Kudos for Atlanta Congressman and superdelegate, John Lewis. As a long time friend and supporter of the Clinton duo, I'm sure it was difficult to make the decision to switch his support from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama. I'm glad the civil rights activist who was beaten unconscious during a civil rights march in Selma, Alabama over 40 years ago, decided to be, as Dr. Joseph Lowery says, "on the right side of history." Things are not looking good for the Clinton klan.
Black Leader Changes Endorsement to Obama by Jeff Zeleny - New York Times
DALLAS — Senator Barack Obama on Wednesday accepted the endorsement of Representative John Lewis, a Georgia Democrat and longtime African-American political leader, who switched his support from the presidential candidacy of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“John Lewis is an American hero and a giant of the civil rights movement,” Mr. Obama said in a statement issued after he arrived here for a campaign stop. “I am deeply honored to have his support.”
The support of Mr. Lewis, who carries great influence among other members of Congress, has been carefully monitored as the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination evolved into a fight for delegates between Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton. Read the full story here
On the other side of the country, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) announced that he will be endorsing Barack Obama for president this afternoon, becoming the 10th senator to officially endorse the Illinois senator's bid for the Democratic nomination.
Sen. Dorgan to Endorse Obama By Paul Kane
Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) told The Trail moments ago that he will be endorsing Barack Obama for president this afternoon, becoming the 10th senator to officially endorse the Illinois senator's bid for the Democratic nomination.
"I decided I wanted to determine who out there can inspire people to move in a new direction," Dorgan said, deciding that Obama was that candidate. Read it here
Clinton searches for the best message against Obama
By Michael Finnegan, Los Angeles Times - PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- With her White House prospects in jeopardy, Hillary Rodham Clinton has shifted from one tactic to another in trying to overtake rival Barack Obama.
She tried TV ads saying he ducked debates. She accused him of plagiarism. She disparaged his huge crowds. She called his attacks on her shameful and dishonest. On Sunday, Clinton turned to ridicule.
"Now I can stand up here and say: Let's just get everybody together, let's get unified, the sky will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing, and everyone will know we should do the right thing, and the world will be perfect," Clinton told supporters here at Rhode Island College.
"Maybe I just lived a little long. But I have no illusions about how hard this is going to be," Clinton continued. "You are not going to wave a magic wand and have the special interests disappear." Read the full story at LA Times
By Dan Chapman, Atlanta Journal-Constitution The Rev. James Orange has taken off his marching boots and gone home to the Lord.
The bear of a man who organized marches and workers for the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and, later, for trade unions, was lionized by the civil rights movement’s dwindling band of leaders and others during a four-hour service Saturday in King International Chapel at Morehouse College.
Orange, described as "a courageous leader for our struggle for racial justice and equality," by Christine King Farris, the Rev. King's sister, was born in Birmingham and lived in southwest Atlanta. He died Feb. 16 at age 65 at Emory Crawford Long Hospital.
In between, Orange's behind-the-scenes yet powerful presence was felt in Selma; Memphis; Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Albany, and South Africa.
"Hey leader" was both a greeting and rallying cry that Orange used to imbue a sense of purpose and responsibility into every person he met.
Leaders must serve, after all, and none performed like Orange, U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) said in an emotional tribute.
"He was a pillar of the modern-day civil rights movement, this good and decent man, this honorable brother," said Lewis, consoled by Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin after his talk. "He was a man of raw courage. James Orange was never missing in action."
By Eve Troeh Voice of America - Barack Obama garnered his 11th consecutive primary win this week, when Democrats Abroad announced from Geneva, Switzerland, that the Illinois senator had won the party's Global Primary. Obama got about 65 per cent of more than 20,000 votes submitted overseas. Democrats in more than 160 countries cast ballots by mail, fax, in person and - for the first time - online.
About six million U.S. citizens live outside the United States, including students, business people and members of the military. Some say the Global Primary is a step toward better voting rights for them. But others see the event as more symbolic than practical. Eve Troeh reports.
On Super Tuesday, when voters in 22 states went to the polls, more than 1,500 Americans gathered in London's Grand Central Library to vote in the Democratic Global Primary. They split into two caucuses: for Obama or for Clinton.
Democrats overseas had a choice this primary season: Vote, as usual, by paper absentee ballot from their home state. Or waive that right, and cast a vote by mail, online or in person in the Democrats Abroad Global Primary.
The group set up voting sites in more than 30 countries. The polls were open for one week, starting on February 5. Most were not typical polling stations - balloting was held in bars, private clubs, or coffee shops. In New Delhi, India, voters met at a restaurant called Ploof. They voted upstairs, and partied downstairs.
"There were 100 and something voters who brought their kids, their friends, their families. Because they wanted that sense of being together for a really important political moment," said Carolyn Sauvage-Mar, the chair of Democrats Abroad India. She says it was especially important for the fastest-growing democracy in the world to see that Americans take their right to vote seriously.
"There were many many first-time voters. A couple of 18 year-olds. There was a naturalized citizen from Ghana, and a naturalized citizen from the UK. There were of course many Indian-Americans. We had another younger person who actually flew to Delhi from Mumbai, a two hour flight, just to vote," he said.
By HELEN ERIKSEN- Houston Chronicle PRAIRIE VIEW — More than 1,000 Prairie View A&M students turned out today to march in support of their voting rights.
The marchers said Prairie View student voting rights have been suppressed for decades in Waller County.
The protesters carried "Register to Vote" signs and wore black shirts with the slogan, "It is 2008 and we will vote.
"I was angry after registering to vote in the 2006 election only to be turned away at the voting booth," said sophomore Dee Dee Williams.
The march began at 9 a.m. as the protesters left the campus on the seven-mile journey to the Waller County Courthouse in Hempstead. Full story at Houston Chronicle
Prairie View A&M Student March for Campus Voting Rights
Students attending Prairie View A&M University have begun marching throughout Waller County to protest the lack of early voting centers near the campus.
The students organized the Tuesday rally to convince lawmakers to allow early voting on campus, since other county voting centers are long distances away from the Prairie View.
The walk will extend to more than seven miles to the Waller County courthouse, the only full-time early voting site in the county.
Waller County administrators agreed to add several area early voting sites, but the polling places are not scheduled to open for several days, cutting into the early voting period.
Andre Evans, president of the Prairie View Student Government Association, told FOX 26 News, "I think it's time for students to be more proactive and aggressive in obtaining our rights."
This is a very difficult post for me. Rev. Orange has touched so many lives, he will be missed by so many people. My blessings go out to his loving family. He was a true leader of leaders. I'm sure his baby girl, Pam, greeted our beloved leader with her shy smile at the gates of heaven.
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- The Rev. James Orange, a civil rights activist whose 1965 jailing sparked a fatal protest that ultimately led to the famed Selma-to-Montgomery march and the Voting Rights Act, died Saturday at Atlanta's Crawford Long Hospital, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference said in a statement. He was 65.
Orange was a native of Birmingham, Alabama, "who resided in southwest Atlanta for four decades while fighting the good fight for equality and social justice for all mankind," said the SCLC, a civil rights organization.
Derrick sure makes me proud. The interviewer obviously assumed he had found an Obama supporter full of passion and no substance. I commend Derrick for holding it down, and turning the reporter around.
This is a prime example of what has occurred with the Obama campaign. After seeing and hearing what Obama has to say, people who did not support him initially are now recognizing his potential to make a much-needed change in America. There is always a lot of passion in a race - whether it's a presidential race or horse race - but the people are listening to how Obama addresses issues that are impacting their daily lives.
Not to take away from Sen. Obama, but the state of America is also propelling people to go out and vote. Jobs are going abroad, children dying in a senseless war, and the US economy in shambles.
CHANGE is all we can HOPE for right now.
BTW, I think this young man should run for office.
No one has explained what happened in the Potomac primary better than Howard Kurtz of the Washington Post. Kurtz said Hillary Clinton "sinks in the Potomac... got walloped...got creamed." He's a true wordsmith.
Before we get to the demographic, geopolitical and psychological breakdowns of Barack Obama's triple victory yesterday, I just want to make one observation.
Hillary Clinton lived in Washington for eight years, in a very large home with a big back yard and a great view. She was a local figure as first lady. She made plenty of appearances in the District, the Maryland suburbs and Northern Virginia, while Obama hadn't even gotten himself elected to the Illinois legislature. She should have had the home-field advantage.
Instead, she got walloped. The easy explanation is that there are a lot of African Americans in the District and Maryland. But Virginia? A big NASCAR state that has tended to elect moderate Democrats such as Chuck Robb, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine? Clinton should have been at least competitive, and she got creamed.
He's back! Yep, the desperate ones are at it again. Billary Clinton is back on his racist roll. Now he's decided that the African American community has "immense pride," that's why his wife is getting beat down in the polls.
News Flash Mr. Bill, we don't want you or Hillary back in the White House. And, guess what? White America doesn't want you either. Add to that, Senator Obama is MORE QUALIFIED and MORE EXPERIENCED than your wife. Mr. First Black President, do you feel the immense pride? Will you be voting for Obama?
I don't know what Mr. Clinton's been sipping, but last I checked, blacks were still a minority. We certainly do not make up 60 % of the voting population - which is what Obama is getting. What's the excuse for the white voters in Washington, Maine, Iowa, and Nebraska voting for Barack Obama? How ya spinning that one? Guess what I think Mr. Bill is full of?
Someone in the Clinton campaign needs to put a muzzle on the ex-prez. His RACIST, CONDESCENDING remarks are not appreciated. Might I add, Black people have run for president in the past. People are turning out in masses to vote FOR CHANGE and against the wife of an impeached president who, while in office, had relations with a young girl. Some of us have morals. And who knows what the heck you're up to these days with all of your foreign deals. I can't start with the damage you did while in office.
Now that I think about it, keep putting your foot in your mouth Mr. Bill, we need to keep the momentum going!
Bill Clinton Stumps at Area Churches
'We Have to Hold Our Party Together,' Ex-President Says By Hamil R. Harris, Washington
Former president Bill Clinton said yesterday that he understood the "immense pride" that has propelled black voters to the polls for Sen. Barack Obama, but he thinks his wife would be a better choice for president.
Clinton also said he was glad that the contest between Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Obama (Ill.) for the Democratic nomination had taken on a less hostile tone because the party needs to be united for the general election. Read the full story here
FYI the black population (est 2006 census) in states where Barack Obama won. Obviously, this is not a black thing.
--Louisiana - 31% Black (Obama 57% of vote)
--Alaska 3.7 % Black (Obama 75% of vote)
--Washington - 3.6% Black (Obama 68% of vote)
--Nebraska 4.4 % Black (Obama 68% of vote)
--Maine .8% Black (Obama 59% of vote)
--Iowa 2.5% (Obama 38% of vote)
--Georgia 29.9% (Obama 67% of vote)
--MO 11.5% (Obama 49% of vote)
--AL 26.3 (Obama 56% of vote)
Barack just won a Grammy for the audio version of his book The Audacity of Hope... This is his second Grammy award; he also won for the audio version of his first book, Dreams from My Father...
For those of you in states having primaries today, if you didn't already cast your ballot during early voting, please get out and vote today.
In Georgia, they are experiencing long lines at some polling locations and a few location changes. To find your polling place call 1 - 866- MYVOTE-1.
In California - Los Angeles County - it seems like some of the equipment didn't make it to the polling locations. Talk about supressing the vote!
Los Angeles = Voting Problems Everywhere?
We're getting reports of problems from readers, writers and the media. John Ennis, one of the founders of Video the Vote, gave LAist this update. Most of the confusion today is over people who are not registered as Democrat or Republican who want to vote in the primaries. The issue might be that they moved and they thought they were up to date. If you are a non-partisan voter, all you have to do is go to either a Democratic or Republican voting booth. Other than a few precincts not opening on time, Ennis says things seem to be running smooth, but it's early in the day he warned. To report a bad voting experience, call Video the Vote at 866-OUR-VOTE
Here are some other comments we've heard around the interwebs, if you have any stories to tell, let us know in the comments!
"The board of elections failed to deliver voting equipment to polling places ALL OVER LOS ANGELES... Developing..." [Drudge Report]
"Neighborhood friends and I voted this AM over at the Fairfax Library Branch. There was a delay because the machine that "counts" our inked up ballots was on the fritz. The staff was overwhelmed and frankly didn't know what to do. Two folks said 'Get a Mac.' It was funny and sad, and scary. I thought the machine was a Diebold and therefore our Demo votes would somehow toggle over, or just toggle off—but after some research, this is what that machine is: http://www.inkavote.com/precinct_ballot_counter.htm" [Reader submitted]
"The Inkavote ballot verification machine doesn't work at my
This just in as. Please forward onto ALL of the Obama support groups as well as the people who you know that are on the fence. Here is the REAL factor of experience.
-----Original Message-----
From: ssp_11_11@yahoo.com Subject: Obama More Experienced Than Hillary
WHAT 35 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE?
The Facts:
Senator Barack Obama
1996-2004 (Illinois State Senator)
2005-2008 (United States Senator)
12 Years of Elected Office Experience (FYI – George W. Bush had 6 years in office before the presidency)
Senator Hillary Clinton
2001-2008 (United States Senator)
7 Years of Elected Office Experience
Barack Obama is more experienced to be President of the United States.
35 – 7 = 28 years of zero elected office experience for Hillary Clinton.
Again, what 35 years of experience is Hillary talking about?
Here are the remaining 28 years –
8 Years (Lawyer)
12 Years (First Lady of Arkansas)
8 Years (First Lady of the U.S.)
28 Years of Zero Elected Office Experience
Since when is 20 years of being a first lady relevant experience for being president?
FINAL ANALYSIS
Senator Barack Obama, Not Only By Virtue Of His Character, Honesty, And Competence, But Also By Virtue Of His Experience, Is Clearly More Qualified To Be President Of The United States.
The economy lost 17,000 jobs in January, the Labor Department reported on Friday, the first monthly decline in four years and the most striking evidence yet that the United States may be slipping into a recession.
Until now, the labor market had been growing at a steady if softening pace. Many economists pointed to expanding payrolls as the final holdout in a sluggish economy weighed down by trouble on Wall Street, the collapse of the housing bubble, and a cascade of credit problems linked to soured subprime mortgages.
But the January employment report cast the job market in a startlingly darker light. Jobs disappeared across a broad spectrum of professions, with the steepest losses coming in the manufacturing, construction and goods-producing industries. Read the full story here
Winfrey to women: Feel free to support Obama
MARIA SHRIVER JOINS HER AT UCLA RALLY
By Laura Kurtzman Associated Press
LOS ANGELES - Offering women a permission slip to desert the candidacy of Hillary Clinton in favor of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey said Sunday they should not feel guilty if they preferred him over her.
"Being free means you get to think for yourself," she said, "and you get to decide for yourself what to do."
A few minutes later, her friend, Maria Shriver, the wife of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, came on stage and announced her support for Obama.
Sunday's rally for Obama in Los Angeles was hosted by his wife, Michelle Obama, who spoke at San Jose State University on Sunday night. Read full story here
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