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Sunday, December 19, 2010

DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL IS H.R. 2965 ~ HERE IS THE LIST OF WHO VOTED FOR AND AGAINST DADT

See below for the United States Senators' names and which way they voted for allowing gay people to serve in the military without fear of losing their jobs

But first~

This is a quote from the article Why is Obama leaving the grass roots on the sidelines? at www.washingtonpost.com

“…Obama needs a senior adviser whose job is to be a liaison to the movement that elected him…Obama needs twice as much grass-roots support in the next election - and he's not going to get it by sidelining his supporters…”


Why is Obama leaving the grass roots on the sidelines?

By Sam Graham-Felsen
Friday, December 17, 2010

In the wake of President Obama's deal to extend the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, pundits have focused on how Obama has alienated the left. But the issue isn't the left - it's the list. Read the article by clicking the link: www.washingtonpost.com

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Of course, I don't believe that President Obama is reading all the letters that I have sent to him. But surely some staff members are calculating the subjects being addressed in our phone calls, letters and emails. I have addressed mostly Darfur. But also, other things, such as Health Care Reform. And most recently I addressed the very issue that I won't be joining his campaign next time around, stating the reasons. I am one of those who never had gotten engaged in the election process before. It is definitely not in my comfort zone to knock on doors, which I did for him in New Hampshire and Rhode Island. I am not in the demographic that he won: older generation, white, female. I will vote for him next time. But it is more that I will be voting against his opponent, than for him, as I stated in my email. And this is the very "list" that Sam Graham-Felsen is talking about.

Tonight the "list" received this email:

Sandra --

Moments ago, the Senate voted to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

When that bill reaches my desk, I will sign it, and this discriminatory law will be repealed.

Gay and lesbian service members -- brave Americans who enable our freedoms -- will no longer have to hide who they are.

The fight for civil rights, a struggle that continues, will no longer include this one.

This victory belongs to you. Without your commitment, the promise I made as a candidate would have remained just that.

Instead, you helped prove again that no one should underestimate this movement. Every phone call to a senator on the fence, every letter to the editor in a local paper, and every message in a congressional inbox makes it clear to those who would stand in the way of justice: We will not quit.

This victory also belongs to Senator Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and our many allies in Congress who refused to let politics get in the way of what was right.

Like you, they never gave up, and I want them to know how grateful we are for that commitment.

Will you join me in thanking them by adding your name to Organizing for America's letter?

I will make sure these messages are delivered -- you can also add a comment about what the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" means to you.

As Commander in Chief, I fought to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" because it weakens our national security and military readiness. It violates the fundamental American principles of equality and fairness.

But this victory is also personal.

I will never know what it feels like to be discriminated against because of my sexual orientation.

But I know my story would not be possible without the sacrifice and struggle of those who came before me -- many I will never meet, and can never thank.

I know this repeal is a crucial step for civil rights, and that it strengthens our military and national security. I know it is the right thing to do.

But the rightness of our cause does not guarantee success, and today, celebration of this historic step forward is tempered by the defeat of another -- the DREAM Act. I am incredibly disappointed that a minority of senators refused to move forward on this important, commonsense reform that most Americans understand is the right thing for our country. On this issue, our work must continue.

Today, I'm proud that we took these fights on.

Please join me in thanking those in Congress who helped make "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" repeal possible:

http://my.barackobama.com/Repealed

Thank you,

Barack

I did click the link and thank those who worked toward repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell, while adding my own little message:

To Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Pelosi, and all those who fought for repeal,


Thank you for your leadership in making sure "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is repealed before the end of the year.


Because of your commitment, gay and lesbian members of our military will be able to serve equally and openly. We are proud to stand with you.


I would like to specifically thank US PA Representative Patrick Murphy for his dedicated effort regarding this bill. And also for being the stalwart person that he is. (Please find a way to keep him working for America in D.C.) If I were gay, I would want to live my life in truth and this bill finally allows that to happen while being in the service.


Sincerely,

Sandra Hammel


I sat beside Patrick Murphy in New Hampshire, while we both made phone calls on behalf of Barack Obama's Presidential campaign during the primaries. Patrick ordered a sandwich as it was during the evening. And he gave me half his sandwich. Listening to him make the phone calls, was a treat. He was relaxed, unlike me who wasn't, enthusiastic and talked from the heart. He put you at ease just being around him. I am sorry that he lost his seat in the House of Representatives. The country needs people like Patrick Murphy in Congress.

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Don't Ask, Don't Tell

Do Tell what the repeal number is. H.R. 2965

The following is confusing and the "Measure" and "Title" below certainly makes for confusion, but I believe this is the Don't Ask, Don't Tell vote. Click on H.R. 2965 and I think it becomes clear that this is exactly what this vote is for. Briefly, this is what you read when you do click H.R. 2965 ~
H.R.2965
Latest Title: Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010
Sponsor: Rep Altmire, Jason [PA-4] (introduced 6/19/2009) Cosponsors (9)

Here is the breakdown~

H.R. 2965 (SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 )

U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session

as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate

Vote Summary
Question: On the Motion (Motion to Concur in the House Amendment to the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2965 )
Vote Number: 281 Vote Date: December 18, 2010, 03:02 PM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Motion Agreed to
Measure Number: H.R. 2965 (SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2009 )
Measure Title: A bill to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, and for other purposes.
Vote Counts:YEAs65

NAYs31

Not Voting4
Vote SummaryBy Senator NameBy Vote PositionBy Home State


The vote can be found at www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=111&session=2&vote=00281

Senate ~ 65 - 31 and 4 "no votes"

Grouped By Vote Position

YEAs ---65
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Begich (D-AK)
Bennet (D-CO)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Brown (R-MA)
Burr (R-NC)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Cardin (D-MD)
Carper (D-DE)
Casey (D-PA)
Collins (R-ME)
Conrad (D-ND)
Coons (D-DE)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Ensign (R-NV)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Franken (D-MN)
Gillibrand (D-NY)
Hagan (D-NC)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kirk (R-IL)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (ID-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Menendez (D-NJ)
Merkley (D-OR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Sanders (I-VT)
Schumer (D-NY)
Shaheen (D-NH)
Snowe (R-ME)
Specter (D-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Tester (D-MT)
Udall (D-CO)
Udall (D-NM)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Whitehouse (D-RI)
Wyden (D-OR)
NAYs ---31
Alexander (R-TN)
Barrasso (R-WY)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Corker (R-TN)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Enzi (R-WY)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Johanns (R-NE)
Kyl (R-AZ)
LeMieux (R-FL)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Risch (R-ID)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Wicker (R-MS)
Not Voting - 4
Bunning (R-KY)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hatch (R-UT)
Manchin (D-WV)


The House voted 250 to 175 to repeal the 17-year-old law; 15 Republicans voted for the bill, and 15 Democrats voted against it.

Washington Office

Patrick Murphy
1609 Longworth HOB
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4276
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About The DREAM Act

S.729
- Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act of 2009

A bill to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to permit States to determine State residency for higher education purposes and to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United States as children, and for other purposes.

Source: www.opencongress.org/bill/111-s729/show

The DREAM Act

dreamact.info

Over three million students graduate from U.S. high schools every year. Most get the opportunity to test their dreams and live their American story. However, a group of approximately 65,000 youth do not get this opportunity; they are smeared with an inherited title, an illegal immigrant. These youth have lived in the United States for most of their lives and want nothing more than to be recognized for what they are, Americans.

The DREAM Act is a bipartisan legislation ‒ pioneered by Sen. Orin Hatch [R-UT] and Sen. Richard Durbin [D-IL] ‒ that can solve this hemorrhaging injustice in our society. Under the rigorous provisions of the DREAM Act, qualifying undocumented youth would be eligible for a 6 year long conditional path to citizenship that requires completion of a college degree or two years of military service.

This bill would have given states the authority to repeal the denial of an unlawful alien’s eligibility for higher education benefits, which have been previously tied state-residency. Additionally, it allowed for the adjustment from status of alien to conditional permanent resident and outlines the criteria for such an adjustment by the Secretary of Homeland Security. The bill and its equivalent in the House, H.R.1751, is just as controversial as most other immigration related bills, such as, H.R.1868, the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2009.


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Sunday, December 9, 2007

RHODE ISLAND TO PUT BARACK OBAMA ON THE BALLOT FOR PRESIDENT


Marshala Lee, ?, William Pierce (wpierce@electpierce.org) and Sandra Hammel

Joe Fernandez

Craig Robinson and Sandra Hammel
Craig Robinson coaches Brown University basketball and is Michelle Obama's brother

William Pierce and Matt (I forgot his last name ~ sorry Matt!)


Talking around the table of petition notarizing


Craig and Kelly Robinson




The blue papers are the signature petitions that will officially put
Barack Obama on Rhode Island's ballot for March 4


Craig Robinson and Marchala Lee, Med student at Brown University


Craig Robinson and Sandra Hammel

Coach Robinson and William Pierce ~ who is running for RI House of Representatives


Coach Robinson and Marshala


Filling out the petitions

Joe Fernandez
checking the picture ID

AT LEAST TWICE AS MANY REQUIRED SIGNATURES WERE GATHERED IN ONE DAY IN THE GREAT LITTLE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND DECEMBER 8, 2007.

INSPIRATION TRUMPS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
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Oprah Winfrey Hits Campaign Trail for ObamaU.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama greetsOprah Winfrey as his wife Michelle looks on at a rally in Des Moines.

Published: December 9, 2007

DES MOINES, Dec. 8 — When she begins a typical show, seldom does Oprah Winfrey question the power of her brand or wonder aloud about the influence that accompanies her golden seal of approval.

But when Ms. Winfrey strode onto a stage here Saturday, imploring Iowa voters to support the presidential candidacy of Senator Barack Obama, she acknowledged not knowing whether her endorsement would matter. And as she waded into American politics deeper than ever before, she declared: “It feels like I’m out of my pew.”

Still, Ms. Winfrey’s arrival on the campaign trail and her irrefutable appeal was threatening enough for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York to invite a famous guest of her own, daughter Chelsea Clinton, to appear with her on the political circuit in Iowa.

It was, perhaps, the best way Mrs. Clinton could be assured attention on a political day devoted to Ms. Winfrey, who drew more than 15,000 people here and a second audience of about 7,000 in Cedar Rapids. In a state awash in presidential politics, with a competitive fight on both sides of the ticket, it was the largest spectacle of the campaign cycle.

“Oh my goodness,” Ms. Winfrey said. “At last, I’m here.”

The intersection of politics and celebrity began the moment that Mr. Obama’s wife, Michelle Obama, declared, “It is my honor to introduce to you the first lady of television, Oprah Winfrey.” A wave of camera flashes illuminated a downtown convention center here as Ms. Winfrey entered to a thunderous roar.

Ms. Winfrey, of course, is hardly a stranger to speaking before large crowds. But as she explained her rationale for supporting Mr. Obama, of Illinois, she stood behind a lectern, reading from prepared remarks. She paused for a moment, saying: “Backstage, somebody said, ‘Are you nervous?’ I said, ‘Damn right I’m nervous.’”

But for 17 minutes, Ms. Winfrey delivered a testimonial for Mr. Obama arguing the nation was at a critical moment in its history that required a candidate who could heal divisions and chart a new direction. She did not mention Mrs. Clinton or any of their rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination, but dismissed suggestions that voters should choose a candidate with the most Washington experience.

“If we continue to do the same things over and over again, I believe we get the same results,” Ms. Winfrey said. Later, she added: “When you listen to Barack Obama, when you really hear him, you witness a very rare thing. You witness a politician who has an ear for eloquence and a tongue dipped in the unvarnished truth.”

In his quest to win the party’s nomination and to become the first black president, Mr. Obama is working to expand his reach beyond the traditional set of Democratic primary voters. The campaign hoped to use Ms. Winfrey’s visit to Iowa on Saturday, followed by New Hampshire and South Carolina on Sunday, to expose his candidacy to a new audience of prospective supporters.

“There are those who say that Barack Obama should wait his turn. There are those who say that he should take a gradual approach to presidential leadership. But none of us is God,” Ms. Winfrey said. “We don’t know what the future holds, so we must respond to the pressures and the fortunes of history when the moment strikes. And Iowa, I believe that moment is now.”

Ms. Winfrey ticked through a list of Mr. Obama’s accomplishments. When she hailed his opposition to the Iraq war, “long before it was the popular thing to do,” the crowd responded with a roar of approval.

The Obama campaign captured the names and addresses of thousands of those who attended the rallies. Those who agreed to volunteer for at least four hours over the past two weeks received premium tickets.

“I think Oprah is John the Baptist, leading the way for Obama to win,” said Dale Cobb, 40, of Des Moines, who has never participated in the Iowa caucuses before. Yet, she added, “I’m still kind of in between Hillary and Obama.”

Cate Doty contributed reporting.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/09/us/politics/09oprah.html?hp

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From
December 9, 2007

Hillary Clinton wobbles as her backers turn to Barack Obama

The presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, the Democrat frontrunner, is facing a wave of defections by supporters to Barack Obama, as an aura of “inevitability” about her nomination fades.

With Oprah Winfrey, the talk show host and Obama enthusiast, challenging former president Bill Clinton for star power on the campaign trail, the coronation of Hillary has been put on hold.

A few days ago, Helen Quarles peeled off the Hillary for President bumper stickers from her car and replaced them with Obama ’08.

“I didn’t think anybody could turn me away from Hillary,” said Quarles, who worked as a volunteer for Clinton’s first Senate election campaign in New York. “I liked her and was very fond of Bill.”

Quarles now lives in South Carolina, which holds its primary election next month. “In the South, a lot of people don’t like Hillary, so I felt it was up to me to turn things around for her. I really wanted her to win, but there’s something about Obama,” she said. “To me, he is the one who is going to make a difference.”

Quarles, 69, has a “golden” centre row ticket to see Winfrey in action with Obama and his wife Michelle today at the University of South Carolina’s 80,000-seat football stadium.

“I think Oprah can change anybody’s mind. I really do. She can draw people in and get them to listen to him,” Quarles said.

The decisive factor for her was hearing Michelle Obama talk on television recently about her husband’s family background and values: “I didn’t really know who Obama was. She touched my heart.”

Former “Friends of Bill”, who served in the White House in 1990s but defected early on to Obama’s campaign, are not surprised by the drift away from Hillary.

Betsy Myers, a White House adviser on women’s issues - and sister of Dee-Dee Myers, Bill Clinton’s former press secretary - is now chief operating officer for Obama’s campaign and responsible for much of its organ-isational prowess.

Read more http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3022206.ece

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Oprah Winfrey Presents: Barack Obama
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=3965092&page=1

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http://youtube.com/watch?v=4tkxa2o2Ocg
Time For A Change

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Call 1~800~GENOCIDE
next week
and ask your U.S. Representative to pass the funding fully
for the UN Peacekeepers for Darfur

President Bush's Comment Phone Line
202-456-1111
He needs a push to do something right.

Thank You!

www.savedarfur.org

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