Obama Needs You!

We who meet at the Huffington Post crossroads from time-to-time have had the honor of being out in front for Senator Obama from the start. Even an old fart former life-long Republican-turned-Obama-fan like me has had his chance to speak. We've hung in there through the primaries, did all we could to counter the lies from the Republican gutter campaign, squabbled amongst ourselves, as to our candidate being "too soft," or "too cool," or "too detached," or "too centrist." But we have almost -- almost! -- won.

Senator Obama returned the favor of all our intense attention and (mostly) loyal support by using Huff Post to make several important statements during the race thereby bypassing the traditional media and speaking to us first on "our" favorite site.

It has been quite a ride! It has been great! A big thank you to Arianna Huffington for giving we Obama supporters a forum at the very time when American history has been hanging in the balance.

Nevertheless... Hold the party!

We're up against the Republicans who have shown they will stop at nothing. Palin and McCain have come about as close to inciting violence as any national candidates ever have with all their talk about who is more patriotic, whipping up their mobs into a frenzy of fear of the "other" and hate for the "Muslim" Obama, the "Arab" Obama, the "Socialist" Obama, the "pal of terrorists" Obama, the "sex-ed for babies" Obama.

Now more lies are being prepared about Acorn's "massive fraud" to "explain" defeat. Now Jim Dobson (of Focus On the Family) has sent out one of the more nutty concoctions of lies ever hatched in American politics in a letter to his flock of millions claiming the virtual destruction of America if Obama is elected, predicting terrorism, people forced to do abortions ... on and (paranoid) on.

And voters in many places are either being prevented from voting, tricked into fearful silence or otherwise hindered. The home to the reactionaries -- the post Bush Republican Party -- is not going to cede power easily. Some early votes will be "lost." And then there is always the last minute smear. Expect legal challenges.

So ... the only safe option for our country is a landslide victory for Obama!

Do Not Relax!

Call everyone and make sure they are voting!

Make a last minute donation to the Obama campaign!

Take the day off and go door to door on Tuesday!

Need a last dose of motivation? Picture Sarah Palin in the White House having dinner with Jim Dobson and discussing what the Bible is "telling" her to do about our foreign policy and the economy. It could happen.

If Obama wins, the Huff Post family deserve a party. We helped. But today it's time to sprint to the finish line.

No gloating. No hubris. There is work to be done.

Frank Schaeffer is the author of Crazy for God -- How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back. Now in paperback.

Follow Frank Schaeffer on Twitter: www.twitter.com/frank_schaeffer

Comments

[lewes17266]

Oh Happy Day!

[NichRidley]

"Picture Sarah Palin in the White House having dinner with Jim Dobson and discussing what the Bible is "telling" her ".

Yeah, that's pretty scary, but so is picturing Barack Obama in the White House having dinner with Jeremiah Wright and discussing what the Bible is telling him.

Sorry, Frank. No sale. McCain and Palin will be terrible for the country, but I think so will Obama/Biden.

They're both bad choices for different reasons. I can understand you turning your back on the Neo-Cons and not supporting McCain. Can't understand the embrace of Obama.

Go Ralph Nader !

[Danigirl65]

I voted last Saturday (10/25) in Illinois and have taken half a day off of work tomorrow to help get voters to the polls (driving those who need a ride) for our local Democratic headquarters.

I WANT this so bad I can taste it. CALL, KNOCK, DRIVE!!! Get the voters out, folks. It is an investment in our, and our children's, and our children children's future.

[Terriac]

Great post, as usual. And yes, we can't let down our guard one bit. There appears to be no limit to just how low the Repubs will go to try to steal this election. After tomorrow night, if all goes as planned and worked for, we can cheer. Yes, we can. Yes, we will.

[NationalTreasure]

"So ... the only safe option for our country is a landslide victory for Obama!"

"Do Not Relax!"

"Call everyone and make sure they are voting!"

"Make a last minute donation to the Obama campaign!"
http://www.barackobama.com/splash/volunteer.html

"Take the day off and go door to door on Tuesday!"

The League of Women's Voter's has a great web site.
http://vote411.org/

Make sure that you take your identification with you to vote, take a snack and water because you may have a long wait and if you wear an Obama campaign button or tee shirt be prepared to remove it or turn it inside out before you get withing 100 feet of the entrance of your polling place.

Keep Sen. Obama, his family and his sisters in your thoughts and prayers as they mourn the loss of their grandmother and great-grandmother.

[viewfromuphere]

as somebody who's not an American..­.you guys have all my best wishes in the world for tomorrow..­...
good luck

[wydgage]

and might i add your article of Oct 8, "Obama Will Be One of The Greatest (and Most Loved) American Presidents" is one of the greatest pieces of writing i've ever read. i don't believe i've ever been as moved by the written word as that piece...an­d while i thank Arianna Huffington for running this great site, i also add my thanks to you, Bob Cesca, Jason Linkins, Cenk Uygur, and many, many others who can put into words the thoughts and feelings, frustrations and aspirations of those of us on the receiving end of this revolution to take our country back.

my thoughts were not formed by this site but merely validated by reading the thoughts of those who can do it better than me. and for that, i'm grateful to live in a country where we have the freedom to do just that.

[ProudLiberalDan]

You are absolutely right. No partying until the polls close in Alaska at 12:00 midnight EST.

There is a big difference between encouraging poll leads and cast and counted votes.

Polls don't even matter. What matters over the next 36 hours is getting people inside voting booths.

[faithnj]

Thanks, Frank.....­.there have been many times during this campaign, where the
"Religious Right" have said things so incredibly ugly, that I have almost wanted to stop calling myself a Christian. I still don't understand how some of my fellow "Christians" can call themselves Christians, and yet lie and be so hateful...­.hopefully­, you'll help me understand by and by. Until then, thank you so much for your contributionsto HuffPo.

[GwMckay]

"Oh God, save me from your people"

Hehehe, I agree, the one thing we don't need is a Theocracy. I Don't need the white house telling me how to know or experience God.

Go Vote!

[HeevenSteven]

I sure do hope you continue to post here regularly. The fundies aren't going to go away, and you provide a useful window into their minds. Thanks for all your efforts Mr. Schaeffer.

[GOP4MoreTears]

I'll second what HS said Frank, thank you for all your efforts, please contimue.
Hey HS, I came accross this, thought you may find it of interest also. BEYOND THEOLOGY:

http://ktwu.washburn.edu/productions/BT/#
Agape

[HeevenSteven]

Thanks brother! Looks interesting, I just took a cursory look at this and the book "In his Steps"; I'll be sure to catch this series. I hadn't seen anything about it yet; thanks again.

Armstrong has spoken of the need for a 21st century religion; I think we could use an ethics sans metaphysics tradition;-)

Agape as well. Gobama!

[MPeter]

Yes, Obama needs all of us. And sadly, CNN is just reporting that Obama's Grandma has died. This is sad. My prayers are with Obama and family. May God rest her in peace. And May the dame God watch over Obama during this very tough period, with all that is on his mind and shoulders!!!

[chucklasker]

I, too, have been honored to be able to write for Huffington Post and present my Republican for Obama perspective. It's been amazing. Thanks for all your posts, Frank - they've been inspiring and informational.

I am working as a poll judge tomorrow here in Indiana. I will be watching things closely, as I'm in a Republican county and the poll inspector is a Republican, AND the Republican judge expressed happiness in the primary about Operation Chaos, so he's no friend of free voting. I hope to get a story about my experiences up on HuffPost on Wednesday, hopefully while celebrating an Obama win.

[redstateblue]

Does your cell phone have a camera? Please make sure it's fully charged and ready to record any irregularities!