Yesterday I took advantage of an opportunity to listen in on the Obama campaign call for African American leadership. The line up was impressive, the commentary inspirational. Led by Obama senior advisor, Rick Wade, the call began with an energetic recap of an incredible 21 month campaign along with an emphatic final GOTV push. Congressman James Clyburn said that that he does not believe that America has not experienced such a social transformation since the 1860's and that we are turning a significant page in history. He has been especially struck by the response of southern governors to a progressive Democratic presidential candidate. Donna Brazile followed noting the phenomenal African American early vote turnout. She talked about how the campaign made use of the latest technology to empower people and build from the bottom up to create a new political map.
The campaign has also deployed the most sophisticate Election Protection operation in history with thousands of lawyers, 100 paid staffers and thousands of volunteer monitors. This generation of youth will now be known as the Obama Generation according to Sean P. Diddy Combs who spoke of the honor and privilege of representing the youth on the call. On their behalf he pledged allegiance to President Obama. He explained that until now the hip hop generation felt left out like they did not really have a vote but with the involvement of celebrities in 2004 their numbers doubled and tripled. P. Diddy spoke of the contributions of Beyonce, Lyles, Jay-Z and others in Pennsylvania and Ohio. Above all he stated that youth today must take responsibility for their future. Obama senior advisor, Valerie Jarrett, reinforced the grassroots nature of the campaign and noted how Obama's cool disposition, focus, and judgment led to his selecting Biden, winning all three debates, and delivering a closing argument that will touch Virginia, North Carolina, Indiana, Colorado, Missouri, and Florida on the final days. Everyone listening in on the call was pumped when Senator Obama spoke next. He thanked Black America and Black leadership for the their work. He credited Black America with making the journey possible.
Noting the fact that "our community suffers more, is more likely to drop out of school, more likely to go to jail, and more likely to die," Senator Obama outlined what is really at stake. Health care, education, ending the war, each was mentioned as a priority. He closed by reflecting on his remarks in Selma where he observed "I am here because somebody marched" and he admonished the listeners to go out tomorrow and march to the polls. If we do our part, we will change hearts. He closed with an image of Sasha and Malia on the South Lawn of the White House along with his "elegant" wife Michelle. For everyone on the call it couldn't get any better, still Oprah did a fantastic job following the Senator. She said it is the greatest honor of her life to stand and support Barack Obama. She said that Michelle asked friends to visualize Obama taking the oath of office and to realize that casting a vote for Obama is really casting a vote for ourselves. She reflected on Mrs. Jame Pittman's question "Are you the one?" which is the question that she asked Obama in an interview before he started running. His reply was that he might be one of the ones. Oprah noted that Obama embodies the spirit of what we are all hoping for bringing together red states and blue states, black and white, red and Hispanic and even white women are increasing on board with Obama.
Dr. Joseph Lowery, President Emeritus of Dr. King's SCLC, closed the call out on a spiritual note. Lowery said that he had not been so spiritually moved since 1947 when he preached his first sermon. This has been a spiritual campaign, a spiritual revival, a movement. Lowery shared that when he was ushered in to the small room for seniors he voted with tears in his eyes and when he realized that his vote was in he shouted Hallelujah. He thanked Obama for answering the call to servant hood, for taking up the mantle so that we can now turn to each other and not on each other. Closing with lyrics, "We've a story to tell the nation. For the darkness shall turn to the dawning ." I will have to ask him for the full quote.
Pittsburgh, Reverend Judith Moore Kensington, less machines than in the previous primary. It is about the same as last election. Florida Salandra reports that young voters are out in numbers. Videos, interviews have been done. No issues other than a couple of provisional ballots, but eventually got a regular ballot to vote. People who were not register was trying to vote. Great turn out with early voting and people have been abole to get in and get oiut. There are a lot of young peole at the polls. A poll monitor mentioned that there was only one machine in one of the precincts I the fort Lauderdale area. Deven Anderson, its been raining off and on all day. First time voters are minorities. A problem was someone took the ballots home and had to bring them back. Few people reporting to the wrong precincts, but volunteers helping them out. Voters have been bused to the polls. No major problems in the county where Deven is Wake County - Raleigh. Stephanie and petee, cincinnatti. Still dealing with a number of problems. Trouble shooting on provisional ballot issues.
The pollworkers do not have the right information. The pollworkers are telling them the wrong information and the voters are filling out the provisional ballots to the point where they may not count. The training is not good in the board of elections because wrong information is being given at polling sites. Petee Provisional ballot issues. Pollworker training is the issue. Working with the secretary of state to issue an advisory on issues, but no luck so far. Turnout is good. The weather is great in ohio. Louisiana, new Orleans Xavier university - students have registered through the registrars office and having problems. Helen butler, election protection group helping out. A police officer was outside the poll and tried to intimidate voters. Northern VA 400 - 500 people in line. Way more students trying to vote at polling locations that cannot handle the volume. Other than glitches from this morning Cynthia is fine. Got slow around 11 a.m. team is confident on where their work stands. We call initmidatio when the police comes to the polls. It was said that the intimidation could Contona Thomas at four precincts in the African-american are. 70% turn out so far for polls in terms of early turnout.
Black Youth Vote is the name of the National Coalition's youth division. Back in 1996 when we were almost youth ourselves we wanted to be specific but we wern't sure of the punctuation. For a few years it really was Black Youth Vote? By 2004 Black youth out voted all other youth and today our elders are commenting all over the nation about how proud they are of all of the young people in line to vote. We were a little worried but my daughter convinced me that the O Generation would turn out. She said they are waiting to make history "on a history making day". Now they are reciting the poem "Rosa sat so that Martin could march, Martin marched so that Jesse could run, and Jesse ran so that Obama could win." That is catchy but even better is to eavesdrop on a youth conversation and hear them planning Next Steps. They will come together and host a Black Youth Vote Conference next week at the NEA. The have outlined an agenda: the economy (jobs), tuition (student debt), environment (climate change), ending the wars (Iraq & Afghanistan), and criminal justice. Not only did they show up, vote, volunteer, now they are planning their next steps to hold the Administration accountable. Black Youth Vote! Indeed FeliciaD
NCBCP Election Day Command Center Michigan Melanie Campbell asked the callers on the Media Conference call what was happening in the country in key states. Catherine Martin with the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. Long lines, machine broke downs, voters at wrong polling locations. The lines are moving well. Pittsburgh Dewitt Walton with the Pittsburgh chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute mentioned that there are no major incidents. There are isolated spots of long lines. There are also some reports of machines broken. The Secretary of State promised that they would have emergency paper ballots if machines were broken. The elections board has been responsive. Atlanta, Georgia Helen Butler mentioned that they have had problems with machines and the polls are using paper ballots. Long lines are widespread. Some people are not on voter rolls when they arrive due to not receiving their voter cards. Northern Virginia Precincts are 2 long. Some are not given paper ballots and they are turned away at the polls for no valid reasons. Coalition partners with water and snacks are helping people in the line. The average wait has been an hour to 2 hours. Richmond Southside Baptist Church only has one machine. St. Petersburgh, Florida There are very long lines at smaller precincts. The turnout is heavy. Many first-time voters are turning out as well. Orlando, Florida Voters started lining up at 4 a.m. to vote. There are a lot of first-time voters. Black Youth Vote! is conducting exit poll surveys.
NCBCP Election Day Command Center Michigan Melanie Campbell asked the callers on the Media Conference call what was happening in the country in key states. Catherine Martin with the A. Phillip Randolph Institute. Long lines, machine broke downs, voters at wrong polling locations. The lines are moving well. Pittsburgh Dewitt Walton with the Pittsburgh chapter of the A. Phillip Randolph Institute mentioned that there are no major incidents. There are isolated spots of long lines. There are also some reports of machines broken. The Secretary of State promised that they would have emergency paper ballots if machines were broken. The elections board has been responsive. Atlanta, Georgia Helen Butler mentioned that they have had problems with machines and the polls are using paper ballots. Long lines are widespread. Some people are not on voter rolls when they arrive due to not receiving their voter cards. Northern Virginia Precincts are 2 long. Some are not given paper ballots and they are turned away at the polls for no valid reasons. Coalition partners with water and snacks are helping people in the line. The average wait has been an hour to 2 hours. Richmond Southside Baptist Church only has one machine. St. Petersburgh, Florida There are very long lines at smaller precincts. The turnout is heavy. Many first-time voters are turning out as well. Orlando, Florida Voters started lining up at 4 a.m. to vote. There are a lot of first-time voters. Black Youth Vote! is conducting exit poll surveys. Houston, Texas Carmen Watkins reported 750,000 voters voting early.
Okay so we just got a call from Senegal asking how things are going. They are gathered around cheering us on! F
Tiffany Brown with Black Youth Vote! in Philadelphia is seeing her share of long lines and waits. Near Temple University's' campus, voters can be seen waiting to vote in the rain. Neighbors are bringing out umbrellas, water, etc. Persons with special needs have been transitioned to the front of the line to avoid the long wait. Balloon artists are engaging voters in the line. Nobody is leaving the lines. The excitement is heavy in this particular precinct, but Tiffany is continually on the lookout for voter disenfranchisement.
Unity 08 GA - reported by Helen Butler written by Ja'net Y. Carter 11:00 a.m. There are precincts that opened late due to polling machines that were not functioning properly. They have resorted to using paper ballots. There is also a problem with people who have voted, but are not showing up as voted. A husband and wife casted their votes together, but only the wife is showing as voted, while the husband is showing as not having voted. There is concern about whether these votes will be counted. Voters are also experiencing extremely long waits in line. VA - reported by Cynthia Downs-Taylor & Jerry Hebert written by Marjorie Innocent 10:30 am - Chesterfield County: Cars being towed for no apparent reason at Iron Bridge Road Baptist Church 12:00 pm - Machine breakdowns reported in Portsmouth, Chesapeake, Newport, Richmond & Fairfax. Some precincts are moving to paper ballots and in others people are being turned away. Considering lawsuit to extend voting by 2 hours Report provided by Jerry Herbert, civil rights attorney, to Melanie Campbell. PA -reported by Donna Frisby-Greenwood (Phila.), Nyota Brown & Judith Moore (Pittsburgh) In Philadelphia, visual observations show, large crowds and long lines at voter precincts. At Temple University, in lieu of a 1.5 hrs wait, students are in line and excited to vote. Reports of broken voting machines are currently being investigated. In Pittsburgh, smaller precincts are 100 of 300 registered voters have cast their vote. At the time of report, there were delays in resetting the voting machines. There were also incidents of incorrect polling information posted.
Georgia - Tommy Dortch Shortage of memory cards for voting machines, Southwest ATL. To re-program only 5 machines, 1 broken. 7:00 - 8:30 still waiting; lines backed up. Wait to reprocess cards. Andy Young plus Tommy plus others vote. Ppl need at least 2 hrs. or more to vote. Precincts A, B, C turnout high. Mississippi Polls open 15 mins. Late in Madison, MS.; machines down; Names not on roster; lines long. Weather's good; PPL voting in record numbers. Small precincts turning out. 12:50PM - Going to different precincts covering rides for senior citizens and nursing homes. Crew of four going from poll to poll doing Exit Survey. Trying to max out this particular precinct with more than 200 ppl voting. Have not encountered a lot of problems so far. North Carolina 12:30PM - Focusing on Election protection and providing snacks. Lines are not that long - going pretty smoothly. Reports of cars being towed at one polling location.
Looking to my left and my right there are awesome leaders assembled. We're sitting at the National Council of Negro Women on Pennsylvania Ave in DC. We are monitoring the non-partisan effort for Black America. Our youth are blogging, calling, and monitoring states learning first hand how to monitor a miracle. It is hard to be non-partisan today but we really believe in the system and the process. As the day gets underway
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