8 weeks ago today in a blog on DailyKos and many other sites I posted a proposal for a Obamathon fundraising drive to help Barack Obama win in the first Super Tuesday (February 5th). Since then 896 people have donated $48,771 dollars via that page and Obama has gone from a underdog to a clear front runner within reach of the nomination.
But there is still work to do to get there. Obama has to run two campaigns at once. He still has to win the Democratic nomination and also he has to run against Senator McCain. He is facing a two front battle. It is still a uphill fight but it can be won.
So I’m relaunching the Obamathon as the Obamathon 2.0 (real original name I know) and setting a new goal of $100,000 by April 22, the day of the next primary.
8 weeks ago when I, a 14 year old kid with no prior political experience, launched the Obamathon. Little did I guess that almost a thousand strangers from all around the country would invest thousands and thousands of dollars in this campaign.
Think about it. Even 5 years ago this would have been unthinkable. People who cared about the future of their country just didn’t have the tools to be able to do such a thing. It is the rise of people-powered politics. That is what has gotten us this far and that is what will take us to the finish line. People-powered politics.
People are taking notice. The Obamathon was featured in the opinion pages of the Philly Inquirer:
The Obama campaign has leveraged the Internet to turn a geographically dispersed volunteer base into a nationwide, home-based phone bank, empowering supporters to make crucial get-out-the-vote calls to targeted Super Tuesday precincts. John Edwards’ campaign allowed ordinary Americans to prepare their own campaign ads, one of which on rural issues ended up airing in Oklahoma.
And in St. Paul, Minn., a blogger named Karl just became one of the Obama campaign’s more prolific fund-raising bundlers, raising more than $42,000 in only a week from hundreds of friends and strangers over the Internet. Karl, mind you, is only 14 years old.
Those of us who care about the influence of big money on politics don’t really need more laws. We need more Karls.
But why donate to Barack Obama. Why support him? Why do we need Barack Obama as President and why do we need the Obamathon? Here are a few reasons thanks to my friend and fellow blogger kid oakland:
Barack Obama will pass a comprehensive 100% Cap and Auction Carbon emissions plan.
Barack Obama will make massive investments in energy independence.
Barack Obama will invest in energy efficiency and promote fuel efficiency and alternatives to driving.
Barack Obama voted to eliminate Cluster Bombs.
Barack Obama is opposed to the militarization of space.
Barack Obama has set a goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons, but will not do so unilaterally.
Barack Obama will target and attack those who attack our nation and build alliances with everyone else.
Barack Obama will meet with leaders of foreign countries and rebuild our nation’s relationships around the world.
Barack Obama will make sensible reforms to United States policy towards Cuba, allowing more visits and more economic exchange with Cuba for Cuban-American families.
Barack Obama will double United States humanitarian foreign aid.
Barack Obama will pass comprehensive immigration reform in his first year in office.
Barack Obama will stand with Caucus for Priorities for sensible reductions in our military expenditures and reinvestment in our infratructure and our people. Watch this video.
Barack Obama is for portable, opt-out pensions for working families.
Barack Obama is for ready return income tax returns that benefit all Americans who have straightforward taxes.
Barack Obama will eliminate income taxes entirely for fixed income seniors making under $50,000 a year.
Barack Obama is for a Universal Health Care plan that has shared responsibility between Government, Business and Individuals.
Barack Obama is for true net neutrality.
Barack Obama is for transparency in our government and public access to the work done in Washington D.C.
Barack Obama voted for accountability on FISA.
Barack Obama contributed to the effort to reverse the South Dakota abortion ban.
Barack Obama will pay our teachers more.
Barack Obama will create a national service program for college students.
Barack Obama will routinely ask parents to help in the education of their children.
Barack Obama will pass a law banning replacement workers.
Barack Obama has spoken out against homophobia and Anti-Semitism at African American churches.
Barack Obama has spoken in favor of condom use to combat AIDS at evangelical mega churches.
Barack Obama and his wife Michelle took a public HIV test in Kenya to promote testing as a means of preventing the spread of AIDS/HIV.
Barack Obama has made the central internal credo of his campaign be the three words, Respect, Empower, Include.
Barack Obama graduated from Columbia University and went to work as a community organizer on Chicago’s South Side.
Barack Obama is a Constitutional Scholar who will promote respect for the rule of law and a return to respect for the Constitution within our Exectutive Branch.
Finally, Barack Obama understands the meaning of the fundamental moral imperatives that underly the politics of our party. (Watch that clip.)
In all the upcoming states and many states that have already voted Obama has tireless field organizers working their butt off for Obama. All over the country volunteers are working 24/7 for Obama. Lets put it this way, giving them the resources so that their hard work will pay off is the least we can do.
We can no longer stand on the sidelines, we need to take action. More bluntly we need to raise a lot of money for Obama. But it won’t be easy and I need your help.
Use the code
The easiest way is to put this code in everything you do, blogs, Facebook, MySpace, you’re personal website, anywhere.
< img src=”http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2351033338_411e07908c.jpg?v=0″>
When you put the right stuff around that code it should show up as this:
Write a diary:
If you write a diary for Obama make a appeal for a donation to this drive. Put that code in the diary. If you really want to help write a whole diary about why you’re donating as part of the drive and ask someone to match you or something like that.
Promote, promote, promote
Another great way you can spread the word is by linking to the drive in you’re comment signature. Go up to the top of the page and click on “Yourusernames Page” and go over to “My Account” then under “Comment Signature” and post this code or something like it:
< a href=”https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/pf?outreach_page_id=24094″>Donate to the Obamathon Netroots Fundraising Drive< /a>
Once you remove the space after each < it will show up as this under each comment you make.
Donate to the Obamathon Netroots Fundraising Drive
Donate:
A fundraising drive doesn’t work without money. So if you can, please donate. It doesn’t matter if it’s $5 or $2,300 or something in between. Take ownership of this campaign, help change the party, help change the world.
I am 14 years old and this is my first political campaign but I’m doing everything I can because it’s not just about Obama or even about this election. It’s about the future. What kind of world do we want to live in? One of war, hate, fear and bigotry? Or do we want a future of peace, love, hope and understanding. I’m doing everything I can to build this better future. Because if I have kids I want them to be able to grow up in a better future. If they have kids I want them to have a better future. I want all of the people here on Earth to be able to have a chance at living a good life.
That’s why I’m fighting. I’d be hugely grateful if you joined me and donated and spread the word. And if you have any questions send them to obamathon(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Paul Wellstone said the future will not belong to those who stand on the sidelines. So it’s up to you. What kind of future do you want? And will you stay on the sidelines or will you get active.
Donate to the Obamathon Netroots Fundraising Drive
Yes. We. Can.
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Ready to take back our future?
our democratic candidates have raised and spent nearly 1 billion dollars on this campaign. None have spoken about campaign finance reform, and the “dollar, dollar, dollar” drive just seems to be sinking progressivism.
I am more than a little disgusted with this, especially since neither candidate is addressing health care, the constitution, the economy, the war in Iraq, and most importantly, neither seems to be focused on McCain.
What kind of future do I want? One that is REALLY free from the influence of gobs of money.