Platform of and by the People

Listening to America:
The Democratic Party's New Platform for a New Century

Barack Obama sent out an email to supporters today:

Every four years, the Democratic Party assembles a platform that outlines the party's position on a number of issues.

Traditionally, the drafting of the platform is not open to ordinary people.

This year, that's going to change.

For two weeks in July, people all across America will hold Platform Meetings in their own communities to discuss the issues and share their input. The outcome of these meetings will be reviewed by the Drafting Committee as it creates the final Platform.

No political experience is required. Your thoughts and experiences are all that matter, and they will shape a platform that -- like this campaign -- is owned by the people.

Sign up to host or attend a local Platform Meeting

This year, ordinary people like you will gather in their homes, community centers, places of worship, and even coffee shops to discuss the issues that matter to them and help decide what should be at the heart of the Democratic platform for change.

The input we get from these meetings will help shape the platform at the Democratic Convention in August.

Platform Meetings are a great way to connect with fellow supporters and help write the next chapter in the history of the Democratic Party.

We'll make sure you have all the resources and support you need to succeed. All you need to provide are your ideas for America and your hunger for change.

I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to make your voice heard in the political process.

Thank you for all that you do,

Barack

No Use Crying Over Spilled Milk

I am reminded of a story from my childhood when I see some Hillary Clinton supporters throwing a temper tantrum and threatening to vote for John McCain't.

When I was a little kid, I got mad at my parents one time about something (I don't remember now what it was). I was drinking a glass of milk, and I began fuming. I wanted to throw my milk on them, but I knew I would get in big trouble if I did that, so I loudly threatened that if they did not give in to my demands, I would dump the milk... on my own head.

My parents did not react to my threats (my hunch looking back is that they were too busy stifling their laughter), and before you could say "bad idea," I had emptied the entire glass of milk over my head. Embarrassed and soaked with milk, I continued to threaten my parents, who had become unable to contain their laughter. I announced that I was never going to take a bath again, and they would have to live with a rotten-milk-smelling child. I can still see the laugh-induced tears rolling down my mother's face as she clutched her sides and mentioned that I might not be so popular in school if I enacted my plan.

In hindsight (and very quickly after the fact), I realized that my parents didn't suffer because I poured milk on myself: I suffered. I meant to teach them a lesson, but I learned one instead.

Hillary supporters have every right to be angry, to feel upset, disappointed, and even hurt. But don't pour rotten milk over your heads by voting for John McCain't or by tearing down Barack Obama. Apparently, some Hillary supporters (under the coalition "Just Say No Deal") have become determined to sabotage Barack Obama's campaign for presidency, but I don't understand what they get out of that besides a certain petty revenge-based momentary pleasure at their own expense. This reminds me of a prayer I've seen on bumper stickers: "Lord, please protect me from your followers!"

Hillary Clinton is campaigning with and for Barack: she isn't crying over spilled milk. There is no way for us to build a strong America, to fortify women's rights, and to ensure a peaceful and productive society with all this anger, hate, and frustration determining our behavior towards one another. Let's not shoot ourselves in the foot, thinking we are making a statement.

To these misguided people, I suggest: Listen to your leader! Hillary Clinton wants you to vote for Barack Obama:

"To anyone who voted for me and is now considering not voting or voting for Sen. (John) McCain, I strongly urge you to reconsider," said Clinton, beseeching her supporters to join with Obama's "to create an unstoppable force for change we can all believe in..."

"Unity is not only a beautiful place as we can see, it's a wonderful feeling isn't it? And I know when we start here in this field in Unity, we'll end on the steps of the Capitol when Barack Obama takes the oath of office as our next president!"

Hillary Clinton spoke yesterday in Unity, New Hampshire at a rally for Obama, in which she urged her supporters to vote for him. She also expunged all negative Obama content from her campaign's website.


Barack Obama: Unite for Change (June 27, 2008: Unity, NH)


To read more about this "eponymous" event sponsored by the Democratic in Unity, New Hampshire, click here.

Here's just a little funny video: Pictures of Obama and Clinton "Together Forever"
what about that "Dream Ticket" anyway?

Bill Clinton Needs Help Developing His Crush

According to a report in The (London) Telegraph, Bill Clinton told close friends Obama can “kiss my ass” to get his support:

“He’s saying he’s not going to reach out, that Obama has to come to him. One person told me that Bill said Obama would have to quote, ‘kiss my ass,’ close quote, if he wants his support.

“You can’t talk like that about Obama — he’s the nominee of your party, not some house boy you can order around.

“Hillary’s just getting on with it and so should Bill.”

Following Hillary Clinton’s public display of unity with Obama last week (at which Bill Clinton was noticably absent), Bill Clinton and Obama are expected to meet in the coming days. The former president released a statement that he "is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do" for Obama.So perhaps Bill Clinton merely was waiting in order to avoid taking the public's focus off the joint appearances by Obama and Hillary.

"Any time that Bill Clinton and Barack Obama speak, it's going to be big news," Terry McAuliffe said. "They wanted this out of the way first. Now that that's over, they will speak. And I'll bet you they speak within the next 24 hours, 48 at the most."

Maybe we can help convince him to show his support more vigorously and with less ambiguity? Click here to send Bill Clinton an email letting him know how important it is that he show his full and unadulterated support for Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama. Make sure to include your mailing address in any emails you send.

If you'd like to write a letter, you can address it to President Bill Clinton at:

The Honorable William J. Clinton
55 W. 125th Street
New York NY 10027

Or you can call or fax him:
TEL: (212) 348-8882
Fax:(212) 348-9245

I called today and spoke with a nice staffer. I told him I had been a supporter of Bill and Hillary Clinton for many years: as a voter, a patriot, and a Clinton supporter, I was disappointed by what I read in the news about the former President saying Obama had to "kiss his ass" to get support. I felt it was important enough to call because Clinton's support is essential for the Democrats to take back the country. We can't afford to have John McCain't to get into the White House. Please tell President Clinton we need to stick together!

We need a REAL endorsement from Bill Clinton, not just this very amusing slip-up from the campaign trail in March, where Clinton encouraged voters to vote for the candidate that wants you to think and hope. Sounds like Bill has a little crush on a certain someone...

Audacity of Hope (Remix)

This is a remix of Obama's speech with music: very powerful:


Part 1 of Barack Obama's Speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention


Part 2 of the speech