Obama Campaign Launches "Vote For Change" Voter Registration Drive

Today, May 10, marks the first day of what the Obama campaign is calling its "Vote For Change" project. From barackobama.com:

On May 10th, Barack Obama is launching Vote for Change, an unprecedented 50-state voter registration and mobilization drive. More than 100 events will be held across the country that day. Obama volunteers will register new voters as the start of a six-month voter registration drive.

Marc Ambinder has more on just what this project entails and its potential impact:

The Vote For Change program will lay the foundation for Obama's general election get-out-the-vote efforts. Obama aides won't say much more, but I gather that the campaign is constructing an incredibly elaborate online interface to allow its more than a million donors and volunteers to directly persuade their neighbors through a variety of media. Names gathered from the voter registration effort will be merged with names gathered through Obama's primary efforts and the names off of the Democratic Party's integrated voter file as well as lists purchased from outside vendors.

On election day, Obama might have more than a million individuals volunteering on his behalf. That should scare the beejeesus out of the McCain campaign and the RNC.

Comments

[hinnis]

The media, the DNC and the Democratic Party elite has tried to shove Obama down our throats for many months now. In spite of this, Hillary is still fighting hard to protect this country against the most deceptive and divisive candidate in modern history. Dean, Pelosi, Kennedy, Kerry and the rest of the party establishment are going to get a big surprise in November, should Obama be the Democratic nominee, when he is soundly defeated by voters crossing over to McCain from their own party. We Democrats who will not sit idly by and let this dangerous wing of the party seize control will fight on, because we love our families and our country more than the Democratic Party, which is now only a shadow of the party of hope and promise it purports to represent.

[mattashell]

Time to get back under your bridge.

[Peteyman]

Will Rush Limbaugh be waiting for him?

[UsofA]

Uncanny how this delusional letter conjures a picture of an angry, middle-aged shut-in, still living at his mother's house, sitting in his boxers at his computer while Rush Limbaugh, bloviating on the radio, accidently sets off the "Singing Bass" novelty wall plaque.

[BluzLady]

To UsofA: Hilarious anology! I'm picking myself up off the floor!

To: hinnis: Hillary is no longer "fighting" she is self-destructing and those of you "Imma Democrat unless there's a Black man for the nominee" democrats... how sad that you are still stuck in the past!

[WWJD2]

Obama 08!! "Smoke and Mirrors"
Praise Jesus for our savior Obama!!!

[StandingStill]

What Would Jesus Do? Jesus would spread love and mercy, not seeds of discord and fear. I realize you know very little about the love of Christ or His teaching, because if you did you would NOT play games with His name.

And the ONLY true Savior IS Jesus Christ! I know you don't believe for one moment that Sen. Obama is a savior, but to play with something so very personal to most Americans shows how much you really care about Americans...and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Grow up and use your brain to find another way to put down Sen. Obama and his supporters. I'm sure even some one with your education will be able to that. May God Bless you in spite of your hardened heart...ask Jesus to soften your heart. That He'll be happy to do!

OBAMA 2008

[gladys46]

Andrea Mitchell says that Hillary "needs" Barack to "ease her pain" .. dagggggggg, what have we here didn't bill try that already ... didn't Bill toss all that he had recouped of his legacy just for her by humiliating himself plowing through each and every cranny of states that housed "hard working WHITE americans" ... yeppers, he did that for her ... by any means necessary he turned red and blue, he rapidly flung his very long index finger at folks, he dropped all kinds of racist codes ... now can we all just get along!!

One love Obama!!

[gladys46]

Can't believe that WV or any other state would vote like pansies for a truly damaged candidate ... serious misstatements, gafes, racebaiting ... you name the taint!!

[WWJD2]

Sorry--WV is smart and "bitter" like Penna. They have sense enough not to drink Obama's kool-aid.

[divaatty]

"Kool-aid" is so over. Keep up!

[going2ireland]

The truly deranged poster must have been banned. I see all his comments are no longer here.

THANK YOU - MODERATORS

[Raymondf]

Haven't went anywhere just listening secretly.

[BushitlerDarthCheney]

Truely honest people get banned for posting facts about obama.

The truely deranged are the obama supporters.

[gladys46]

Wondering what the good rev./pastor hagee has to say about all this "natural" destruction across the south?? No cameras or lights imbeded in his church yesterday! Maybe that good rev. gave mccain a word as to what all those americans did to cause this to happen to them!!

Just thinking ...

[lemondrift]

Well, Oklahoma's surely Woody Guthrie's fault. And that anti-imperialist Mark Twain's to blame for Missouri, no doubt. Better late than never!

[TheAdviceWeAllNeed]

Oh you have to check out O'Reilly Breakdown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAaHime9aaM

[poco767]

One day maybe his head will actually explode with rage, spewing venom and bile over a large area. That is why I keep a large stockpile of clean bottled dwater and canned goods in my basement.

[Raymondf]

No break down just mad as heck.

[poco767]

McCain is looking more and more oderous as he panders to the far right and neo conservative base.
Sooner or later the GOP is going to be dragged more and more the the centre or risk being left out in the sun to die.
These new voters for the most part, dance with the one who brought them, forcing the GOP to court votes further and further from its rigth wing roots, intimidation hasn't worked, gas tax bribes havn't worked, the only thing left is to compromise.
Novembers electoral map is going to be an interesting read.

[gladys46]

Can't imagine mccain having no choice but to sit in dusty alter rooms vowing to support all far-right evangelical demands! His "anger" may tame those lions once and for all?

[frappe]

I just read an article in this morning's NY Times about how more and more States are attempting to establish more rigid identification requirements for voter registration purposes. The State of Missouri is now considering requiring an original birth certificate as proof of citizenship. Such requirements make it difficult for those who fall at the bottom of the economic spectrum to register to vote. Naturally, most of these efforts are the work of Republican legislators.

I bring this up in the context of the lead story. It is wonderful that Barack Obama is organizing a huge volunteer effort, but it is important to understand the increasing degree of difficulty that certain state legislatures are imposing on potential voters. This is an alarming trend that goes to the heart of our democracy.

Many believe that these efforts by Republican legislators are designed to thwart Democratic efforts to increase the number of registered voters who are likely to vote Democratic. Many of them counter such assertions by arguing that such efforts are only being pursued to prevent illegal immigrants from voting and keeping the process fair. But by imposing additional obstacles to participatory democracy, such efforts do far more harm than good.

[Mogamboguru]

Your concerns are absolutely justified. This is a point which HAS to be dealt with by Sen. Obama's campaign SOON. Getting people registered as voters is one thing - but get them valid ID's to ENABLE them to cast their votes for good on "D-Day" in November is something else. This MUST rank high on the priority list:

Make people aware that they DO have to ha a valid ID for voting in November. It may be crucial!

[CocteausTwin]

I do not see a difference between this and a poll tax. I certainly believe it to be the action of the GOP. If they claim to be motivated by preventing non-citizens from voting, then they should have done something decades ago to control illegal immigration. They should have dealt with this post 9/11. But it just goes to show that they are full of it on either matter. They simply wanted a growing underclass of people who would work for less than fair market value and keep them in a position of not being able to speak up for their own worker's rights.

If I understand the meaning of fascism, then how is this not another Fascist move?

We need to do more in protecting the rights of our citizenry as well the rights of all human beings. Politics has to become more transparent and people who try to press these non-American values and agendas need to be made a dear price.

[LorettaSingbiel]

Two Constitutional Amendments passed after the Civil War were the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, and the 15th Amendment, which guaranteed the right of all citizens to vote (provided they were male and at least 21).

Sadly, many states in the south enacted Jim Crow voting requirements that effectively prevented blacks from voting. Poll taxes, literacy tests, grandfather clauses ensured that only whites entered polling places on election day. If those schemes failed, intimidation, force, and violence were handy alternatives.

The passage of the Voting Rights Act Of 1965 was to provide TEMPORARY ENFORCEMENT of the right of blacks to vote, authorizing the federal government to monitor elections and mandate that changes to voting requirements or procedures be APPROVED by the Attorney General.

The Voting Rights Act EXPIRED in 2007...which means that the federal government will NO LONGER require states to seek federal approval before changing their voting laws.

"House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) has tried to sell an Obama-like message of "change" as their only hope for success. " ... CHANGING VOTING LAWS???

I WOULDN'T PUT IT PAST THEM!!!

OBAMA '08!
HOPE & CHANGE!

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[ResidentChimp]

Bill sounded like that he was saying things that resonate in middle America. Elitists don't get it. They think if you denigrate people, they will vote for you. Hillary is trying to save the Democrat party. I hope she can.

[frappe]

Save the Democratic party? Are you serious? What has become increasingly obvious to just about everyone is that the Clintons are in it for themselves. Apparently, the Democratic party is just a vehicle for them to pursue their own personal, selfish interests. Their actions speak loudly to their selfishness and demonstrate a complete lack of concern with the strength, direction, and unity of the Democratic party.

Any other Democratic candidates in a similar position would have seen the handwriting on the wall and would have gracefully withdrawn in the interest of party unity. Not the Clintons. They are a disgrace to the process -- attempting to change the "rules of the game" to suit their own purposes. I used to be a strong supporter of the Clintons, but my eyes have been opened by watching their constant attempts to thwart the process for their own personal gain.

[Mogamboguru]

They have large committments to satisfy in favour of the Colombian donors, which they can only do, if Hillary becomes president... You JUST DON'T MESS with the COLOMBIANS!

[LorettaSingbiel]

"I used to be a strong supporter of the Clintons, but my eyes have been opened by watching their constant attempts to thwart the process for their own personal gain."

Eyes wide open here, also!

She lost me when she told a lie, after she told the truth...

the truth... admitting she takes money from corporations.
the lie... claiming their campaign contributions would not influence her decisions.

She'll make DAMN SURE these corporations and special interest groups will get a return on their investments!

Obama is the only candidate who will work to bridge the gap between the "haves" and the "have nots"! Obama is the only candidate who will SINCERELY strive to put a STOP to the PRICE GOUGING of the OIL and HEALTHCARE industries!

OBAMA '08!
HOPE & CHANGE!

Stay safe, healthy and happy,
Love, Loretta

[Tropiholic]

Yes people who have earned over 100 million dollars in the last few years know all about "middle america" rofl who do you think you're talking to, a bunch of imbeciles?

[gladys46]

"imbeciles" exactly, hillary's so-called base have no problems with being painted as "uneducated," "poor" and most other demeaning terms! Hillary pretended to be soooo outraged at so-called "bitter" words perceived from Obama though she said nothing to denounce this "uneducated" (stupid) brand of her base! One can be poor economically but be rich in spirit. Hillary seems to miss an amazing amount of what's happening in real time albeit to her!

[CocteausTwin]

Take your thinly veiled racist name and attitudes. Why don't you go start your own party or just confirm you are nothing but a Republican at heart, because we are working on taking our party back and I think many of us agree there isn't much room here for primates such as yourself.

[eracerx]

Thanks but Obama has already taken that responsibility: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pgz_mu2FBBg

[FlyingEagel]

Why would anyone care what Bill "O" says? He is the one who had to pay one of his Employees (X) to keep her mouth shut about how he SEXUALLY HARASSED her. She even had audio recordings to prove it. This guy acts like he is high and mighty. He is no better than you and I. He does not have the Democratic Party's interest in mind. Wake up and quit bringing Bill into the conversation. He is a hypocrite . .

[ResidentChimp]

Obama is an over priced stock whose bubble will burst before Noember.

[LeftLeanWing]

you metaphorical skills SUCK !

[BushitlerDarthCheney]

Obama is an over priced stock whose bubble will burst before Noember.

Very true

[VolvoBirkenstock]

I haven't seen a Rupauline meltdown this bad in months.

[realtalk]

People you have to see this article, it seems that Bill Clinton is truly out to ruin the entire Democratic Party , with little regard for the millions of VOTERS, the millions of CITIZENS the party represents .
Bill Clinton's destructive, and devisive words to voters in Kentucky and West Virginia, is Bill Clinton's deliberate way of guaranteeing that the people from these states will not vote for Obama if he wins the nomination. Read this article on abcnew.com, and see the outrageous things Bill Clinton is telling the voters in the upcoming states.
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/05/bill-clintons-m.html

[brooklyncitizen]

Well looks like its time to roll out the cash...the Clintons LUV $$$$...maybe the DNC can offer to pay them off in Euros since the $ is pretty worthless these days.

[kylie]

I am not happy with either Clinton, but ABC is not the most accurate of news "purveyors".

It seems the network has been after Clinton for years.

I have spent most of my posts --in the past--defending Clinton.

This has been a sad saga for lots of the former President's supporters(former supporters).

I still think he did a good job as President.

ABC is the one who gave us the "Great Debate", should we start to forget about its lean to the right.

[Dustee]

"When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him." - by Jonathan Swift

OBAMA 08

[going2ireland]

Thanks - that is really good!

[jkghostrider]

Thanks for the quote. Now I know what to tell relatives and friends when they ask me why I can't hold down a steady job: "You see, Mom, I keep getting fired from jobs because the dunces with whom I work conspire against my genius." Excellent.

[buckygreen]

Today, Young Democrats of America Board Member and Former California Young Democrats President Crystal Strait pledged to vote for Barack Obama for president, citing Barack's ability to bring young people into the political process.

Strait is the 276th superdelegate to endorse Obama. Barack is now 155 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.

[going2ireland]

Yippee!!