Urgent Request from the Obama Campaign - Pennsylvania Field Director

My name is Jeremy Bird, and I'm the Field Director for the Obama campaign in Pennsylvania. Barack has won twice as many states, more delegates, and more votes than Senator Clinton. However, the Democratic race is still very close, and the Pennsylvania primary is the biggest remaining contest. The primary is still six weeks away, but another important deadline is coming up soon. Anyone who wants to vote for Barack in Pennsylvania must be registered as a Democrat by Monday, March 24th. Supporters from all across the country are coming to Pennsylvania in the next two weeks to help register voters.

Help build our movement and our party by joining us. Sign up to come to Pennsylvania to register voters before March 24th: http://my.barackobama.com/CometoPA If one thing is clear from this campaign, it's that every vote and every delegate matters. Here in Pennsylvania, hundreds of thousands of unregistered voters are ready to support Barack -- but we have only two weeks to reach out to them all. That's why people from all over the country are traveling to Pennsylvania to make sure every potential Obama supporter is registered and eligible to vote in the primary on April 22nd. No prior political experience is required. Sign up to grow this movement and bring thousands of new people into the political process. Join us in Pennsylvania to register voters and support Barack: http://my.barackobama.com/CometoPA All across the country, we've seen people getting involved in politics for the first time or returning to politics after years of frustration. I hope you'll come to Pennsylvania and keep this momentum going. Thank you,

Jeremy Bird **** Pennsylvania Field Director ***** Obama for America

Change US Political Structure

Hi,

I hope we can put some weight behind changing the entire political structure in the US, if Obama has a win this Fall.

I may be ahead of the game here, but we need a multi-party system - as in three or five parties - in the US, not a winner-take-all. (that really still more like monarchy, not democracy)

That means - structural changes to how government is formulated - a coalition type government rather than an excessively strong Executive branch. That means creating positions in congressional committees as percentages of all parties. It means a lot of things.

It means creating openings for more parties at the table. This binary Republican/Democrat back and forth crap has to end. We need a strong tie-breaking voice that can upset the stalemates and position-sitting. Right now 3rd parties are just spoilers. How is this going to open up to more DIVERSITY?

What do you think?

Hoping you can help with a real solution to the FLORIDA and MICHIGAN problem

Hello:

I'm involved in an effort that might interest you, and MoveOn.org. You can read more about what we are trying to do here: http://1stcontact.newsvine.com/_news/2008/03/08/1352290-a-real-solution-to-the-fl-and-mi-problem - a copy of this article follows my signature.

If you could just take a moment to read the linked article. Then if you are interested in helping do just three things:

Make a few phone calls - preferably to the Obama campaign (866) 675-2008 - once the voice system starts in press 6 to speak with a volunteer.
The offices of Nancy Pelosi - (202) 225-4965 Tell her, inviting the Carter Center in to mediate a solution the FL and MI mess is something EVERY democrat would respect.
Go to the MoveOn.org website suggestion page and email them about this effort - ask for their help. We need it now - things are unfolding fast in FL. You can find their suggestion page here: http://pol.moveon.org/feedback/fb/form.html?tp=suggest
Forward this email to eveyone you know who might be interested.
Go to a Yahoo group that has been set up for the purposes of coordinating this effort and join us. The group was set up today - so it's still small. But, the last few days 100s of people from both MI and FL have been calling the Obama campaign offices. We are getting though too - they are starting to notice - but we have to keep the pressure on. This group was started today - so that we can all work together. So, please, after you make a few phone calls, forward this to your friends, take just a few moments and join the group. You can access the group here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CarterCenter/
Obama's website tells us:

I'm asking you to believe, not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington.... I'm asking you to believe in yours.
Let's do the work of living up to what he is asking of us, let's be the change we've been waiting for and do the work of getting the Carter Center involved in this process

Michelle Meyer 1stcontact@charter.net
***********************************************************************************

A real solution to the FL and MI problem
While the democratic national party leadership wrings its hands over FL and MI and allows the media to have a field day with the whole situation, there is a real solution that is fair to all parties.
Ask the Carter Center to come in and mediate a solution between all involved parties. That's what the Carter Center does, well its one of the things the Carter Center does. And it does it very well too.
The Carter Center has been in operation for 25 years now. Founded in 1982 by former Democratic President, Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter, the Carter Center helps resolve conflict in the world. Its mission statement calls for the prevention and resolution of conflict as well as the enhancement of democracy.
The Carter Center lists dozens of elections that it has been involved in. From small local elections in China, to elections in South American Countries and the Mideast, former President Jimmy Carter and his team have developed a reputation for fairness. The Carter Center Democracy Program claims to have assisted 69 elections in 27 countries. They will only become involved in an election if they are invited.
The Democracy Program describes its duties on the Center Website:___________________________________
Before an election, Carter Center observers meet with election officials and party leaders to discuss electoral procedures. Sometimes they mediate election disputes and help all sides to agree on election rules. During this phase, assessments are made of the voter registration process, voter education efforts, and the fairness of the campaign "field of play."
On election day, observers are dispatched with systematic survey forms to urban and rural areas to witness preparations at poll openings, voting, and vote counting to try to determine whether the vote was secret and fair at the sites they visited. In addition to talking with polling site officials and party witnesses, observers talk with citizens and note any complaints.
After polls close, delegates observe the counting of votes and the delivery of ballot boxes. Then, the entire delegation meets to discuss its observations and issue a statement of findings as a group. If necessary, qualified high-level observers can serve as mediators to facilitate the peaceful transfer of power.___________________________________
Barack Obama has called America to a new kind of politics. He has called for a politics of bringing people together and solving our problems by sitting down at the table with all involved parties and working out solutions. The problems of super delegates and the FL, MI primaries could derail the Democratic nomination process. If there were ever a problem in politics that demanded all sides to come together and find an equitable and peaceful solution this is it.
The Carter Center specializes in mediating and observing election processes. But, they will not become involved unless invited. The leadership of Democratic National Party seems to be doing nothing but wringing its hands over the whole mess. Barack Obama's campaign is focused on uniting this country and solving problems by consensus. That is why he has so much appeal with so many people.
We (constituents of the Democratic Party) have a vested interest in moving beyond the division of this primary season - we've every right and responsibility to take charge of our own party. So, I've a few suggestions:
On Monday morning:
1. Call Barack Obama's campaign headquarters. Request that they ask the leadership of the Democratic National Party to invite the Carter Center for the purpose of mediating a solution to the FL and MI primary problem. Obama Campaign Headquarters: (866) 675-2008 - once the voice system starts in press 6 to speak with a volunteer.
2. Call The Democratic National Party headquarters. Request that they invite the Carter Center into this process for purposes of mediating a solution to the FL and MI primary problem. The phone number is: (202) 863-8000
3. Call Democracy For America. Request that they call on the Democratic National Party to invite the Carter Center into this process for purposes of mediating a solution to the FL and MI primary process. The phone number is: (802) 651-3200
4. Use the weekend to email all your friends and relatives about this plan. Link them to this article. Let's draft the Carter Center for an equitable solution to this problem and live up to the hope of Barack Obama's campaign - that America can move beyond the divisive politics of the past.
5. Use this weekend to link this article to every website you can think of who would have an honest interest in a fair and equitable solution to this problem.
6. If anyone knows the phone number for MoveOn.org (3.3 million members we can tap into) or any other phone numbers we can flood on Monday morning, post them here. Let's draft the Carter Center and bring this problem to a fair solution for all.

Clinton's tepid response to Ferraro is shameful

Olbermann: Senator, you must correct the wrong done to Obama

Olbermann on Ferraro uproar March 12: Keith Olbermann gives a special comment on the presidential campaign of Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y and Geraldine Ferraro connection.

Keith Olbermann
Anchor, 'Countdown'

By way of necessary preface, President and Sen. Clinton, and the senator’s mother, and the senator’s brother, were of immeasurable support to me at the moments when these very commentaries were the focus of the most surprise, the most uncertainty, and the most anger. My gratitude to them is abiding.

Also, I am not here endorsing Sen. Obama’s nomination, nor suggesting it is inevitable.

Thus I have fought with myself over whether or not to say anything.
Senator, as it has reached its apex in their tone-deaf, arrogant and insensitive reaction to the remarks of Geraldine Ferraro, your own advisers are slowly killing your chances to become president.
Senator, their words, and your own, are now slowly killing the chances for any Democrat to become president.
In your tepid response to this Ferraro disaster, you may sincerely think you are disenthralling an enchanted media and righting an unfair advance bestowed on Sen. Obama.
You may think the matter has closed with Rep. Ferraro’s bitter, almost threatening resignation.
But in fact, Senator, you are now campaigning as if Barack Obama were the Democrat and you were the Republican.
As Shakespeare wrote, Senator, that way madness lies.

You have missed a critical opportunity to do what was right.
No matter what Ms. Ferraro now claims, no one took her comments out of context.
She had made them on at least three separate occasions, then twice more on television this morning.
Just hours ago, on NBC Nightly News, she denied she had made the remarks in an interview; only at a paid political speech.
In fact, the first time she spoke them, was 10 days before the California newspaper published them, not in a speech, but in a radio interview.On Feb. 26, “If Barack Obama were a white man, would we be talking about this, as a potential real problem for Hillary? If he were a woman of any color, would he be in this position that he’s in? Absolutely not.”
The context was inescapable.
Two minutes earlier, a member of Sen. Clinton’s Finance Committee, one of her “Hill-Raisers,” had bemoaned the change in allegiance by superdelegate John Lewis from Clinton to Obama, and the endorsement of Obama by Sen. Dodd.
“I look at these guys doing it,” she had said, “and I have to tell you, it’s the guys sticking together.”
A minute after the “color” remarks, she was describing herself as having been chosen for the 1984 Democratic ticket purely as a woman politician, purely to make history.
She was, in turn, making a blind accusation of sexism and dismissing Sen. Obama’s candidacy as nothing more than an Equal Opportunity stunt.
The next day she repeated her comments to a reporter from the newspaper in Torrance, Calif.

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”
And when this despicable statement, ugly in its overtones, laughable in its weak grip of facts and moronic in the historical context, when it floats outward from the Clinton campaign like a poison cloud, what do the advisers have their candidate do?
Do they have Sen. Clinton herself compare the remark to Al Campanis talking on Nightline on Jackie Robinson day about how blacks lacked the necessities to become baseball executives, while she points out that Barack Obama has not gotten his 1,600 delegates as part of some kind of affirmative action plan?

Do they have Sen. Clinton note that her own brief period in elected office is as irrelevant to the issue of judgment as is Sen. Obama’s while she points out that FDR had served only six years as a governor and state senator before he became president?
Or that Teddy Roosevelt had four-and-a-half years before the White House?
Or that Woodrow Wilson had two years and six weeks?
Or Richard Nixon, 14, and Calvin Coolidge, 25?
Do these advisers have Sen. Clinton invoke Samantha Power, gone by sunrise after she used the word “monster” and have Sen. Clinton say, “This is how I police my campaign, and this is what I stand for,” while she fires former Congresswoman Ferraro from any role in the campaign?
No.
Somebody tells her that simply disagreeing with and rejecting the remarks is sufficient.
And that she should then call them “regrettable,” a word that should make any Democrat retch.

And that she should then try to twist them, first into some pox-on-both-your-houses plea to "stick to the issues," and then to let her campaign manager try to bend them beyond all recognition, into Sen. Obama’s fault.
And thus these advisers give Congresswoman Ferraro nearly a week in which to send Sen. Clinton’s campaign back into the vocabulary ... of David Duke.
“Any time anybody does anything that in any way pulls this campaign down and says let’s address reality and the problems we’re facing in this world, you’re accused of being racist, so you have to shut up.
“Racism works in two different directions. I really think they’re attacking me because I’m white.
“How’s that?”
How’s that?
Apart from sounding exactly like Rush Limbaugh attacking the black football quarterback Donovan McNabb?
Apart from sounding exactly like what Ms. Ferraro said about another campaign, nearly 20 years ago?
“President Reagan suggested Tuesday that people don’t ask Jackson tough questions because of his race. And former representative Geraldine A. Ferraro (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that because of his ‘radical’ views, ‘if Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn’t be in the race.’”
So, apart from sounding like insidious racism that is at least two decades old?
Apart from rendering ridiculous Sen. Clinton’s shell-game about choosing Obama as vice president?
Apart from this evening’s resignation letter?
“I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign.
“The Obama campaign is attacking me to hurt you.”

Apart from all that?
Well. It sounds as if those advisers want their campaign to be associated with those words, and the cheap, ignorant, vile racism that underlies every syllable.
And Geraldine Ferraro has just gone free-lance.
Sen. Clinton:This is not a campaign strategy. This is a suicide pact.
This week alone, your so-called strategists have declared that Sen. Obama has not yet crossed the “commander-in-chief threshold.”
But he might be your choice to be vice president, even though a quarter of the previous sixteen vice presidents have become commander-in-chief during the greatest kind of crisis this nation can face: a mid-term succession.
But you’d only pick him if he crosses that threshold by the time of the convention.
But if he does cross that threshold by the time of the convention, he will only have done so sufficiently enough to become vice president, not president.

Senator, if the serpentine logic of your so-called advisers were not bad enough ...
Now, thanks to Geraldine Ferraro, and your campaign’s initial refusal to break with her, and your new relationship with her, now more disturbing still is her claim that she can now “speak for herself” about her vision of Sen. Obama as some kind of embodiment of a quota.
If you were to seek Obama as a vice president, it would be, to Ms. Ferraro, some kind of social engineering gesture, some kind of racial make-good.
Do you not see, Senator?
To Sen. Clinton’s supporters, to her admirers, to her friends for whom she is first choice, and to her friends for whom she is second choice, she is still letting herself be perceived as standing next to, and standing by, racial divisiveness and blindness.
And worst yet, after what President Clinton said during the South Carolina primary, comparing the Obama and Jesse Jackson campaigns; a disturbing, but only borderline remark.
After what some in the black community have perceived as a racial undertone to the “3 A.M.” ad, a disturbing but only borderline interpretation ...
And after that moment’s hesitation in her own answer on 60 Minutes about Obama’s religion; a disturbing, but only borderline vagueness ...
After those precedents, there are those who see a pattern, false or true.
After those precedents, there are those who see an intent, false or true.
After those precedents, there are those who see the Clinton campaign’s anything-but-benign neglect of this Ferraro catastrophe, falsely or truly, as a desire to hear the kind of casual prejudice that still haunts this society voiced and to not distance the campaign from it.
To not distance you from it, Senator!

To not distance you from that which you as a woman, and Sen. Obama as an African-American, should both know and feel with the deepest of personal pain!
Which you should both fight with all you have!
Which you should both ensure has no place in this contest!

This, Sen. Clinton, is your campaign, and it is your name.
Grab the reins back from whoever has led you to this precipice, before it is too late.
Voluntarily or inadvertently, you are still awash in this filth.
Your only reaction has been to disagree, reject, and to call it regrettable.
Her only reaction has been to brand herself as the victim, resign from your committee and insist she will continue to speak.
Unless you say something definitive, Senator, the former congresswoman is speaking with your approval.
You must remedy this.
And you must reject and denounce Geraldine Ferraro.
© 2008 MSNBC Interactive