace profile: Link (under construction)

3.) Official Group profile on MySpace: Link (PLACE HOLDER)

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PLEASE DONATE WHATEVER YOU CAN TO ONE MILLION MYSPACE FRIENDS FOR OBAMA'08'S MIDWEST $10,000 CAMPAIGN COFFER DRIVES!

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MIDWEST'S TOP 150! If you would like your group to be added or deleted from my list please let me know.