Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi, two historically black fraternities each founded in 1911, have started "1911 United," a new pro-Obama Super PAC.
1911 United aims to raise $1.5 million dollars in support of the president as well as train African-American supporters on campaign organizing.
The group plans to organize 10,000 volunteers to register at least 100 voters each. 1911 United is focusing its efforts in Florida, North Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Colorado.
With corporate money staining our elections through Super PACs legalized by Citizens United, it's great to see a progressive Super PAC that will provide organization training on top of pro-Obama money.
1911 United's goals are achievable if the group taps into the large national network of African-American Greek life.
There are 22 active historically black fraternities and sororities on dozens of campuses across the nation. The oldest such organization, the Alphi Phi Alpha fraternity, was founded at Cornell University in 1906.
Over the ensuing century, vast social and professional networks formed through these organizations as African-Americans became incorporated into Greek life, both in historically black fraternities and others.
Leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Jesse Jackson were members of black fraternities that helped them learn essential organizational and leadership skills.
In 2012, it's great to see the targeted activism of 1911 United.
Progressives will need their know-how in fighting the wave of corporate cash that is going to pour in all the way until Election Day.
(Wanted to make sure everyone saw this. - promoted by Phillip Martin)
Since our first rally at Auditorium Shores in 2007, President Obama has always been able to count on strong, enthusiastic support here in Texas. Let's keep the momentum going and celebrate President Obama's birthday this Wednesday evening.
President Obama's 50th Birthday Party Featuring Mitch Stewart, OFA's Battleground States Director
Wednesday, August 3rd
6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Lavaca Street Bar
405 Lavaca Street
Austin, TX 78701
Tickets are $50
Special Guests: Mayor Lee Leffingwell
Council Member Mike Martinez
Rep. Dawnna Dukes
Rep. Mark Strama
Rep. Eddie Rodriguez
Rep. Elliott Naishtat
Click here to RSVP. Thanks for all that you do to support the President!
Can't anyone here play this game? Casey Stengel's lament as coach of the New York Mets comes to mind as the Democratic leadership plays Chicken Little. Loss of a single Senate race has thrown the Democrats into a tailspin. Can they pull out?
Small change
The difference between Coach Stengel and President Obama is that Obama got to pick his own team. Yet, after a campaign built on change, he continued in power the same old team: Gates at Defense, Geithner at Treasury, Bernanke at Fed. And they're making the same old plays: big bank bailouts; weak regulations; tepid economic stimulus; troop surge in Afghanistan; persecution of gays in the military; protection for torturers. The President shrugged off his own deadline for closing the un-American prison at Guantanamo.
After leading the nation in a chant of Yes we can, Mr. Obama has spent his first year in office showing that No, they can't. Now David Axelrod is offering the excuse that change is hard. When did they figure that one out?
President Obama has managed to lose his Democratic base and independent voters at the same time, while gaining not a single friend in the opposition. When the President should have shown leadership, he stayed on the sidelines. Where are we going?
On Tuesday night the House Rules Committee released the Manager's Amendment to HR 3962, the "Affordable Healthcare Act for America". This starts the 72-hour clock for consideration of the legislation which means a vote could occur as early as Saturday morning.
It is important to note that the 72-hour layout period is not standard operating procedure in DC. A coalition of members of both parties pushed for this added measure of accountability. This period allows all members, the media and the public the opportunity to review the bill instead of passing huge pieces of important legislation with no layout in the middle of the night like Delay and his cronies did.
The District-By-District analysis is the best weapon against your anti-healthcare opponents that I've ever seen. Any candidate for Congress should memorize these numbers and quote them frequently.
Still a tough vote for lots of Texas Democrats. We need to make sure it is a tougher vote for Texas republicans who choose the insurance companies, healthcare management degree graduates and HMOs over middle class families..
Moving forward towards November 2010, it is imperative that we arm ourselves and supporters with this information, communicate it frequently, and shutdown misinformation before it can become "fact-like".
Support our delegation by writing letters to the editor, messaging your friends on Facebook, emailing your fantasy football buddies, etc. This is a tough vote that could cost us some seats unless we all dig in and fight shoulder-to-shoulder to breakdown the lies and promote the cause that healthcare reform is necessary AND affordable.
President Obama has decided to keep the military commission system that his predecessor created to try suspected terrorists but will ask Congress to expand the rights of defendants to contest the charges against them, officials briefed on the plan said Thursday.
According to another article in the New York Times, the upgraded military commissions "would limit the use of hearsay, ban evidence gained from cruel treatment, give defendants more latitude to pick their own lawyers and provide more protection if they do not testify."
Despite the "revamped" commissions this raises questions, and on the heels of decisions to repress photographs depicting torture it appears that the President may not be making as clean a break from the Bush Administration policies as he promissed during the campaigned. Beyond the civil rights issues of the decision to continue the military commissions there are political issues. President Obama has made it clear that he intends to shut down the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, however, as of yet there is no clear plan to how it will be shut down and what will happen with the detainees. Congress has already denied the $80 million that the President has requested to fund closing Guantanamo, and there is increasing political pressure not to allow detainees to be transferred to the United States.
Some Republicans also said a liberal nominee would pose risks for Senate Democrats representing conservative states.
"It puts a lot of pressure on Democrats in red states, particularly those running for re-election in 2010, if it is someone who is dramatically outside of the mainstream," said Mr. Cornyn, who, as chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, has a deep interest in the politics of the nomination.
Cornyn's sentiment is predicated on the notion that the Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee is deeply concerned with making sure that Democratic Senators get re-elected. Since any extremely competent, intelligent, accomplished, not-crazy-radical-drooling-over-their-gavel Supreme Court nominee that President Obama would see fit to pick should be confirmed - with only the most partisan of Republicans opposing any nominee no matter what ($100 says Hookerlover David Vitter votes nay - and I'm giving odds!) - Cornyn's trying reverse psychology to frighten President Obama into choosing a more centrist jurist than needbe. Because President Obama is sooooo frightened of Big, Bad John Cornyn.
For immediate release.
Contact: Rachel Maddow or Keith Olbermann
Robin Cravey today announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor of Alaska in 2010. He was recruited to run in the Republican primary by Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in a secret full moon meeting at Barton Springs Pool.
The announcement came just one day after Cravey withdrew as President Obama's nominee for Secretary of Two Wheelers amid revelations that he underreported his tip income as a cabdriver in 1975.
