Outside Debate, Hempstead Struggles (VIDEO)

Today a horde of journalists descends on Hempstead, NY, to cover the third and final presidential debate. But ANP left the pack to hear from people outside of the media spotlight, people hit hard by our nation's crises at home and abroad. Watch the video below from American News Project

Comments

[athenalong]

I am BOO HOO CRYING at my desk at work right now.

I hope beyond hope that our 'ship' will be righted and put back on course.

In 20 days.

[mlm2005]

Why isn't her lender working with her, to renegotiate the loan? I had tears running down my face watching this.

Panic Paulson has failed all Americans in need, and no I do not mean the one with 7 homes. I am talking about this woman in particular and the thousands upon thousands more of her.

Her country has failed her.

[oommoore]

A lot of lenders are not working with people. That's why so many people are losing their homes. That's why there should have been no bailout. It would have forced the lenders to work with their clients.

[monicaangela]

These people will never get a fair hearing in the halls of congress, where is their bailout and $400,000 junket to a swanky hotel in Los Angeles? We really need to work to change our government, it is not now nor has it ever been for the people. We need Obama/Biden, if McCain gets in we're doomed.

[KHSkhd]

The country has, but perhaps some of its citizens won't. There has been a great interest by Huff Po bloggers and Daily Kos folks to donate. There is a coordination being set up through ACORN as we speak. Stay tuned.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/10/15/113855/64/431/631144

[arachne646]

There are homeowners' groups helping each other keep their homes--but I understand the hardest part may be finding out WHO actually owns the mortgage. If it has been sold and repackaged as a bond, possibly more than once, this may not be a simple negotiation.

[RationalDubSteppa]

Boy, after seeing this video I got so pissed off I wanted to break something, instead I rolled a jazzed cigarette and went for a walk. This video made me open up my wallet and make another contribution to the Obama campaign. This is more than just an upcoming election, it's fight for America's soul!

[rabprevent]

People should be able to sue the president and his cronies if they find that they lie to take us to war which clearly has contributed to the destruction of the middle class.

thank you mr president and dick for destroying many lives, we should not only help but spread the word on the net so to show the pain that bush/cheney and these stinking republicans have cause to all of us for going to war for oil and their personal vendetta.

VOTE NO TO EVERY REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR OFFICE

[ebanks84]

What more can you ask from a person? Mothers are hurting so much today when they are losing their children AND their homes to the government.

HOW MUCH MORE DO YOU WANT?

Give this woman a break and all others who have sacrificed for this dam war.

[dubstyleenation]

4000+ mothers are hurting.

[gladys46]

Is the video continuously playing over for anyone else!???

[shani1978]

its playing over for me... my heart has been broken this very moment..its so sad so so sad

[mermaid7]

Maybe if the word gets really spread around and that if enough us contribute something, even if it's a small amount x many, we can help her save her house. When you get the info for donating, pls let me know. I'll send what I can.

Is it known, how much she owes on the house? How much we all need to raise?

I also think that we should sent/email this to Obama. Does anyone know how we can do this?

Remember the 90 year old lady who shot herself because of foreclosure. When the word got out about that the bank forgave the loan.

Maybe Obama can help by publizing Jocelyn's plight or w his connections.

Does someone know how we can contact him?

[LHoney]

I sent to Obama.com as well as Rachel Maddow yesterday... we'll see... I also called HuffPo this morning and left a voice mail asking for some help here!

[GrkAm]

This is so sad, but just the tip of the iceberg more than likely. There are so many injustices that have occurred since Bush took office. If by some stretch the Republicans get into the White House again (God forbid), nothing will improve. How anyone can think that a McCain presidency is the order of the day, astounds me!

OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[Erdgeist]

When you think of predatory lenders, just remember Bush. In 2003 Team Bush preempted all state predatory lending laws making them inoperative. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html

[TLV]

YES! Thank you for posting this as I was about to.

Bush stopped the states from protecting us!

[barackbff]

Things are so bad under this administration that I can't even get joy out of saying "I told you so."

[cmarmonhalm]

We are in real pain. Americans are suffering and dying everyday. Some people may not understand how hard it is to watch these corporate execs walk away with their golden parachutes when regular people are losing their homes and children and making the utmost sacrifices to America.

[bhshore]

WE'RE ALL AMERICANS FIRST.......I HAVE HAD IT WITH REPS AND DEMS AS HAD MANY OTHERS....

WE MUST START A GRASS ROOTS CAMPAIGN TO HELP EACH OTHER. WHILE I HOPE AND PRAY BARACK GETS IN AND STARTS TO CHANGE THINGS....I AM NOT SURE WE HAVE THE TIME. If time is a TRUE AMERICAN like this woman loosing her son, house and esteem we must act.

Look the the $700 billion is not going to reach us....it's rigged - LOOK WHO IS IN CHARGE....PAULSON AND BERNAKE - BOTH ARE SO OVER THEIR HEAD THEY ARE TRYING TO PUT FOREST FIRE OUT WITH GARDEN HOSE......WE ARE IN TROUBLE.......

[TLV]

The Bush White House enabled this. DO NOT VOTE REPUBLICAN EVER AGAIN.

[TimeKoder13]

Might be time to seriously start thinking about War Crimes and who the suspects are. Additionally, I don't understand why the first people to hit and make ante up aren't the $300 Million Dollar Execs who raped and pillaged. I quit a Wall St job b/c of the lack of ethics so I don't want to hear any of them claim they didn't know how scummy it is down on "The Street!" They should all have to pay for the bailout, not Main St.

[dubstyleenation]

These criminals seem untouchable. Bush stole elections, bribed and coerced. If we start with anyone, its him.

[AnAverageAmerican]

They don't see it has raping and pillaging, they see it as their divine right; the rest of us are just pawns in their game...The more we consume the richer they get. The more we allow ourselves to be entertained instead of educated the more powerful they get and the weaker we get. We the People are the only ones that can take them out, but in order to do that we have to stick together-black, white, Asian, Latino, etc.; well-off, poor, straight, gay-all the things they use to try to divide and conquer us.

Not this time.

[attyroz]

Excellent, intelligent post.

[IngeniousGirl]

For anyone who interested in helping Jocelyn here is an update. The foreclosure sale is now set for Friday. I've talked with her attorney, Jonathan Westin who is working on her situation with her bank. He was surprised truly surprised that anyone knew about her situation. Big thanks to the journalist, I'd love to have his name here (he had all his possessions stolen when his rental car was stolen when he made this video).

Over at kos we are getting effort together to chip in a little here and there, I'll be back with concrete information on where to send your donations if you would like, so that she can reinstate her mortgage and stay in her home.
kos link: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/15/113855/64/431/631144

[MFLUDER]

Hello, this is Steven Greenstreet, the reporter who did the piece on Ms. Voltaire. I just talked with Acorn to see what kind of fundraising they are doing for her and I will post any and all information they give me. Has anyone else set anything up for her?

[IngeniousGirl]

Hi Steve, Jonathan Westin, Esq. is her attorney and promised to call back no later than 30 minutes with amount, and how we can set up a fund for her, I'd hope you could take the lead - I just sent you an email and have one more good suggestion after we get the right information from her bank and loan counselor.

A Blue Star Mom

[gladys46]

No, we're waiting to hear what has been arranged! Thank you and please let us know ASAP!

[Strywever]

Steven, thank you for getting Jocelyn's story out. I know there are thousands of stories just like hers out there. Keep telling them!!

[Brandij]

STEVEN - someone contact P DIDDY"S office - I know he will help - that's who he is.

[stoptheworldiwant2getoff]

This story moved to the point where I would like to help. I have been to the DailyKos site where bloggers they have an equally active story on this and trying to find ways to reach the woman and her attorney so hey can help.

I decided to see if there were other stories and found this link from the Daily News of New York. Here is what they said in the article. The article is from May 28,2008. Read the story. Hopefully we will learn what the situation is with this woman an can provide support accordingly.

" The news conference was held at the Queens Village home of Jocelyn Voltaire, 54, who twice refinanced her home at 100-24 208th St.

Voltaire had sent her soldier son, who was killed this year in Iraq, to private school using money from subprime loans that she now cannot pay off.

“After I took the money and I took care of him, my son is dead,” she said.

“Washington called to say they’re sorry, but what’s ‘sorry’ going to do for me? The bank does not want to negotiate with me. I have two more kids, 10 and 16, who need their roof” over their heads, Voltaire added. "


Here is the link to the story:

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/05/28/2008-05-28_political_rivals_rip_delays_on_foreclosu.html