Harlem Celebrates Obama's Victory - Video!!

http://vimeo.com/2159787

OBAMA WINS!

Congratulations guys. From Harlem4Obama to America4Obama!

H4O Watch Party - Our Office

The Harlem4Obama Headquarters Election Night Watch Party - BE ABLE TO SAY THAT ON ELECTION NIGHT, I WAS IN HARLEM WITH H4O. Our watch parties are always special. Just come. Food, music, and great discussion and fellowship. Upon VICTORY - WE SHALL CELEBRATE LIKE CRAZY!! If you've been to the Harlem office, you know you don't want to be anywhere else this historic night. Donations at the party are encouraged to handle the cost of operating this hugely successful office.


Time: Tuesday, November 4 9:00 PM - November 5 12:00 AM

Voting Time - Sample Ballot

H4O Supports the Straight-A Ticket. See Below.

H4O on Tour: Come with us to PA!

H4O On Tour: Philly Suburbs...

by Erika Strand

Harlem 4 Obama recently organized a very successful trip to Pennsylvania to support one of the field office in Delaware County, outside Philadelphia. The weekend of Oct 4-5 was the last weekend before the voter registration deadline in Pennsylvania and so finding unregistered voters was high on the agenda.

Thirty enthusiastic Obama supporters from the New York City area, accompanied by 2 journalists from Al-Jazeera, met early Saturday morning at the Harlem 4 Obama office. After a two hour drive, the group was met by Dawn McClary at the Obama field office in Darby, PA. After Dawn trained the group and answered questions, they spread out across the area for intense canvassing.

The volunteers were given a script, a list of names and addresses, a map, a pile of voter registration forms and a packet of Obama flyers to distribute. Going door-to-door in groups of 1-3, volunteers asked potential voters if they were registered and who they were supporting. Twenty volunteers returned to New York that same evening, while another 10 stayed on to knock on doors again Sunday afternoon.

All in all, the group was a strong force contributing to the day’s positive results:
• 124 voters registered by the field office we visited, part of 1,177 voters registered throughout Delaware county that weekend;
• We visited 2,271 homes and identified approximately 1,153 supporters;
• Monday morning a family came into the field office to register their son after two volunteers had met them during canvassing.


So, you wanna join us?


If you are interested in joining us on one of our upcoming trips to PA - Oct 25, Nov 1 or Nov 2, please email Aisha Smith at aishas@harlem4obama.com for more info.

Obama- McCain Townhall: Open Thread

Go at it! Any pre-game predictions? Yours will probably be as good as the analysts on TV will be!

First question dives right into the economic environment. He was asked how regular people (The Middle Class) will get help. Obama mentioned tax cuts, infrastructure solutions, and health care reform. McCain opened with a joke, and did remember to say "middle class," and talked about a "package of reforms" but didn't suggest what that reform package would involve then he suggested implementing the bailout bill that already passed. Well.

We're Filling Up Fast...

The office seats are filling in quickly--everyone seems to be on New York Minute time and we expect a full house tonight. (not to mention the food is running out pretty quickly as well, but what do you expect?) I will attempt to provide some commentary tonight on how people are going to take the town hall. Both candidates expect a lively debate. We'll see.

Debate Watch Party - Tuesday, H4O Office

Our next debate watch party will be in our new office on Fredrick Douglass Blvd, between 132nd and 133rd St (closer to 133rd). We'll have a projection screen and we'd be glad to have you stop by again. Last week's debate drew about 150 viewers to the office who enjoyed good food, fellowship, and a strong Biden performance. We'd be glad to have you join us again!

Also, if you haven't seen done it already, don't forget to subscribe to the site!

AA Parade Today

Today will be the African-American day Parade. Harlem 4 Obama members and supporters will be out registering, marching, and rallying support for Obama. There will be various organizations and bands there, and we will try to have video and photos uploaded to the site. Plus it's nice outside today, so join us!

Debate Watch Party

The first debate. Be there folks.

H4O Steering Committee Meeting Saturday

This Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 3pm, at our new headquarters. Team members and others invited to attend/help.

H4O Office Opening - This Saturday (Press Event)

Harlem4Obama Campaign Office Open
2479 Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Ave.) below 133rd St.
GRAND OPENING SATURDAY SEPT 13


GRAND OPENING
Harlem 4 Obama Campaign Office
DATE: Saturday Sept. 13
TIME: 3 PM (but come as early as 10AM to pitch in!!)
LOCATION: 2479 Frederick Douglass Blvd (8th Ave) below 133rd

MORE: Need Volunteers, Donations, Furniture, Supplies
Please reply to whye@chetwhye.com with what you can donate

Harlem 4 Obama is pleased to announce the opening of its Harlem campaign office at 2479 Frederick Douglass Blvd. between 132nd and 133rd streets. The Harlem 4 Obama team will open its new office Thursday September 11th in time for Senator Obama's arrival in Harlem but will hold an official Grand Opening this Saturday September 13th at 3:00pm.


SUPPLIES/FURNITURE/EQUIPMENT NEEDED
Donate a little or a LOT!
Anti-Bacterial Soap
Book Shelves
Broom
Campaign Buttons
Campaign Posters
Chairs
Chart Paper
Cleanser
Clear Tape
Clip Boards
Coaxial Cable
Coffee
Coffee Cups
Coffee Mugs
Coffee Table
Coffee Thermos
Coffee Urn
Computer Keyboards
Computer Monitors
Creamer
Desktop Computers
Dustpan
Extension Chords
File Cabinets
Folders
Lamps
Masking Tape
Mop
Napkins
Network Hubs
Paper Clips
Paper Cups
Paper Plates
Paper Towel Holder
Paper Towels
Pencils
Pens
Phone
Phone Chords
Printer Paper
Printers
Rugs
Scissors
Sofa Table
Sofas
Sugar
Surge Protectors
Tea
Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Toilet Brush
Toilet Paper
Waste Baskets
White Board Erasers
White Board Markers
White Boards
Wireless Router
Writing Pads

Obama at Columbia + Our NEW Office!

Barack Obama will be at Columbia University tomorrow. From the Gothamist:

Columbia University president Lee Bollinger confirmed that presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama will appear together at the university for a forum sponsored by ServiceNation. The Columbia Spectator describes ServiceNation as a "non-partisan coalition devoted to increasing the commitment of citizens to public service to 100 million people by 2010."

Tickets are closed to the public, but they will televise the forum on CNN. Check it out.


Also, we have an new Harlem office! Stop on by at: 2479 Frederick Douglass (b/t132/133rd st).

Obama did NOT call Sarah Palin a "pig"

If you did not watch or hear Palin's speech last week, it won't make a difference what I'm talking about--so please click on this link and get a fair look before Fox and CNN get a hold of it in your heads. (Thanks to Marc Ambinder). But there is a story developing of Obama on the campaign trail calling Palin a pig. Click the link and see for yourself.

What If There's a Tie?

What Happens If We Tie? The Presidential Apocalypse?



It's not out of the question. Obama holds the Kerry states and picks off IA, NM, and NV. McCain holds the remaining states. This would set up a historic battle for the Presidency in ways that many Americans probably do not anticipate. Here's a possible run-down of what to expect:


From the Constitution, here's what it says we do if no one reaches 270 EVs:

In this event…each state delegation has a single vote. To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of state votes (26) in order for that candidate to become the President-elect. The House continues balloting until a candidate receives an absolute majority of the state votes.

Let's look at how the House votes first—by delegation. The New York delegation is heavily Democratic, New York would have one (1) vote for Obama, Utah has more Republicans, and will go for McCain. Each state, regardless of size, (inexplicably) gets one vote. The votes are based on the incoming makeup of the House, and so if each delegation votes down party lines the outcome will probably fall to



- 27 D-Controlled State Delegations
- 21 R-Controlled State Delegations
- 2 Evenly Split



This is not likely to change because Democrats seemed poised to pick up seats in Red States, not lose them. So pending that no one falls on their knife for another party, advantage goes to Obama and the voters do not have to reflect how their state voted. Dean and his 50-state strategy would be lauded in retrospect.

The Senate gets to choose the VP. Again, reading our Constitution:

If no candidate for Vice President receives an absolute majority of electoral votes, then the Senate must go into session to elect a Vice President. The Senate votes in the normal manner in this case (i.e., ballots are individually cast by each Senator, and not by State delegations).

Additionally, the Twelfth Amendment states that a "majority of the whole number" of Senators (currently 51 of 100) is necessary for there to be a selection of one of the two candidates. This provision essentially prohibits the sitting Vice President from casting a tie-breaking vote in the case of an evenly divided chamber.
Which means, it favors Biden being elected VP.

But hopefully people vote in large enough numbers so that this doesn't happen...

Speech Pictures + This Thursday's Event

Here's the flyer:



Plan on joining us?

Also, there are pictures in the picture section of our event we hosted where Obama made his acceptance speech. If you attended, you may be in the picture. Go on..check it out!

Missed the Speech?

Check it out below. The text follows the video link. Plus, thanks to all of you that came out last night at Tribal Spears. We had special guests galore, and even CNN set up there!



TEXT OF SPEECH:

Remarks of Senator Barack Obama
"The American Promise"
Democratic National Convention
August 28, 2008
Denver, Colorado

As prepared for delivery

----

To Chairman Dean and my great friend Dick Durbin; and to all my fellow citizens of this great nation;

With profound gratitude and great humility, I accept your nomination for the presidency of the United States.
.
Let me express my thanks to the historic slate of candidates who accompanied me on this journey, and especially the one who traveled the farthest - a champion for working Americans and an inspiration to my daughters and to yours -- Hillary Rodham Clinton. To President Clinton, who last night made the case for change as only he can make it; to Ted Kennedy, who embodies the spirit of service; and to the next Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden, I thank you. I am grateful to finish this journey with one of the finest statesmen of our time, a man at ease with everyone from world leaders to the conductors on the Amtrak train he still takes home every night.

To the love of my life, our next First Lady, Michelle Obama, and to Sasha and Malia - I love you so much, and I'm so proud of all of you.

Four years ago, I stood before you and told you my story - of the brief union between a young man from Kenya and a young woman from Kansas who weren't well-off or well-known, but shared a belief that in America, their son could achieve whatever he put his mind to.

It is that promise that has always set this country apart - that through hard work and sacrifice, each of us can pursue our individual dreams but still come together as one American family, to ensure that the next generation can pursue their dreams as well.

That's why I stand here tonight. Because for two hundred and thirty two years, at each moment when that promise was in jeopardy, ordinary men and women - students and soldiers, farmers and teachers, nurses and janitors -- found the courage to keep it alive.

We meet at one of those defining moments - a moment when our nation is at war, our economy is in turmoil, and the American promise has been threatened once more.

Tonight, more Americans are out of work and more are working harder for less. More of you have lost your homes and even more are watching your home values plummet. More of you have cars you can't afford to drive, credit card bills you can't afford to pay, and tuition that's beyond your reach.

These challenges are not all of government's making. But the failure to respond is a direct result of a broken politics in Washington and the failed policies of George W. Bush.

America, we are better than these last eight years. We are a better country than this.

This country is more decent than one where a woman in Ohio, on the brink of retirement, finds herself one illness away from disaster after a lifetime of hard work.

This country is more generous than one where a man in Indiana has to pack up the equipment he's worked on for twenty years and watch it shipped off to China, and then chokes up as he explains how he felt like a failure when he went home to tell his family the news.

We are more compassionate than a government that lets veterans sleep on our streets and families slide into poverty; that sits on its hands while a major American city drowns before our eyes.

Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land - enough! This moment - this election - is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: "Eight is enough."

Now let there be no doubt. The Republican nominee, John McCain, has worn the uniform of our country with bravery and distinction, and for that we owe him our gratitude and respect. And next week, we'll also hear about those occasions when he's broken with his party as evidence that he can deliver the change that we need.

But the record's clear: John McCain has voted with George Bush ninety percent of the time. Senator McCain likes to talk about judgment, but really, what does it say about your judgment when you think George Bush has been right more than ninety percent of the time? I don't know about you, but I'm not ready to take a ten percent chance on change.

The truth is, on issue after issue that would make a difference in your lives - on health care and education and the economy - Senator McCain has been anything but independent. He said that our economy has made "great progress" under this President. He said that the fundamentals of the economy are strong. And when one of his chief advisors - the man who wrote his economic plan - was talking about the anxiety Americans are feeling, he said that we were just suffering from a "mental recession," and that we've become, and I quote, "a nation of whiners."

A nation of whiners? Tell that to the proud auto workers at a Michigan plant who, after they found out it was closing, kept showing up every day and working as hard as ever, because they knew there were people who counted on the brakes that they made. Tell that to the military families who shoulder their burdens silently as they watch their loved ones leave for their third or fourth or fifth tour of duty. These are not whiners. They work hard and give back and keep going without complaint. These are the Americans that I know.

Now, I don't believe that Senator McCain doesn't care what's going on in the lives of Americans. I just think he doesn't know. Why else would he define middle-class as someone making under five million dollars a year? How else could he propose hundreds of billions in tax breaks for big corporations and oil companies but not one penny of tax relief to more than one hundred million Americans? How else could he offer a health care plan that would actually tax people's benefits, or an education plan that would do nothing to help families pay for college, or a plan that would privatize Social Security and gamble your retirement?

It's not because John McCain doesn't care. It's because John McCain doesn't get it.

For over two decades, he's subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy - give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. In Washington, they call this the Ownership Society, but what it really means is - you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck. No health care? The market will fix it. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps - even if you don't have boots. You're on your own.

Well it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America.

You see, we Democrats have a very different measure of what constitutes progress in this country.

We measure progress by how many people can find a job that pays the mortgage; whether you can put a little extra money away at the end of each month so you can someday watch your child receive her college diploma. We measure progress in the 23 million new jobs that were created when Bill Clinton was President - when the average American family saw its income go up $7,500 instead of down $2,000 like it has under George Bush.

We measure the strength of our economy not by the number of billionaires we have or the profits of the Fortune 500, but by whether someone with a good idea can take a risk and start a new business, or whether the waitress who lives on tips can take a day off to look after a sick kid without losing her job - an economy that honors the dignity of work.

The fundamentals we use to measure economic strength are whether we are living up to that fundamental promise that has made this country great - a promise that is the only reason I am standing here tonight.

Because in the faces of those young veterans who come back from Iraq and Afghanistan, I see my grandfather, who signed up after Pearl Harbor, marched in Patton's Army, and was rewarded by a grateful nation with the chance to go to college on the GI Bill.

In the face of that young student who sleeps just three hours before working the night shift, I think about my mom, who raised my sister and me on her own while she worked and earned her degree; who once turned to food stamps but was still able to send us to the best schools in the country with the help of student loans and scholarships.

When I listen to another worker tell me that his factory has shut down, I remember all those men and women on the South Side of Chicago who I stood by and fought for two decades ago after the local steel plant closed.

And when I hear a woman talk about the difficulties of starting her own business, I think about my grandmother, who worked her way up from the secretarial pool to middle-management, despite years of being passed over for promotions because she was a woman. She's the one who taught me about hard work. She's the one who put off buying a new car or a new dress for herself so that I could have a better life. She poured everything she had into me. And although she can no longer travel, I know that she's watching tonight, and that tonight is her night as well.

I don't know what kind of lives John McCain thinks that celebrities lead, but this has been mine. These are my heroes. Theirs are the stories that shaped me. And it is on their behalf that I intend to win this election and keep our promise alive as President of the United States.

What is that promise?

It's a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.

It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.

Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves - protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.

Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.

That's the promise of America - the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.

That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now. So let me spell out exactly what that change would mean if I am President.
.
Change means a tax code that doesn't reward the lobbyists who wrote it, but the American workers and small businesses who deserve it.

Unlike John McCain, I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas, and I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America.

I will eliminate capital gains taxes for the small businesses and the start-ups that will create the high-wage, high-tech jobs of tomorrow.

I will cut taxes - cut taxes - for 95% of all working families. Because in an economy like this, the last thing we should do is raise taxes on the middle-class.

And for the sake of our economy, our security, and the future of our planet, I will set a clear goal as President: in ten years, we will finally end our dependence on oil from the Middle East.

Washington's been talking about our oil addiction for the last thirty years, and John McCain has been there for twenty-six of them. In that time, he's said no to higher fuel-efficiency standards for cars, no to investments in renewable energy, no to renewable fuels. And today, we import triple the amount of oil as the day that Senator McCain took office.

Now is the time to end this addiction, and to understand that drilling is a stop-gap measure, not a long-term solution. Not even close.

As President, I will tap our natural gas reserves, invest in clean coal technology, and find ways to safely harness nuclear power. I'll help our auto companies re-tool, so that the fuel-efficient cars of the future are built right here in America. I'll make it easier for the American people to afford these new cars. And I'll invest 150 billion dollars over the next decade in affordable, renewable sources of energy - wind power and solar power and the next generation of biofuels; an investment that will lead to new industries and five million new jobs that pay well and can't ever be outsourced.

America, now is not the time for small plans.

Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, because it will take nothing less to compete in the global economy. Michelle and I are only here tonight because we were given a chance at an education. And I will not settle for an America where some kids don't have that chance. I'll invest in early childhood education. I'll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. And in exchange, I'll ask for higher standards and more accountability. And we will keep our promise to every young American - if you commit to serving your community or your country, we will make sure you can afford a college education.

Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American. If you have health care, my plan will lower your premiums. If you don't, you'll be able to get the same kind of coverage that members of Congress give themselves. And as someone who watched my mother argue with insurance companies while she lay in bed dying of cancer, I will make certain those companies stop discriminating against those who are sick and need care the most.

Now is the time to help families with paid sick days and better family leave, because nobody in America should have to choose between keeping their jobs and caring for a sick child or ailing parent.

Now is the time to change our bankruptcy laws, so that your pensions are protected ahead of CEO bonuses; and the time to protect Social Security for future generations.

And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal day's work, because I want my daughters to have exactly the same opportunities as your sons.

Now, many of these plans will cost money, which is why I've laid out how I'll pay for every dime - by closing corporate loopholes and tax havens that don't help America grow. But I will also go through the federal budget, line by line, eliminating programs that no longer work and making the ones we do need work better and cost less - because we cannot meet twenty-first century challenges with a twentieth century bureaucracy.

And Democrats, we must also admit that fulfilling America's promise will require more than just money. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us to recover what John F. Kennedy called our "intellectual and moral strength." Yes, government must lead on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and businesses more efficient. Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But we must also admit that programs alone can't replace parents; that government can't turn off the television and make a child do her homework; that fathers must take more responsibility for providing the love and guidance their children need.

Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility - that's the essence of America's promise.

And just as we keep our keep our promise to the next generation here at home, so must we keep America's promise abroad. If John McCain wants to have a debate about who has the temperament, and judgment, to serve as the next Commander-in-Chief, that's a debate I'm ready to have.

For while Senator McCain was turning his sights to Iraq just days after 9/11, I stood up and opposed this war, knowing that it would distract us from the real threats we face. When John McCain said we could just "muddle through" in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11, and made clear that we must take out Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants if we have them in our sights. John McCain likes to say that he'll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell - but he won't even go to the cave where he lives.

And today, as my call for a time frame to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush Administration, even after we learned that Iraq has a $79 billion surplus while we're wallowing in deficits, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war.

That's not the judgment we need. That won't keep America safe. We need a President who can face the threats of the future, not keep grasping at the ideas of the past.

You don't defeat a terrorist network that operates in eighty countries by occupying Iraq. You don't protect Israel and deter Iran just by talking tough in Washington. You can't truly stand up for Georgia when you've strained our oldest alliances. If John McCain wants to follow George Bush with more tough talk and bad strategy, that is his choice - but it is not the change we need.

We are the party of Roosevelt. We are the party of Kennedy. So don't tell me that Democrats won't defend this country. Don't tell me that Democrats won't keep us safe. The Bush-McCain foreign policy has squandered the legacy that generations of Americans -- Democrats and Republicans - have built, and we are here to restore that legacy.

As Commander-in-Chief, I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home.

I will end this war in Iraq responsibly, and finish the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. I will rebuild our military to meet future conflicts. But I will also renew the tough, direct diplomacy that can prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and curb Russian aggression. I will build new partnerships to defeat the threats of the 21st century: terrorism and nuclear proliferation; poverty and genocide; climate change and disease. And I will restore our moral standing, so that America is once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom, who long for lives of peace, and who yearn for a better future.

These are the policies I will pursue. And in the weeks ahead, I look forward to debating them with John McCain.

But what I will not do is suggest that the Senator takes his positions for political purposes. Because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other's character and patriotism.

The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain. The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and Independents, but they have fought together and bled together and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a Red America or a Blue America - they have served the United States of America.

So I've got news for you, John McCain. We all put our country first.

America, our work will not be easy. The challenges we face require tough choices, and Democrats as well as Republicans will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past. For part of what has been lost these past eight years can't just be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose - our sense of higher purpose. And that's what we have to restore.

We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination. Passions fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers. This too is part of America's promise - the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.

I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan Horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that's to be expected. Because if you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.

You make a big election about small things.

And you know what - it's worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn't work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it's best to stop hoping, and settle for what you already know.

I get it. I realize that I am not the likeliest candidate for this office. I don't fit the typical pedigree, and I haven't spent my career in the halls of Washington.

But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you.

For eighteen long months, you have stood up, one by one, and said enough to the politics of the past. You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us - that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.

America, this is one of those moments.

I believe that as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming. Because I've seen it. Because I've lived it. I've seen it in Illinois, when we provided health care to more children and moved more families from welfare to work. I've seen it in Washington, when we worked across party lines to open up government and hold lobbyists more accountable, to give better care for our veterans and keep nuclear weapons out of terrorist hands.

And I've seen it in this campaign. In the young people who voted for the first time, and in those who got involved again after a very long time. In the Republicans who never thought they'd pick up a Democratic ballot, but did. I've seen it in the workers who would rather cut their hours back a day than see their friends lose their jobs, in the soldiers who re-enlist after losing a limb, in the good neighbors who take a stranger in when a hurricane strikes and the floodwaters rise.

This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.

Instead, it is that American spirit - that American promise - that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend.

That promise is our greatest inheritance. It's a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours - a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot.

And it is that promise that forty five years ago today, brought Americans from every corner of this land to stand together on a Mall in Washington, before Lincoln's Memorial, and hear a young preacher from Georgia speak of his dream.

The men and women who gathered there could've heard many things. They could've heard words of anger and discord. They could've been told to succumb to the fear and frustration of so many dreams deferred.

But what the people heard instead - people of every creed and color, from every walk of life - is that in America, our destiny is inextricably linked. That together, our dreams can be one.

"We cannot walk alone," the preacher cried. "And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back."

America, we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess.

Thank you, God Bless you, and God Bless the United States of America.

Are You Ready?

The Fall campaign has kicked off.




Let's keep Obama's momentum movin folks.

Our Watch Party Has Closed!

We scheduled for 200 attendees to join us at Tribal Spears this Thursday, and we've reached it! So, the RSVP section is now closed. Thanks for your interest, and we look forward to seeing you at the event.

More Video : Fox 5 Profiles Harlem 4 Obama!

Check out this local news video where Harlem is profiled. There's a good blurb here about Harlem 4 Obama, and they even plugged our event this coming Thursday!

Click Here to view the video

Open Thread: Monday

If you are watching the convention tonight, leave your comments here and tell us what you think of how opening night is going.

Meet the Delegates - Video

Here is a video from the NY Times featuring one of our delegates, Michelle Cruz, speaking about her experiences with the convention and delegate process.

Click here to see the video

Convention Starts Tomorrow

The Democratic National convention starts tomorrow. We hope that our delegates and fellow H4O travelers arrive safely--and best of all, we have 2 delegates who will be blogging daily, right here. Stay tuned right here for the inside track on the many events at the convention!

And the Ticket is...

Obama-Biden!

Leave your comments as to the impression of how you feel about his ticket in our comments section under this blog entry.

H4O: Watch Convention Speech With Us!

Our next big event will be the convention speech. Here are the details!



If you can't see the image above, simply click on the convention watch party at Tribal Spears Event under our events section.


As always, we look forward to seeing your face in the place!

Bus Tour!

Preliminary comments from the Bus Tour was that it went very well! Make sure you share your stories/comments here of what you thought of the tour.

Convention in Denver - Chaos or Calm?

Across the blogosphere, there are many Clinton supporters organizing to get her name on the ballot for the Presidential Nomination not only for historical purposes, but also for the outside chance that superdelegates can be convinced to change their allegiances and support Obama.

I'm a youngster and don't remember many of the conventions--my parents sat me down to watch Jesse's run in 1988 and I caught some of the 2004 convention, but that's about it. Can anyone provide some insight on how they believe the mood of the convention will be if Obama and the DNC allow a floor vote?

Personally, I don't think a convention floor vote will hurt--in fact I think there will be more supporting Obama than did at the end of the historic primary, but I don't know. Educate me, spin me, speculate for me. I want to know your thoughts.

Thanks!

Delegatin' with Mike and Michelle : Hello from Michelle!

It’s Michelle and…so…like I’m a delegate! Exactly what does that mean you ask? Well, here is what I know for sure, as pledged delegates for Senator Obama both Mike and I will be voting on official convention business including the Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party during the convention. The week will be full of activities. The typical day will begin with opportunities to attend caucus meetings and trainings and then voting on official business later in the afternoon. I am not sure what the detailed activities are but I know I’m excited.


So how did I become a delegate you ask? Would you like the short or long story? Here’s hoping you said long. Many moons ago during the 2004 Democratic Convention I was home in front of my television mesmerized by a speech (guess who?). The next day, I believe it was the New York Times had an article with Obama’s picture in it. I cut the picture out and posted it on my cube at the office. I remember one of my co-workers passing by asking if that was my boyfriend to which I replied “nope, the next President of the United States of America.” I remember telling someone if Obama was to run for President it would not matter what I am doing I will volunteer for his campaign.


So here I am treading along in 2007 preparing to leave my job to pursue my own business, preparing my teenager for the college application process and here it comes….Obama is running for President! I’m jumping up and down when I hear the news and then it dawns on me. Uh, earth to Cruz, remember your commitment? I hungered for the change Obama spoke of but what was I thinking? How will I manage my time? And since I was from the school of thought that I am only one person and can’t really make a difference I thought perhaps I would have to sit this one out? Then I heard the echo “to whom much is given much is expected”. I knew I had no choice. I realized it’s not about filling up the bucket but making a drop in the bucket that counts. If I wanted change I had to be a part of that change. If I was fed up with the way my government is being run I had to do something about it. Therein began my journey.

I met Mike Washington at an East Harlem for Obama meeting. He told me about the group Harlem4Obama and what their goals were and I hopped on board. I’ve been fired up ever since. Doing activities that seemed foreign to me, petitioning, canvassing, voter registration, etc. I remember being home alone on the night Obama won the primaries. By this time all of my family and friends knew I had been stumping for Obama so my cell phone was ringing non-stop. I ignored it. Prior to Obama’s speech I opened my bottle of Casillero del Diablo Merlot, heard the pour of the wine hit the glass, watched the swirl, sniffed slowly, put CNN on mute, laid my head back and I tell you I heard my drop in the bucket that night. I knew I was part of the change.


I digress--you asked how not why. How? I filled out an application, the campaign approved it and I was on the ballot during Super Tuesday in New York and you voted for me. Since becoming a delegate I have heard from many individuals informing me of the many issues and concerns of the district I represent.


I want you to know I take my role as a delegate very seriously. I hear the concerns and issues and vow to make it an everyday discussion not just by my vote in Denver but here at home in Harlem. I want you to continue to tell me what’s important to you, what you need and most importantly how can I help make what we need as a community happen. Educate me. Keeping in line with Obama’s platform regarding transparency Mike and I would like to keep you informed of all that goes on during the convention. If you are interested I too will blog daily while at Denver to let you know what is going on and what we are voting on. Just let me know. -Michelle

New Logo

Hey guys!

Pierre Mendy, our graphic design guy, has re-developed the H4O logo to make it more representative of Harlem, taking elements of both East Harlem and West Harlem. Be on the lookout in future e-mails!

Harlem Platform Results

H4O readers--it's been quite a while since we've posted anything, but we've got some strong content coming around the corner. Our delegates Mike and Michelle are now fully on board and will be putting up more posts about their delegate experiences leading up to the convention. Stay tuned.

Meanwhile, we've got a report ready on the takeaways from our Platform meeting held back on July 26th. Hat tip to our delegates and Chet(Whye) for the write-up/delivery. Here's the scoop:



H4O DEMOCRATIC PLATFORM MEETING
Collection of Community Ideas for Consideration and Input
The following bullet points represent the overall collection of observations, ideas and solutions from the various groups and individuals in attendance by open invitation of Harlem 4 Obama.
===================================================================
Housing is a Human Right
Presented by Robert Robinson

United Nations Covenant I.C.E.S.C

Gentrification-Displacement-Homelessness-Criminalization

Public Housing
-Stop demolition; one for one replacement
-Stop forced labor of residents as requirement for apartments (QHWRA act 1998)
-Stop deliberate neglect; federalize P.H.A, stop privatization
Affordability
-Redefine AMI by zip code; gentrification for the rich causes homelessness
-Protect tenants not just owners
-Protection from eminent domain
-Oversight of faith based "developers"
-Plan to end homelessness
Development
-Land marking communities
-Public/Private access to waterfronts

Solutions
-30% cap on rent
-Obama to communicate with local officials in NY
-More funding/improve Sec 8, Mitchell Lama, small commercial business
-Stolen land
-League of Cities 14 points
-Appropriate adequate safe housing
-National Housing Trust Fund
-Voucher Reform



Political Conduct
Presented by Chet Whye

I. The system is broken
a. We must make the process transparent/accountable
b. We must make the process user-friendly
c. Funding- we must adapt Obama's financial model locally

II. Entitlement must end
a. Politicians decide on the whos, the whats, the wheres and the hows, they've become celebrities
b. We must
i. Run viable candidates
ii. Have regular town hall meetings
iii. Coordinate the community to call them on the carpet
iv. Be on the calendar
v. Lobby

III. Citizenship: Accountability/Access
a. People must become aware and educated on the importance of politics
b. We must hold the media accountable and use the media as a tool to hold politicians accountable
c. Only by fixing the civic/political process will people be able to move on their interests

HOW CAN I BE THE ANSWER?


Education: Revitalize
Presented by Charles Norwood

1. Education Reform
a. Reform NCLB by funding it
i. Project oriented learning (magnet, charters, portfolio evaluation) apprenticeship; life skills
ii. Peer Monitoring; improve social environment
iii. Infrastructure investments (buildings/resources)
iv. Recruit, retain, reward teachers
v. Outreach and mentoring programs

2. Addressing Dropout Rates
a. GED funding
b. Catch student tracking at middle school - high school
c. Lift HS age cap

3. Improve teacher quality
a. Continuing education for experienced teachers
b. Paid-time planning for teachers
c. Teaching teams (collaboration)

4. Education Access
a. Improve school quality, knowledge of grants, scholarships, other information, college exposure grants
b. Study exchange (abroad)
c. Integrated technology access



Economy
Presented by Erika Strand

Platform should be all-inclusive and address all groups outside of middle class

1. Employment: Create jobs so anyone who wants one can work
a. Link to needed social services and infrastructure (child care & elder care)
b. Incentives to businesses (empowerment zone)
i. New businesses (short/medium term rental subsidy or other start up credit) *possible to fold into local micro lending to support businesses conditional on local residence of owner, employees & specific community supportive hiring policies*

2. Wages: Realistic calculation of minimum wage (inflation adjusted)
3. Taxes: Less emphasis on tax-cuts, more on wages & employment (should only be short-term)
4. Protection for small businesses


Health Care -Health Care is a Human Right
Presented by Violet Moss & Laurie Wen

1. Publicly financed national health care system
a. Equitable reimbursement rates
b. Taxpayer financed system
c. Pharmaceutical access (more generics)
d. Research

2. Incentives to providers
a. Scholarships & loan forgiveness to practice in under served areas
b. Funding for nursing school scholarship

3. Medical Mal Practice Reform "Insurance company reinvestment"
a. Tax
b. Pool
c. Redirecting profits

4. Integrated Care
a. Prevention/education/access to treatment
b. Community based
c. Mental health integrated in health care delivery
d. Alternative health care

Strategies for achieving goals
-Sustained advocacy
-Hold government accountable
-Report card (first KO days, periodically)
-Coalition building
-Lobbying

========================================================

H4O Event: Upcoming Bus Tour

August 14th. Check Out Our flyer:

Obama's VP Choices Narrow

Well, it looks as if we are seeing Obama's VP list grow shorter. Hillary Clinton appears to no longer be in consideration after she has accepted a keynote spot on the Tuesday evening of the convention. (Generally, the VP speaks on Monday and/or Wednesday) and the President speaks on Thursday. See this article for more info.

Names high on the list appear to be Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, and Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh. (I'm hoping former Ga. Sen. Sam Nunn will also be floated).

Knowing the Obama campaign, however, expect a "curveball" choice.

Platform Highlights

Good morning H4O,

So I've added some of the photo and video footage from yesterday's Platform event. If you look in our photo section on the right hand side, you'll see pictures taken of Harlem residents in action. And if you look in our "latest media" section above, you'll see some of the video taken at the event. My apologies for the quality of these videos--they were taken using my digital camera and the quality is not the greatest. But it should give you an idea of what can happen when local residents can get involved in shaping the platform of a major political party--something the Democrats should be applauded for.

Thanks Harlem!

Our platform event was great! We had a strong turnout, spirited discussion, and I have plenty of video and pictures that I'll be putting up very soon. Thanks to all of you who came up and spoke up for change in this country. Again, thank you for your participation and we look forward to seeing you at our future events.

Platform With Us Today!

Click here for more details. Hope to see your face in the place today!

Sylvia's Also: Review

We had a strong turnout and a great (but brief) presentation of of education platform from Joe Rogers. I'll have some pictures and a little video up soon so you can see our people (and the Harlem community) in action. Plus, don't forget to join us this Saturday!

Tonight: Join Us At Sylvia's Also

We'll be gathering for our monthly Third Thursdays event tonight at 7:00pm, at sylvia's Also, located between 125th-126th/Lenox Ave. The focus? Education, and how it fits into our platform. So come on through, have a few drinks (and maybe a bite to eat) and help us develop the education portion of our platform for this weekend. Hope to see your face in the place!

Black In America: Open Thread

Tonight and tomorrow you will see a range of views from CNN's Black in America special. Why not comment here and share your thoughts on the program as it transpires?

Platforming with Us? Read These!

Good evening H4O,

To reduce chaos and save time, we've decided to give you two important tools designed to prepare you for our meeting this weekend.

1. The Blueprint for Change (pdf)
This PDF document is a copy of the policies developed and supported by the Obama campaign. You can use this document as a guide while you are putting ideas together for our Saturday meeting. Click here to download this document.


2. The 2004 Dem Platform (pdf)
This is the platform developed by the Democratic Party in 2004. This will be the structure of the document we will submit to the National campaign. Click here to download this document.

We'll see you on Saturday!

Delegatin' with Mike and Michelle: Mike's Intro

A special feature you'll only find here on H4O: Introducing "Delegatin' with Mike and Michelle, a weekly post by our two delegates, Mike Washington and Michelle Cruz. They will be documenting their first-time delegate experiences and sharing them with you, right here. Here is the first entry, by Mike:

I just want to introduce myself to those of you who I have not met yet. Michael here, I'm an Obama pledged delegate from the 15th Congressional District of NY. I've been involved with the Campaign since June of 2007 and have loved every minute of this journey. I'm looking forward to attending the convention in August and being able to cast my vote on behalf of the citizens of the 15th Congressional District for Senator Barack Obama.

This is truly an honor that I take very seriously and over the next couple of weeks before the convention, I am trying to connect with as many people in the district as possible. I really want to be not only your vote, but your voice at the convention. So with that said I will be attending as many of the platform meeting in the District as possible and H4O will also be hosting a platform meeting as well ( I hope you can attend).

I also check the blog daily and would love to hear from you about your concerns, suggestions, and questions. During the convention, I will try to blog each day to let you know what it's like at the convention on a daily basis - so if you have questions or are watching the convention on CSPAN and want to ask me a question, please do. I'll try to reply daily through the blog.

- Michael

Mike and Michelle will continue to post between here and the convention, so stay tuned to the site, remember to subscribe by clicking the "Posts" button under the subscribe section and picking your favorite news reader. Then, as our site is updated, you'll get the updates delivered directly!

Reminder: Platform With Us this Weekend!

Hi H4O,

It's almost time for our platform meeting. The details:

Saturday July 26th, 2008
African Services Committee, Inc
429 West 127th Street
New York , NY 10027, 3rd floor.
12PM - 4PM
Space is limited so please RSVP at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gggk

We will be releasing a questionnaire for our readers to peruse so that you can be up-to-date when joining us on Saturday.

What Would You Like to See?

Hi H4O,

Consider this an "open thread." What topics would you like to see on the site? Let us know in the comments section. Your topic may appear here on the front page!

We're Live! Subscribe, Browse, Enjoy!

Welcome to our new digs, H4O Members!

Oh, the joys of moving... All the furniture, the hassles, the cost etc. At least at Harlem4Obama, we've made it easy for you, and you don't have to do anything but subscribe to the site! Click the "Posts" link over to the right under the subscribe section. that way, anytime we post an article to the site, you'll get a notification to your favorite News Reader. And it's all free of course.

So what's changed?
- We've added a blog format! Comment and dialogue with your fellow Obama supporters.
- Stay up-to-date with the latest news and video from the Obama campaign.
- Be aware of the latest events thrown by your Harlem neighbors (and post your own)!
- Read exclusive articles from Harlem locals, including our very own Denver delegates and platform experts, who will be documenting their first-time delegate/platform experiences right here.

We've designed this site with YOU in mind, and we're excited about your support. So welcome again, and tell us what you think!

Obama: My Plan for Iraq

Greetings H4O,
The following op-ed by Barack Obama appeared in the NY Times and details his plan for Iraq.

CHICAGO — The call by Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki for a timetable for the removal of American troops from Iraq presents an enormous opportunity. We should seize this moment to begin the phased redeployment of combat troops that I have long advocated, and that is needed for long-term success in Iraq and the security interests of the United States.


The differences on Iraq in this campaign are deep. Unlike Senator John McCain, I opposed the war in Iraq before it began, and would end it as president. I believed it was a grave mistake to allow ourselves to be distracted from the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban by invading a country that posed no imminent threat and had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks. Since then, more than 4,000 Americans have died and we have spent nearly $1 trillion. Our military is overstretched. Nearly every threat we face — from Afghanistan to Al Qaeda to Iran — has grown.

In the 18 months since President Bush announced the surge, our troops have performed heroically in bringing down the level of violence. New tactics have protected the Iraqi population, and the Sunni tribes have rejected Al Qaeda — greatly weakening its effectiveness.

But the same factors that led me to oppose the surge still hold true. The strain on our military has grown, the situation in Afghanistan has deteriorated and we’ve spent nearly $200 billion more in Iraq than we had budgeted. Iraq’s leaders have failed to invest tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues in rebuilding their own country, and they have not reached the political accommodation that was the stated purpose of the surge.

The good news is that Iraq’s leaders want to take responsibility for their country by negotiating a timetable for the removal of American troops. Meanwhile, Lt. Gen. James Dubik, the American officer in charge of training Iraq’s security forces, estimates that the Iraqi Army and police will be ready to assume responsibility for security in 2009.

Only by redeploying our troops can we press the Iraqis to reach comprehensive political accommodation and achieve a successful transition to Iraqis’ taking responsibility for the security and stability of their country. Instead of seizing the moment and encouraging Iraqis to step up, the Bush administration and Senator McCain are refusing to embrace this transition — despite their previous commitments to respect the will of Iraq’s sovereign government. They call any timetable for the removal of American troops “surrender,” even though we would be turning Iraq over to a sovereign Iraqi government.

But this is not a strategy for success — it is a strategy for staying that runs contrary to the will of the Iraqi people, the American people and the security interests of the United States. That is why, on my first day in office, I would give the military a new mission: ending this war.

As I’ve said many times, we must be as careful getting out of Iraq as we were careless getting in. We can safely redeploy our combat brigades at a pace that would remove them in 16 months. That would be the summer of 2010 — two years from now, and more than seven years after the war began. After this redeployment, a residual force in Iraq would perform limited missions: going after any remnants of Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia, protecting American service members and, so long as the Iraqis make political progress, training Iraqi security forces. That would not be a precipitous withdrawal.

In carrying out this strategy, we would inevitably need to make tactical adjustments. As I have often said, I would consult with commanders on the ground and the Iraqi government to ensure that our troops were redeployed safely, and our interests protected. We would move them from secure areas first and volatile areas later. We would pursue a diplomatic offensive with every nation in the region on behalf of Iraq’s stability, and commit $2 billion to a new international effort to support Iraq’s refugees.

Ending the war is essential to meeting our broader strategic goals, starting in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the Taliban is resurgent and Al Qaeda has a safe haven. Iraq is not the central front in the war on terrorism, and it never has been. As Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently pointed out, we won’t have sufficient resources to finish the job in Afghanistan until we reduce our commitment to Iraq.

As president, I would pursue a new strategy, and begin by providing at least two additional combat brigades to support our effort in Afghanistan. We need more troops, more helicopters, better intelligence-gathering and more nonmilitary assistance to accomplish the mission there. I would not hold our military, our resources and our foreign policy hostage to a misguided desire to maintain permanent bases in Iraq.

In this campaign, there are honest differences over Iraq, and we should discuss them with the thoroughness they deserve. Unlike Senator McCain, I would make it absolutely clear that we seek no presence in Iraq similar to our permanent bases in South Korea, and would redeploy our troops out of Iraq and focus on the broader security challenges that we face. But for far too long, those responsible for the greatest strategic blunder in the recent history of American foreign policy have ignored useful debate in favor of making false charges about flip-flops and surrender.

It’s not going to work this time. It’s time to end this war.

Barack Obama, a United States senator from Illinois, is the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee.

Comments? How do you feel about Obama's plan? Does it seem sound?

Harlem for Obama Platform Meeting - DNC Platform

Every four years, the Democratic Party assembles a "platform" that outlines the party's position on a variety of issues. Traditionally, the platform is written by paid professionals and then presented to the American people. This year, that's going to change.


From July 19 to July 27, everyday people all across America will hold Platform Meetings in their own communities. From Atlanta , Georgia to Muncie , Indiana , from Bangor , Maine to Eugene , Oregon , Americans will meet to talk about what issues are most important to them and what should be at the heart of the Democratic platform for change.

This is an opportunity for your voice to be heard about issues that you are concerned about right here in the 15th Congressional District, as well as, national and global issues. Issues like health care, global warming and urban greening, education, job creation, housing foreclosures and affordability, the economy, gas prices, civil and human rights ,America's reputation abroad and the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.


Harlem for Obama (H4O) will host this platform meeting
Saturday July 26th, 2008
African Services Committee, Inc
429 West 127th Street
New York , NY 10027, 3rd floor.
12PM - 4PM
Space is limited so please RSVP at http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gggk


The results of these Platform Meetings will be incorporated into the formal process that culminates in the adoption of the platform at the Democratic Convention in August.
A few participants may even be invited to appear and testify at the National Hearing and at the Convention!
You can write the next chapter in the history of the Democratic Party.


(Cross posted at my Barack Obama's website..)

Additions to the H4O Blog

You've probably noticed many changes (that you can believe in) to the H4O Blog as of late. We've recently:

- updated our photo section,
- added a more aesthetic background,
- and if you look above, you'll see our new video section, which imports the latest inputs of Obama on the stump.

We will be adding more to our page here and look forward to your continued input. Be sure to keep up with our event calendar to the right.

Electoral College Update - Larry Sabato

Well-respected political analyst Larry Sabato from the University of Virginia takes a look at the projected electoral college outcome. (Yes, I know it's July, but the article is still worth the click. Check it out.

Harlem 4 Obama in the News

Here's a link from Newsweek about Obama and his perceptions in the streets of Harlem. check it out!

More Must-Reads on the Web

You'll hear many attack Obama as "the Most liberal Senator in the Senate." National Journal is non-partisan, however the method that they decided in which to determine was somewhat biased, according to CQ-Politics, which wrote up this fair-look story about how Obama votes on all issues, just not the hand-picked ones from National Journal. An excerpt:

“Obama is a liberal, but he’s not the most liberal,” said Keith Poole, a University of California-San Diego professor who runs the site. By comparison, McCain is the eighth-most conservative. Ratings from Congressional Quarterly also provide a mixed picture.

In CQ’s calculation of party unity, which measures how often members vote with their party on bills where the parties split, Obama got a 97 percent rating last year. Ten Democrats had higher scores. On votes where Bush indicated his position, CQ found Obama supported the Republican president 40 percent of the time in 2007. That 40 percent rating put Obama in the middle of the pack for Democrats. In 2006, Obama voted with Bush 49 percent of the time.

McCain had the Senate’s highest presidential support score last year, 95 percent, but he missed more than half of the votes because he was campaigning. And McCain hasn’t always been such a strong backer of President Bush. He supported Bush 77 percent in 2005 and has averaged 89 percent since 2001.

...

National Journal relies largely on the judgment of its editors and reporters. They choose votes that they believe show ideological distinctions (they chose to include 99 of the 442 Senate votes last year) and they decide which side in the vote is liberal and which is conservative. Then they compute how often senators and House members vote each way.

“We’re trying to pick votes where some ideological differences are displayed and show how members of Congress line up relative to one another,” said Charles Green, editor of the magazine.

CQ takes a more empirical approach and calculates how often members vote with their party or the president.

“We don’t try to establish a litmus test or ideological label,” said John Cranford, CQ’s national editor. “What we’re looking for is something that more closely represents how members might characterize their vote, such as how often they vote with the president.”

The whole article is here.

Follow Poll Tracking, Not Polls..

Just a word of caution my fellow Obama supporters. A flurry of polls and electoral maps have come out lately, making it seem that Obama has a very large electoral lead over McCain, 344-194, based on the latest polls as of June 19th. (This particular report is from Electoral-Vote.com, a popular electoral projection site that accurately predicted the outcome of the 2004 election.) Here is how it breaks down by state:






However, one should take caution, as such electoral numbers are based on the "latest" poll numbers rather than a direction. It's important to follow a series of poll numbers, which will give a better idea of the electorate. And remember, with our guy, no lead is "safe" and it will take a lot of legwork from we the supporters to place him over the top.

And please..ignore "national" polls numbers altogether. Our President is not decided by popular vote.

Welcome to Our New Blog!

Greetings!

Welcome to our new Harlem4Obama (H40) blog. To compliment our new site, we've added this blog section--dedicated to bringing Obama supporters from the Harlem area and around the world to a common area. The bulk of our topics here will cover discussions about the challenges and choices that Obama supporters face towards getting him elected in November 2008.

Also, if you are in the Harlem/Surrounding areas, feel free to tell us about your events so that we as an organization can coordinate. Together, we can win this election.

We hope that you will take the time to respond to the topics we will post as well as suggest topics of your own. And, as usual, we encourage you all to keep your comments above the belt and to refrain from personal attacks.

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