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Tuesday, January 20, 2009

PICTURES OF AN OBAMA VOLUNTEER THROUGHOUT THE PRIMARY SEASON AND BEYOND


Some pictures I took while volunteering with the Obama campaign



November 4, 2008
Some Obama supporters near my house in Rhode Island

Meeting in Providence, Rhode Island to organize to get twice the needed signatures in one day to put Barack Obama on the Rhode Island ballot.
November 2007



Rhode Island Obama Volunteers William Pierce, Sandra Hammel and Marshala Lee
in Providence, Rhode Island.

Bringing in signatures on the petition to put Barack Obama's name
on the Rhode Island ballot.
December 7, 2007


Craig Robinson and William Pierce


Craig and Kelly Robinson


Craig Robinson (Michelle Obama's brother) and Sandra Hammel
Above and below.




January 8, 2008 Nashua, New Hampshire the Primary Night Party
Barack and Michelle Obama as they were coming to greet us.
This is the night of the speech that took off as the "Yes, We Can" speech.


Greeting volunteers January 8, 2008 in Nashua, New Hampshire

After Irish TV interviewed me.


At a private home - used as the "staging area" to give us our daily assignments to go door-to-door in New Hampshire. The young lady on the right worked on Barack's staff when he was a Senator. The woman in the center was from Australia and came just for the day to help. I was there for one week prior to the New Hampshire primary.


Richard Wolffe,
White House Correspondent, Newsweek writer, MSNBC commentator
and an unflattering picture of Sandra Hammel

Snowman for Obama
At the staging area's house in New Hampshire where we met daily.

Michelle Obama came to Warwick, Rhode Island
February 20, 2008




Michelle Obama in Warwick, Rhode Island
She was introduced by her brother, Craig Robinson,
who at the time was the basketball coach at Brown University



Youth for Obama
March 1, 2008


Barack Obama in Rhode Island
at Rhode Island College
March 1, 2008


Edward Mutanguha, student from Kigali, Rwanda,
Senator John Kerry and a professor at Salve Regina University
Newport, Rhode Island, March 2008.
Obama Campaign Office ~ above two pictures and one picture below.

Praising the young people's involvement
and introducing Senator John Kerry
to volunteers.

It's All Right - Sung by Curtis Mayfield

All of the pictures that I took above were in previous posts:


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Getty Picture
NASHUA, NH - JANUARY 08: Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) supporter Sandra Hammel reacts to poll results as she await his arrival at a primary night rally in the gymnasium at the Nashua South High School on January 8, 2008 in Nashua, New Hampshire. Initial polls show Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Obama in a tight race in the nation's first primary.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Genocide Ends

When Enough of Us

Stand Up Against It

JOIN US
1-800-GENOCIDE
www.savedarfur.org
www.genocideintervention.net
www.standnow.org

www.miafarrow.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Friday, January 11, 2008

BARACK OBAMA ON THE ISSUES ~ IT'S OUR DUTY TO KNOW


I just listened for an hour to a man on Bill Moyers say that he doesn't know who Barack Obama is or what he stands for. I took the information below directly from Barack Obama's website on the issues. If I was in the position to be the only one to hire someone, I would want to meet the person in person, know what their credentials are and watch them at work as well as talk to those who know him or her by their dealings with him or her. I would want to match the abilities to what the job would call for. But for me, most important would by far be the person's integrity. I don't care what credentials can be claimed or what experience they have if the person lacks at the core ~ INTEGRITY. IF I detect phoniness or pretentious character, then I would not want to hire the person. There is a trust that is necessary to believe in the genuineness of the person. There is nothing I loathe more than pretense. If you can't dare to be natural, I can't believe you accept yourself. The most dangerous leaders are those who can't accept themselves. They are always looking to fill the gaping hole of dire personal need and that gets in the way of service for the greater good.

pho·ny or pho·ney adj

1. not genuine and used to deceive

2. putting on a false show of something such as sincerity or expertise
n
a phony person or thing
vt
to make something appear to be genuine when it is not

Encarta® World English Dictionary

I see Hillary Clinton as a phony. I could be wrong, though. But that is what I see by watching her closely from afar. She is not someone I would choose as a friend.

Choosing a President is like hiring someone, but it isn't possible for me to get to know the person personally. So I watch, listen and read faces while they are talking. I look at them the same way I look at people I meet. If they give reason to want to put trust in them ~ I "hand it over" to them. But when they talk crooked, instead of straight from a place of being comfortable in their own "skin" or character, then I don't trust them.

This is how I feel about Hillary. I don't trust her. Or her motives. I see her caring more about her ambition than the people that she says she cares about. I don't think she is inhuman. I think she is a talented person and politician. She is just not the woman that I want for President.


This business of me being a woman and being required to vote for Hillary because she is also a woman, is absolutely nonsensical to me. Character trumps gender for me.


The "tear" thing means absolutely nothing to me ~ whether it be
Edmund_Muskie or Hillary Clinton.

I think that Americans are majorly uninvoled in the democracy. And I believe that voting for someone requires involvement. Most Americans live unaware of their elected politicians by choice. And that is the weakest link in how our country is working out. Thomas Jefferson is credited with this quote: “If once the people become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judges and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions." I think Americans are inattentive regarding our government. And that is a major problem. To me.

Everything that George Bush has done as my leader has lacked integrity. And it scares me to look at the field of candidates and see what we could get next. I am so tired of not being listened to by my government. I am so tired of being dismissed, as well as dismissing the U.S. Constitution.

I often think about the First Americans and their perspective. They are not immigrants. They had their way of life denied them and their home and homeland stolen from them so that "we" immigrants could be free. Then the America's "riches" came at the expense of human beings brought from the continent of Africa as well as the indigenous people. We don't face our mistakes, our flaws and our inhumane treatment of "others". And yet, we maintain we are a democracy. I believe we have a duty to be involved in our government. And to face our national foibles.

It is being said that New Hampshire citizens take their primary vote so seriously that they even stood behind the voting curtain in private for an hour choosing the Presidential candidate to vote for. That seems like a waste of time that illustrates the disconnect of the voter's responsibility to get informed before they decide on a candidate and cast a vote. Having been in New Hampshire for 6 days and through January 8, the day of the Primary vote, I know that the people that I came in contact with are not anymore informed than one debate or passing by a TV for two minutes could get them. While going door-to-door, I met however one man from Poland and a family from Italy who are now USA citizens, as well as one Australian woman who canvassed with me for Barack Obama ~ and all of them were informed. It is rare to find an American who is informed. At least the people that I have met.

The following is the issue page on Barack Obama's website:
Senator Obama has been able to develop innovative approaches to challenge the status quo and get results. Americans are tired of divisive ideological politics, which is why Senator Obama has reached out to Republicans to find areas of common ground. He has tried to break partisan logjams and take on seemingly intractable problems. During his tenure in Washington and in the Illinois State Senate, Barack Obama has accumulated a record of bipartisan success.
The Blueprint for Change

Civil Rights

There is no more fundamental American right than the right to vote. Before the landmark 1965 Voting Rights Act, barriers such as literacy tests, poll taxes and property requirements disenfranchised many Americans, especially minorities. More than 40 years later, there are still numerous obstacles to ensuring that every citizen has the ability to vote.


Economy

As president, Barack Obama will implement a 21st century economic agenda to help ensure that America can compete in a global economy, and ensure the middle class is thriving and growing. He will increase investments in infrastructure, energy independence, education, and research and development; modernize and simplify our tax code so it provides greater opportunity and relief to more Americans; and implement trade policies that benefit American workers and increase the export of American goods.


Education

Throughout America's history, education has been the vehicle for social and economic mobility, giving hope and opportunity to millions of young people. Our schools must prepare students not only to meet the demands of the global economy, but also help students take their place as committed and engaged citizens. It must ensure that all students have a quality education regardless of race, class, or background. Barack Obama is committed to strengthening our public schools to maximize our country's greatest natural resource - the American people. Obama believes that we must equip poor and struggling districts, both rural and urban, with the support and resources they need to provide disadvantaged students with an opportunity to reach their full potential. Too often, our leaders present this issue as an either - or debate, divided between giving our schools more funding, or demanding more accountability. Obama believes that we have to do both, and has offered innovative ideas to break through the political stalemate in Washington.


Energy & Environment

Senator Obama has been a leader in the Senate in pushing for a comprehensive national energy policy and has introduced a number of bills to get us closer to the goal of energy independence. By putting aside partisan battles, he has found common ground on CAFE, renewable fuels, and clean coal.


Ethics

Throughout his political career, Barack Obama has been a leader in fighting for open and honest government. As a U.S. Senator, he has spearheaded the effort to clean up Washington in the wake of the Jack Abramoff scandal. In a politically charged election year, Obama acknowledged that corruption was a problem that plagued both political parties. He subsequently enlisted the help of Republican allies to limit lobbyist influence, shine sunlight into the earmarks process and promote open government.


Faith

In June of 2006, Senator Obama delivered what was called the most important speech on religion and politics in 40 years. Speaking before an evangelical audience, Senator Obama candidly discussed his own religious conversion and doubts, and the need for a deeper, more substantive discussion about the role of faith in American life.


Family

Strong families raise successful children and keep communities together. While Senator Obama does not believe that we can simply legislate healthy families, good parenting skills or economic success, he does believe we can eliminate roadblocks that parents face and provide tools to help them succeed. A husband and father of two, Senator Obama has promoted strong families in the Senate.


Fiscal

"The cost of our debt is one of the fastest growing expenses in the federal budget. This rising debt is a hidden domestic enemy, robbing our cities and states of critical investments in infrastructure like bridges, ports, and levees; robbing our families and our children of critical investments in education and health care reform; robbing our seniors of the retirement and health security they have counted on ... If Washington were serious about honest tax relief in this country, we'd see an effort to reduce our national debt by returning to responsible fiscal policies." - Barack Obama, Speech in the U.S. Senate, March 13, 2006


Foreign Policy

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Obama has fought to strengthen America's position in the world. Reaching across the aisle, Obama has tackled problems such as preventing the spread of weapons of mass destruction and stopping the genocide in Darfur.


Healthcare

"I...believe that every American has the right to affordable health care. I believe that the millions of Americans who can't take their children to a doctor when they get sick have that right...We now face an opportunity - and an obligation - to turn the page on the failed politics of yesterday's health care debates. It's time to bring together businesses, the medical community, and members of both parties around a comprehensive solution to this crisis, and it's time to let the drug and insurance industries know that while they'll get a seat at the table, they don't get to buy every chair." -Barack Obama, Speech in Iowa City, IA, 5/27/07


Homeland Security

Five years after 9/11, our country is still unprepared for a terrorist attack. From improving security for our transit systems and chemical plants, to increasing cargo screening in our airports and seaports, the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission have been underfunded and ignored. The 9/11 Commission gave the government five F's and 12 D's on the implementation of its recommendations. Senator Obama is a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and has supported efforts to base homeland security spending on risk rather than pork-barrel politics. He has also introduced legislation to strengthen chemical plant and drinking water security and to enhance disaster preparedness.


Immigration

Barack Obama has played a leading role in crafting comprehensive immigration reform. Obama believes the immigration issue has been exploited by politicians to divide the nation rather than find real solutions. This divisiveness has allowed the illegal immigration problem to worsen, with borders that are less secure than ever and an economy that depends on millions of workers living in the shadows.


Iraq

Before the war in Iraq ever started, Senator Obama said that it was wrong in its conception. In 2002, then Illinois State Senator Obama said Saddam Hussein posed no imminent threat to the United States and that invasion would lead to an occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. Since then, Senator Obama has laid out a plan on the way forward in Iraq that has largely been affirmed by the bipartisan Iraq Study Group led by James Baker and Lee Hamilton.


Poverty

There are 37 million poor Americans. Most poor Americans are in the workforce, yet still cannot afford to make ends meet. And too many poor Americans are single mothers who are raising children. Barack Obama has been a lifelong advocate for the poor -- as a young college graduate, he rejected the high salaries of corporate America and moved to the South Side of Chicago to work as a community organizer. As an organizer, Obama worked with churches, Chicago residents and local government to set up job training programs for the unemployed and after school programs for kids.


Rural

"We are at that critical and urgent moment. If Washington continues policies that work against America's family farmers, our rural communities will fall further behind - and so will America. But if we reject the politics that has shut ordinary folks out, we can create a new story for rural America ... The dreams of rural Americans are familiar to all Americans - to make a good living, to raise a healthy and secure family, and to leave our children a future of opportunity. It's time for real leadership for rural America to extend that American dream. That's the dream of opportunity that I've spent my life fighting for. And that's what our rural agenda will do." - Barack Obama, Speech in Fairfax, IA, October 16, 2007


Service

"Your own story and the American story are not separate - they are shared. And they will both be enriched if we stand up together, and answer a new call to service to meet the challenges of our new century ... I won't just ask for your vote as a candidate; I will ask for your service and your active citizenship when I am president of the United States. This will not be a call issued in one speech or program; this will be a cause of my presidency." - Barack Obama, Speech in Mt. Vernon, Iowa, December 5, 2007


Seniors & Social Security

Americans turning 65 this year have grown our economy by 4.5 times over the course of their working lives. They have tilled our soil, defended our country, taught our children, worked in our factories, and raised a new generation to build upon their successes. And yet, many struggle to get by. Threats to Social Security and Medicare, skyrocketing health costs, and abuse and neglect of seniors all jeopardize our unspoken covenant: our seniors worked hard to take care of us, and now we must be here for them.


Technology

"Let us be the generation that reshapes our economy to compete in the digital age. Let's set high standards for our schools and give them the resources they need to succeed. Let's recruit a new army of teachers, and give them better pay and more support in exchange for more accountability. Let's make college more affordable, and let's invest in scientific research, and let's lay down broadband lines through the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America."


Veterans

As a member of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, Senator Obama is committed to helping the heroes who defend our nation today and the veterans who fought in years past. A grandson of a World War II veteran who went to college on the G.I. Bill, Senator Obama has reached out to Republicans and Democrats in order to honor our commitment to America's veterans.


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NEW HAMPSHIRE RECOUNT ONLY JUST THING TO DO ~ OPTICAL SCANNED VOTES OPPOSITE OF HAND-COUNTED VOTES FOR CLINTON & OBAMA

Fair and Just Elections ~ A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT

The "LIVE FREE OR DIE" state of New Hampshire needs to live out the full meaning of their motto on their automobiles' license plates.

Wow! I so love the internet. And Dennis Kucinich has got the courage and the position to take this issue up. No one could claim that he wants a recount of the New Hampshire Primary vote because he thinks he was cheated out of a win. He merely wants a fair and just election process. And so do I. Don't you? We all should.


This is from the Brad Blog:
BLOGGED BY Brad Friedman ON 1/10/2008 6:10PM

We do note, however, the following rather remarkably anomalous result which was reported late this afternoon by analysts from the Election Defense Alliance (EDA). As noted by one of the researchers, IT Consultant Bruce O'Dell:
Analysts at the Election Defense Alliance (EDA) have confirmed that based on the official results on the New Hampshire Secretary of state web site, there is a remarkable relationship between Obama and Clinton votes, when you look at votes tabulated by op-scan v. votes tabulated by hand:

Clinton Optical scan 91,717 52.95%
Obama Optical scan 81,495 47.05%

Clinton Hand-counted 20,889 47.05%
Obama Hand-counted 23,509 52.95%

The percentages appear to be swapped. That seems highly unusual, to say the least.

The New Hampshire Secretary of State's
Election Division

William M Gardner

SOS NH government elections
Location: State House, Room 204, Concord, N.H. 03301
Phone: 603-271-3242 Fax: 603-271-6316
Email: Elections@sos.state.nh.us


From a Kucinich for President press release just out...
Kucinich asks for New Hampshire recount in the interest of election integrity

DETROIT, MI – Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich, the most outspoken advocate in the Presidential field and in Congress for election integrity, paper-ballot elections, and campaign finance reform, has sent a letter to the New Hampshire Secretary of State asking for a recount of Tuesday’s election because of “unexplained disparities between hand-counted ballots and machine-counted ballots.”
...
He added, “Ever since the 2000 election – and even before – the American people have been losing faith in the belief that their votes were actually counted. This recount isn’t about who won 39% of 36% or even 1%. It’s about establishing whether 100% of the voters had 100% of their votes counted exactly the way they cast them.”

Kucinich, who drew about 1.4% of the New Hampshire Democratic primary vote, wrote, “This is not about my candidacy or any other individual candidacy. It is about the integrity of the election process.” No other Democratic candidate, he noted, has stepped forward to question or pursue the claims being made.

“New Hampshire is in the unique position to address – and, if so determined, rectify – these issues before they escalate into a massive, nationwide suspicion of the process by which Americans elect their President. Based on the controversies surrounding the Presidential elections in 2004 and 2000, New Hampshire is in a prime position to investigate possible irregularities and to issue findings for the benefit of the entire nation,” Kucinich wrote in his letter.

“Without an official recount, the voters of New Hampshire and the rest of the nation will never know whether there are flaws in our electoral system that need to be identified and addressed at this relatively early point in the Presidential nominating process,” said Kucinich

Want to contact Dennis Kucinich?

National Campaign HQ:
Andy Juniewicz
216-409-8992
ajuniewicz@aol.com

or
Washington, D.C.:
Sharon Manitta

202-506-6683
Sharon.manitta@kucinich.us

Related article

Another related article


I just sent the following email to the New Hampshire Secretary of State:

Re: Primary votes need to be recounted and with the utmost of protection of justice

Dear Mr. Gardner,

It has come to my attention that there is a huge discrepancy between the New Hampshire's Primary hand-counted votes and the optical scanned votes. How can you encourage constituents to vote and not be able to explain this? It is highly unjust to ask candidates to pay for the recount of the state's weak voting verified results. We the People deserve better in this country.

Here is an excerpt of what I read about this situation:

Reported by analysts from the Election Defense Alliance (EDA). As noted by one of the researchers, IT Consultant Bruce O'Dell: Analysts at the Election Defense Alliance (EDA) have confirmed that based on the official results on the New Hampshire Secretary of state web site, there is a remarkable relationship between Obama and Clinton votes, when you look at votes tabulated by op-scan v. votes tabulated by hand:

Clinton Optical scan 91,717 52.95%
Obama Optical scan 81,495 47.05%

Clinton Hand-counted 20,889 47.05%
Obama Hand-counted 23,509 52.95%

Thank you for your consideration in this highly important matter of justice and constitutional rights to have our liberties protected by the fair state of New Hampshire.

GENOCIDE STOPS WITH US - LET'S MAKE IT PAST HISTORY

Sandra Hammel

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people could change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
Margaret Mead


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Wednesday, January 9, 2008

HER QUESTION GAVE HILLARY A PLATFORM TO CRY ~ THEN VOTED FOR OBAMA

Marianne Young of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, asked Hillary Clinton the question, which the answer was repeated ad nauseam. As I volunteered in New Hampshire for six days, I have been out of touch with the media coverage pretty much.

You know ~ too busy going door-to-door to know what the media was up to. Here’s the thing, I am quite fanatical about MSNBC and especially, Chris Matthews’ Hardball and Keith Olbermann’s Countdown, including being highly impressed with Richard_Wolffe as seen on Olbermann’s Monday through Friday fare. And tonight had to catch up … Olbermann’s number 1 story was Marianne Young (who doesn’t look much different in age than Hillary Clinton) voted for Barack Obama and probably helped Hillary win. Well, anyway that is what I gathered from the pundits tonight. And Hillary, said she felt touched by and "connected" with this woman who voted for Barack. The question was "How do you do it?" and "Who does your hair?"

I sat where Barack and Michelle entered for the Primary Party in Nashua, New Hampshire, January 8, 2008.
This is a Reuter's picture

This is a Reuter's picture
This is a Reuter's picture
This is a Reuter's picture
This is a Reuter's picture



At our "Staging Area" where we met every dayThis is taken on the one day I had someone to go door-to-door with ~ she is now a citizen, but from Australia and thinks we have such a grand opportunity here, where we GET to be involved in the election. The young woman on the right is on Senator Obama's staff.

I was going to cut me out of this picture, as it is not flattering of me. But pride aside, here is Richard Wolffe and me in Salem High School. I saw him in the second "overflow" room of Barack Obama's speech, January 6, 2008. He was very gracious and offered to have a friend take our picture together. How sweet is that.

And I for one, believe America is having a test about voting for a black candidate. (Imagine if it was a black woman this time.) Look, racism is not over in the USA. I met an Italian family (born and raised in Italy and still have a house there, etc), who vote here in New Hampshire. They obviously lean toward the Democrats. And the one adult son, gave me a very passionate monologue why this country is not willing to consider voting in a black president. Of course, I am totally voting for Barack Obama ~ that black man that is who he means. Nevermind that Barack had a white mother and a black father. But his real argument with me, who in no way was arguing about anything, was that only 2% of Americans vote by using the right criteria, policy, records and character of integrity. I sucked the wind right out of his sails when I let him ramble on, then restated for clarity that I understood his stands and then told him I agreed with him only that I wholeheartedly support this man Barack Obama.
By the end, he said if Barack Obama wins, then God bless him. As he drove off, he gave me a thumbs up.

This business of Hillary Clinton is now at a place that I will stop being so neutral. Hillary has redefined herself in days that are too close together for anyone who pays real attention to accept her as genuine. She clobbers Barack with unwarranted criticisms then acts like she doesn’t know why people don’t think she is soft enough or let’s call it human. And by “people” maybe I should say media people ~ those that follow her. They see her in a more comprehensive way than the rest of us. And even they have been saying that Hillary is nicer in a one-on-one than in these public settings. As for me, I will count on my own radar about Hillary ~ I don’t like her anymore. I used to. Just not anymore. She let too many staff dirt balls fly and it is simply too unbelievable that someone who is so controlling wouldn’t be fully knowledgeable about this tactical politicking. Hillary has her talents but being true to herself isn’t something that Hillary has mastered. She is a politician that puts politicians in a category of not being straight with us. She is not strong in ways that Barack is, so she attacks those strengths in Barack.

Her poo-pooing of Barack by attacking some of his strengths of energizing our best assests as people of a democracy is stupid. May I say that? Yes.

Barack is a natural. By that I mean, he is comfortable with who he is and one of his best things about who he is ~ is that he is “natural” and not stiff. Hillary couldn’t match up in this category if her life depended upon it. Barack if allowed would lead this country in ways that Hillary couldn’t dream of. And I mean in a good way.

I think that most people who vote don’t pay more than surface attention to the one they vote for. I was in New Hampshire when this happened and I not only went door-to-door, but I stayed with a Republican family who officially are Independents. My opinion: Most people don’t vote and those who do, vote after watching a debate or two and not knowing issues or much about them. I found that people vote on one issue or another and especially about abortion or gay rights. And the other issues are non-binding to them, such as the trillion-dollar war, fair voting, lobbyists, truth in government, jobs, our debt and taking out our loans to run our country from China and Japan, the environment, nuclear war, terrorism, torture,
stomping all over our Constitution, open government. ABORTION AND GAY RIGHTS ~ their most important issues that they select a candidate for the free world on. I find this incredible. When watching the debate in New Hampshire, a comment was made that the subject of paid lobbyists was a worthless subject ~ “what are they talking about this for?” I couldn’t disagree more. I think our democracy is in danger, unless we address paid lobbyists who “buy” off our elected representatives.


…………………………………………

…………………………………………
"Yes We Can"
Barack Obama's speech New Hampshire Primary Night January 8, 2008

I was there

"Barack Obama supporter Sandra Hammel (C), reacts to televised results at Obama's New Hampshire primary night rally in Nashua, New Hampshire, January 8, 2008.

REUTERS/Jason Reed (UNITED STATES)" I found this online with the caption last night.

Nevada


South Carolina

Super_Tuesday


"Slideshow New Hampshire Primary" link (on the left of the page):
News Pictures

New Hampshire voters on Hillary and Barack before the Primary

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