Tag Archives: Barack Obama presidential campaign 2008

“It’s something we have to fight for”


2012

I’d like to share a video with you. It features Mike McCarry, a 59-year-old veteran who juggles two jobs to make ends meet.

Mike talks about the veterans portion of President Obama’s jobs plan — the piece that Congress passed earlier this month thanks in part to your work, and that the President signed into law today.

But the fight for American jobs continues, and many in Congress — including almost every single Republican — still refuse to do the right thing for teachers, cops, firefighters, and middle-class families like they did for our vets.

Watch the video, then pass it along to your friends to keep the pressure on Congress:

Fighting for Veterans jobs

It can be easy to get discouraged when members of Congress put party before people and block legislation that would help American families.

But you didn’t let up in the fight for our veterans’ future. The bill that went to the President’s desk for his signature today — which provides tax credits for small businesses that hire unemployed veterans — is proof that Congress can still come together and act when Americans demand it.

Here’s what’s next: After Thanksgiving, the Senate will vote on extending President Obama’s payroll tax cut, which puts $1,500 in the pockets of the typical middle-class family.

It’s the provision that Mitt Romney called a “little band-aid.” But $1,500 wouldn’t be a band-aid for me or Mike McCarry — and probably not for you either.

Our job right now is to make sure Congress does the right thing again.

Share this video with friends and family and encourage them to keep the pressure on:

http://my.barackobama.com/Vets-Jobs-Video

Thanks,

James

James Kvaal
Policy Director
Obama for America

Jim Messina: One Million Person-to-Person Conversations – Obama For America


Something special happened in Colorado a few days ago: One of our volunteers called up an ’08 supporter in Denver, and they had the millionth conversation of this campaign.

The person on the other end of the line had never volunteered before. But as a result of this call, he decided to attend an event in his area to connect with other volunteers in his community. Over the next 12 months, he could start dozens, maybe hundreds, more one-on-one conversations with voters. And they’ll start conversations of their own.

That will all have started with this one conversation. This is how we build this campaign.

Messina recorded a message reporting back on what this means, and why our opponents won’t have this kind of grassroots enthusiasm. You’re going to want to take a look at this one.

While we are all excited about this 1 million milestone, right now, we’re training our eyes on the next million conversations.

Some of these conversations will be with supporters who have always believed in the President. Others might be with folks who haven’t engaged with us for a while. It’s on all of us to reach out to these people — and you don’t have to wait for a phone bank or a canvass to do it. You can start making calls right now.

When I think about 1 million conversations, I can’t help but think back to March 2007, when I began organizing for then-Senator Obama’s campaign.

Back then, a lot of people seemed to think that winning a presidential campaign always came down to big-dollar donations and big-name endorsements, period. They counted out our style of grassroots organizing — said it wouldn’t get people to the polls.

We didn’t listen to them. We built our organization person by person, one conversation at a time — and that strategy didn’t just get us votes. It was how we won in key states around the country, and how we elected this president.

We’ve got to do that again. Because this time around, the stakes are even higher, and there are still just as many folks on the other side who don’t believe in grassroots organizing. They’re counting you out right now. They think you can’t — or won’t — take individual action to help build this organization.

You can start proving them wrong with the conversations you’re about to have.

Watch Messina’s message, then commit to volunteer in the months ahead, and start some conversations of your own:

http://my.barackobama.com/1-Million-Conversations

Thanks for everything you’ve done — and everything you’re about to do.

– Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
National Field Director
Obama for America

3 years ago


Three years ago, Barack Obama was elected President of the United States.

And right around this time, he stepped onstage in Chicago to address the American people for the first time as President-elect.

A lot has happened since that night in Grant Park.

But to win in 2012, we’ll need a grassroots campaign that’s even stronger than the last, and we can’t afford to wait to get started.

Here’s what the President said three years ago tonight:

“Even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime. … The road ahead will be long; our climb will be steep; we may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you, we as a people will get there. … but there’s so much more to do.”

Everyone should be proud of what we’ve accomplished since then, but as the President said, there’s so much more to do. What happens on November 6th, 2012, is up to us.

Watch the video here:

http://my.barackobama.com/Three-Years-Ago

Thanks,

Messina

Jim Messina
Campaign Manager

a message from … Jeremy Bird, BarackObama.com


Exactly one year ago, millions of Americans will head to polling places all around the country.

We’ve been reminding you of that a lot lately because so much is at stake.

And it’s time to kick up our organizing efforts, no matter where you live.

Today, we’re rolling out an interactive campaign calendar that’s going to play a crucial role in keeping us all looped in on the organizing we’re doing. It’s got it all — from upcoming primaries and debates to neighborhood canvasses and trainings happening in your community.

We’ll be updating this calendar regularly — and you’ll know about changes as soon as we do, because it can sync with your Outlook and Google calendars online. So important campaign dates, like the last day you can register to vote where you live, will be in the same place with your all your other to-dos.

If you want to be a part of all the building we’re going to do together in the next year, let us know by making a commitment to volunteer in this campaign — then download the calendar to stay in the loop. www.BarackObama.com

Here’s what I think is really cool about this calendar: It doesn’t just keep you up to date on the campaign’s day-to-day activities. It actually maps out our organizing for the next 12 months — lets you know what phase we’re currently in, what that means for your community, and how the work we’re all doing is connected to the bigger picture.

Right now, we’re in the team-building phase — honing in on growing neighborhood teams of supporters in communities across the country. This is the phase that lays the foundation for the four phases to come. Click on one of the links in this message, and have a look for yourself.

When you do, you’ll see a number — 365 — the number of days we have to build teams and reach out to voters between now and Election Day. That time is a gift — but only if we use it. Let’s go.

Commit to volunteer for 2012, and stay up to date by downloading our new interactive calendar:

WWW.BarackObama.com

Thanks,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
National Field Director
Obama for America

Commit to Volunteer … Jeremy Bird, BarackObama.com


A little more than one year from now, we’ll all be doing one of two things.

We’ll be celebrating the President’s re-election, and our renewed opportunity to keep moving this country forward. Or we’ll be wondering whether we could have done more — reached out and talked to more people, helped register more voters — when we still had time.

I plan on waking up on the morning of November 7th, 2012, knowing that President Obama was re-elected and I did everything I could to make sure of it. We have a lot of ground to cover between now and Election Day — and we can’t wait until next year to get started. That’s why this week — one year out — we’re ramping up the volunteer push that’s going to get this president re-elected.

Today, say you’re ready to be a part of it — whether that means you make phone calls next week, go canvassing early next year, or take on a leadership role in your neighborhood team in the months to come.

Commit to volunteer for 2012 today.

Thousands of supporters are already at work on the ground, talking to their neighbors, pitching in however they can. But none of us can sit back on the sidelines and hope that work alone will be enough. It won’t.

There isn’t going to be another November between now and the election: The twelve months we have left are all we’re going to get. Right now, we all have the time, and the opportunity, to step up and make a commitment to be a part of the work that we know will be the difference between winning and losing next fall.

The reality we’ll all face when the dust settles after the 2012 elections is something we can affect with the actions we decide to take today.

It’s time: Say you’ll help shape the outcome of 2012 by committing to volunteer:

www.barackobama.com

Let’s get out there,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
National Field Director
Obama for America