Organizing For America Takes First Action For Obama Agenda

Organizing for America, the campaign apparatus left over from Barack Obama's presidential run, sent out its first call to action on Friday in support of the president's agenda.

The organization, which is now housed within the Democratic National Committee, emailed everyone who has hosted a house party for the president, encouraging them to do the same in support of the White House-backed economic recovery package.

Last year, America lost 2.6 million jobs. This week, some of our biggest companies announced plans to cut tens of thousands more.

The economic crisis is deepening, but President Obama and members of Congress have proposed a recovery plan that will put more than 3 million Americans back to work.

You can learn more about how the plan will help your community by organizing an Economic Recovery House Meeting.

Organizing for American has roughly 13 million e-mail addresses and two million active volunteers, though its strength in helping to advance specific legislative items has yet to be tested.

There has been speculation over how often and to what extent the Democratic Party would take advantage of "the list," the concern being that over-saturation could blunt the response rate and reduce the investment voters had in the new administration. But clearly, Democratic leaders view the stimulus fight as one worth engaging aggressively. House parties aren't the most effective form of grassroots mobilization, but they should be enough to grab the attention of local and possibly state officials.

Below is the complete email sent out by the organization:

Last year, America lost 2.6 million jobs. This week, some of our biggest companies announced plans to cut tens of thousands more.

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The economic crisis is deepening, but President Obama and members of Congress have proposed a recovery plan that will put more than 3 million Americans back to work.

You can learn more about how the plan will help your community by organizing an Economic Recovery House Meeting.

Join thousands of people across the country who are coming together to watch a special video about the recovery plan. Invite your friends and neighbors to watch the video with you and have a conversation about your community's economic situation.

The economic crisis can seem overwhelming and complex, but you can help the people you know connect the recovery plan to their lives and learn more about why it's so important.

Sign up to host an Economic Recovery House Meeting the weekend of Friday, February 6th.

The President's plan passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday. But if it's going to move forward, we need to avoid the usual partisan games.

That's why supporters are opening their homes to talk with neighbors and friends about how the plan will work -- and what it means for their community.

The video will outline the basics of the plan and how it will impact working families. It will also include answers to questions from folks across the country. Invite your friends and family to watch the video, discuss the plan, and help build support for it.

Don't worry if you've never hosted a house meeting before -- we'll make sure you have everything you need to make it a success.

Take the first step right now by signing up to host an Economic Recovery House Meeting:

http://my.barackobama.com/recoveryhost

Time and again, you've demonstrated your commitment to change. Now you can help America move in an important new direction.

Please forward this email to your friends and family, and encourage them to get involved as well.

Thank you for your hard work,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America

Comments

[smhc]

"Organizing America" is a crazy George Soros propaganda website. Watch out! This is how Fabian Socialism takes hold. Free speech not welcome. Try to ask some real relative questions about what's going on in D.C. today -- you get cut off. It is really weird for our president to have such a weird organization -- it's creepy if you ask me. It also happens if you go to one of these "Organizing America" Obama videos on youtube and try to leave a comment. You get cut off -- only comments that kiss Obama's rear can be posted. Well, as you know Eric Schmidt (Obama's BFF) owns Youtube. It's all too strange. I love free speech -- I appreciate dialogue -- and often you can find it on the internet -- but when there are sites that moderate to this freaky degree, then you've got to question their motives.

Barry, the campaign is over -- the propaganda should stop and you should start doing what's best for all Americans -- you're dealing with more than just the moveon people now, and the rest of us know a little more about history, the constitution, economics -- we aren't going to fall for that college student nonsense. Time to grow up, Barry -- I know you've never had one, but this is real job now.

[jazzofcourse08]

I'm getting my community organized. I am on board. Fired up!! Ready to Go!!

[Triciann]

The grassroots organization that helped President Obama win in November is ready to do everything necessary to get the needed stimulus package accepted by the Republicans who day after day show they care not a toss for Americans. They exist to serve themselves, the GOP and their masters on Wall Street and K Street. Their votes are monitored and come 2010 we will work as hard to remove them from office as we worked to elect President Obama.

We the people intend to take back our rights to have government work for us!

[some-realtalk]

Democrats, let's get to work moving this economy forward!
The pathetic, Republicans, and their defacto, drug addicted leader, Rush Limbaugh, wants President Obama to fail -- we Democrats are NOT going to let that happen, because if President Obama fails, our economy fails, and WE all fail!

[wdw505]

many good things are still happening

[KAZPORT]

Just watching the news and now many dems are not on board with the stimulus. When wil people wake up and realize that Nancy Pelosi doens't run this country. She is trying to stuff the turkey and trim the tree with our tax dollars. I doubt any of you that claim to be for this package sheepas it is)
actually read it. The dems and republicans are going to forma group of 14 to rewirte the whole thing. SO how can Obama be trying to get people on board when they don't even know what is going to be in the bill.
Oh thats right they will go along with him like sheep to the slaughter.

[wdw505]

sounds about right

[Mugzi]

I feel the tax cuts should be minimized and the grid and green technology should be increased. I cannot believe anyone listening to the Repug - that is Obama's error. Yes, he listened, and please do what he knows is the right, moral thing to do. Have we forgotten the last 8 years so quickly????gw's massive tax cuts to the wealthy, war, no infrastructure so our bridges are falling or will fall down in the near future!!!! What has the Repug philosophy gotten us??? Repugs have gotten us HERE in this mess, so obviously they are not on the right road!!! How can they possibly want more tax cuts and we spend 2B a month in Iraq....so­und familiar???? So how can THAT possibly be the solution to our problems when it is a major cause!!!! (No regulation of money institutions is the remainder cause of today's ills)

[mitsie]

Actually using this group is a good idea to spread the word on the President's agenda, and also he can actually have himself all organized for 2012.

[lisa12345]

Hi Mitsie--good point. I am interested in helping myself, but I just want to be careful. I do believe in what he is trying to do with this group, but as one poster wisely stated below, we also need to be asked if we like it. In other words, give us a chance to have some input before we push for it! However, I guess we are expected to have already decided we like it, or we wouldn't be volunteering!

[Rhonda Davis]

we elected a smart leader

change in DC

obama is listening to us

great start

[Ronald Sorenson]

Its time now to get off the couch and get in the game life is fun so grow up and be a kid, Barack started a basketball team and he needs some players everyone knows that it takes five players on a team so if nobody is there to pass to or drive to the basket how can we compete. There aint no I in team so join the team and that is team U.S.A. and the trophy is love and that causes us to be united and then the next thing is WORLD PEACE, so come on join in and DO IT !! Just BE

Peace Ronald Sorenson
The A.D.D. Poet

[sueinmn]

We need public outrage!
http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm


I just sent my email to Harry Reid demanding mediate action. Is this not a misappropriations of tax money and congress is responsible for overseeing it in a legal manner. No oversight and funds given to mortgage relief (not) and to keep a bank solvent yet used for bonuses is a misappropriate use of funds. I hope more of the public will also show outrage!! Harry Reid’s web link email.

[sueinmn]

http://reid.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm

I am a very concerned tax-paying citizen wondering why on earth the Government allowed the previous T.A.R.P funds to be used as personal bonuses, and I ask why you are not demanding this money to be returned back to the treasury. This is a misappropriation of funds and needs immediate attention! These funds were loaned to banks in good faith to be used for home mortgage relief and to prevent the banks from failing. These funds have been used for personal bonuses to employs and CEO's. This is a misappropriation of funds being used illegally. Congress is responsible as per the Constitution of the United States to oversee with accountability and insure good Stewardship in the handling of the U.S. treasury and to promote the economic stability and growth of the United States. To allow these criminal banks and Wall Street employees to hand the tax payer’s monies out as bonuses is criminal! As a citizen I strongly urge you to begin an immediate investigation, and demand the return of these monies for using them inappropriately! I'm not a lawyer but if I were sitting on a Jury, I would certainly find that these funds were fraudulently received and used illegally. Sincerely,

[lisa12345]

We need more of this. It appears that the public wants accountability from these banks and Wall Street. If this is illegal, I hope they do something about it. A number of the frauds need to go to jail, like Madoff. I hope to see the financial sector held accountable.

[Ronald Sorenson]

Persistence True Dream

Martin Luther had a dream
Barack Obama different not he
Unite start thee one for us to be
Together bond make strength
Land of promise mountain climb
Overcome begun job to be done
Change direction drive within
Peace fights not love endures
Stand to lead Americans unite
Hear listen ear different are we
See heart feel how same are soul
Red all blood we do bleed heal
Believe in the dream beats one
Life and earth a time in need we
World compassion help our part do
Forget not remember love binds all
Tomorrow better day please pray
Day embrace inauguration
January 20, 2009

-Ronald Sorenson
A.D.D. Poet
June 3, 2008

[ChristianSoldier]

So, here we are. I'm surprised it too this long. The fascist far right is running with the "tax and spend liberals" play from the Reagan Reich play book. Limbaugh and his cabal of cigar smoking free-market millionaires think they can cower Obama.

Meanwhile at the mouth of the Amazon in a sweltering Gymnasium, Chavez, Morales, and 500 socialist listen to Ecuadoran President Correa sing "Commandante Che Gueverra"

Each day in this nation tens of thousands of hard working Americans are being kicked to the curb for rich shareholders profits...

Keep it up Boehner! Keep it up Limbaugh, Coulter, O'Reilly and all you Blue Dog Democrat traitors! Keep it up. Keep insisting that our salvation is in preserving the obscene wealth of the rich!

The dumb little people are awakening.

[lisa12345]

Well...I don't know quite what to make of this post. I agree with most of it, but as unhappy as I am with some conservative Dems, others are pretty open. One from this area has voted progressively on many items. As I have watched Congress over the years--eyeing who was voting how, whenever I was hopeful that a bill would go through--I noticed that many sought to help close down the SOA, among other things. So I would not call them traitors.

As for socialism--I support a Democratic Socialist variety of socialism that still respects and values America's core principles. I am not sure that the people you list who are "socialists" necessarily value our American principles. Although I must admit, I do care for Che Guevera, who I wish were still alive. However it was not America/the people who Killed Che, that was one small group.

I am wary of Chavez. He has outlawed all abortion, there is talk that he tampered with elections, and he gives proclamations to the people that suggest he has a great deal of power. It is dangerous for a president to have that much power, many liberals in the US are upset that Bush may have abused executive privilege. We don't like it. It is not liberal. Or progressive.

[wadehudson]

A weak first step, at best

I am neither encouraged nor surprised by this development. Once again, the call does not ask hosts to try to form a solid core group that will meet regularly, suggests a mere 60-minute meeting, and suggests neither sharing food nor socializing in order to nurture friendships.

But perhaps most importantly, it does not ask the participants to make a decision about whether they, as a unit, support the recovery plan.

Decentralization is essential. One form could be nurturing ongoing, small home-based teams that collectively make key decisions -- like whether they support particular legislation.

Hopefully, OFA2 will evolve into a more substantial community-­organizing effort. I suggested some possibilities in "Organizing for America: A Proposal" at http://progressiveresourcecatalog.org/index.php/Obama/ArticleQ

Rather than the top-down, one-way education reflected in the Feb. 6 call, OFA2 could concentrate on promoting broad scale mutual education, consistent dialog with Congresspersons about how to improve the federal government, assisting people in dealing with the bureaucracy, and empoweing those teams to select representatives that could speak for them with authority.

I suspect, however, that OFA2 has decided that it will merely be a Presidential support mechanism. They should have encouraged the formation of ongoing home-based teams during the election when the iron was hot. But they did not and lost momentum. Alas. A real opportunity wasted.

[Prakosh]

Poor Rush, the big blowhard can't handle the heat so he tells McCain to go talk to Obama for him. What a little cry-baby. The big man with the golden microphone can't take a little heat. Booo Hooo!

[sueinmn]

The union I belong to is spending much time and effort with other organized unions at the State Capitol with State Legislation, for fear of our portion of the stimulus being used by the Governors discrepancy to balance his budget! To finance his "pet projects", to support the lobby efforts of those using the "pay to play" tactics. There is much fear that all this transparency may be lost once in the hands of the individual Governors of each State.
It would be wise to get your self familiar with your State websites and your Governors plans and stimulus reports.

[sueinmn]

The organization called The Chamber Of Commerce is the businesses way of organizing. They lobby together as one voice to promote business opportunities, to lobby their political agendas and to fight against organizing labor.
Do any of you think for one moment that companies themselves do not organize as a "collective bargaining group” to speak, negotiate and promote their interests? Is this any different in formation as the organizing of labor unions? Each pay dues of membership, each have voted representatives of rank and file to voice the needs, desires, wants and goals. Each has similar structures and goals. Each has very different opinions of what’s good for the labor force.
So why do you feel belonging to a union is wrong for you? Why should workers be left on their own as individuals to fend for their themselves, to receive fair pay, equal opportunities, enforcement of anti-discr­iminations­, conditions of employment and continued employment which include hours of work, overtime, company policies and enforcement, granted times off, grievance procedures, medical and families leaves, lock outs, the list is long.
WHY WOULD ANY OF YOU NOT WANT A VOICE TO REPRESENT YOU? Do you enjoy having to deal with your employer as a single voice; to be intimidated or lied to, or to find out the person you may have trained was hired at a greater wage than you? Have you ever been given a verbal promise only to be denied it later? Why would you want this?
CONTINUED;

[sueinmn]

Many of you live in "right to work" states. You literally can be fired for any reason, the boss doesn’t like the shoes you have on, you are made to feel you better kiss butt in order to remain employed. You have no rights. Sure many of you feel the state and federal writes laws to protect your rights. Have you ever been fired and try to enforce those rights you thought were an automatic given? Have you ever realized it is YOUR BURDEN OF PROOF to present the evidence? Have you ever been denied that right to present your evidence or simply have the door slammed shut for satisfaction?

I just can't imagine anyone wanting to NOT ENJOY THE OPPORTUNITY to allow someone else to be sure that you are being treated fairly, equally, to be there and listen to your issues and have the available procedures to have your issues heard and acted on. It is simply absurd.
IT JUST TOTALLY BLOWS ME AWAY, THE LACK OF "ONESELF’S WANT" TO BETTER THEIR QUALITY OF LIVING.
Today, possibly a moment in history, we have a “Friend of Labor” in the White House and many of us can appreciate this opportunity put before us.

[lj9283]

And for those who are unaware, the US Chamber of Commerce contributed over 20 Million dollars to various anti-organized labor candidates.