Dear Obama Supporters: Time to Highlight Obama's Progressive Positions (And BE NICE!!!)

[DrFunkenstein]

I will continue to hammer Obama supporters until this is over: Be civil. Be gracious. Be nice.

The time to point out why we oppose Clinton has passed. It is time to bring Clinton supporters on board. Although you can certainly score points bt highlighting Obama's ability to frame progressive issues in a way that will prove invaluable in passing them Congress, I think it is best to turn to his actual positions.

If people do not already find Obama charming, they never will. So don't try to cram it down people's maws. Go to our common ground - the issues. Obama's website is chock full of amazing programs a bid for the most progressive President in our time. Start with his energy and environmental programs and move forward from there.

Clinton supporters are going to be sore in the coming weeks and many of them will get nasty. YOU DON'T HAVE TO GET NASTY BACK!!! Be the bigger person. Heal those wounds. We are going to need each other in the bruising months ahead.

I would have voted for Clinton despite my initial opposition, and some decency from Clinton supporters would have helped that pill go down much easier. Try to do the same for your fellow Democrats.

[keep_it_real]

1. Forward looking; great advise

[Coexist]

2. here are two side by side (OBJECTIVE) comparisons of their records

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/20/201332/807/36/458633

http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Paul+B.+Hertneky%3a+Let%27s+compare+the+public+accomplishments+of+Clinton+and+Obama&articleId=11dc4bb6-bc19-4f73-97a4-400fbd3dad27

I won't snip anything, just follow the links, since Senator Clinton's record is also mentioned (I don't want to be seen as negative towards Clinton here). I don't know if that is what you are looking for.

Here is my favorite Obama article, Judge Him by his Laws.

It is what really impressed me about him after my kids insisted he would be the candidate for me.

I like that in his bills, he doesn't give up much, he works with the other side to get them to see his side, and he's gotten a lot done that way.

I also like his Family Farm plans, but to be honest, I am not a farmer, so they may not.

Some other good stuff:
Create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund: Obama will create an Affordable Housing Trust Fund to develop affordable housing in mixed-income neighborhoods.

Fully Fund the Community Development Block Grant: Obama will fully fund the Community Development Block Grant program and engage with urban leaders across the country to increase resources to the highest-need Americans.

Tackle Concentrated Poverty
Establish 20 Promise Neighborhoods: Obama will create 20 Promise Neighborhoods in areas that have high levels of poverty and crime and low levels of student academic achievement in cities across the nation. The Promise Neighborhoods will be modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone, which provides a full network of services, including early childhood education, youth violence prevention efforts and after-school activities, to an entire neighborhood from birth to college.

Ensure Community-Based Investment Resources in Every Urban Community: Obama will work with community and business leaders to identify and address the unique economic development barriers of every major metropolitan area. Obama will provide additional resources to the federal Community Development Financial Institution Fund, the Small Business Administration and other federal agencies, especially to their local branch offices, to address community needs.




I also love the pre-filled out Tax form (since employers submit w-9s to the Govt anyway - he says for most people, it will take 1/2 hour to fill out - bringing our govt into the 21st century!)

... AND....

Invest in the Sciences: Barack Obama supports doubling federal funding for basic research, changing the posture of our federal government from being one of the most anti-science administrations in American history to one that embraces science and technology. This will foster home-grown innovation, help ensure the competitiveness of US technology-based businesses, and ensure that 21st century jobs can and will grow in America. As a share of the Gross Domestic Product, American federal investment in the physical sciences and engineering research has dropped by half since 1970. Yet, it often has been federally-supported basic research that has generated the innovation to create markets and drive economic growth. For example, one recent report demonstrated how federally supported research in fiber optics and lasers helped spur the telecommunications revolution.

[DrFunkenstein]

6. Thanks For The Links!!

People who say Obama is all talk are very mistaken. For McCain to try this line of attack would be a blessing. It takes very little for Obama to prove he has the chops. Especially when he hammers McCain for having experience, but not wisdom. The proof, as they say, is in the pudding.

[Coexist]

8. also, McCain's whining about campaign financing is over - Obama in USA Today:

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/02/opposing-view-3.html

I will seek a good faith pact that results in real spending limits.
By Barack Obama

In 2007, shortly after I became a candidate for president, I asked the Federal Election Commission to clear any regulatory obstacles to a publicly funded general election in 2008 with real spending limits. The commission did that. But this cannot happen without the agreement of the parties' eventual nominees. As I have said, I will aggressively pursue such an agreement if I am my party's nominee.

<snip>
I propose a meaningful agreement in good faith that results in real spending limits. The candidates will have to commit to discouraging cheating by their supporters; to refusing fundraising help to outside groups; and to limiting their own parties to legal forms of involvement. And the agreement may have to address the amounts that Senator McCain, the presumptive nominee of his party, will spend for the general election while the Democratic primary contest continues.

In l996, an agreement on spending limits was reached by Sen. John Kerry and Gov. William Weld in their Massachusetts Senate contest. They agreed to limits on overall and personal spending and on a mechanism to account for outside spending. The agreement did not accomplish all these candidates hoped, but they believe that it made a substantial difference in controlling outside groups as well as their own spending.

We can have such an agreement this year, and it could hold up. I am committed to seeking such an agreement if that commitment is matched by Senator McCain. When the time comes, we will talk and our commitment will be tested.

I will pass that test, and I hope that the Republican nominee passes his.

[Fredda Weinberg]

9. Wants? Will? That's not a record n/t

[Coexist]

10. feel free to follow the first three links - lots of details

and bills/laws/personal accomplishments in them.

[Fredda Weinberg]

11. There's nothing objective about articles that omit HRC's public service

You are deluding yourself if these are your sources. See the comments below the Union Leader article and Kos ain't authoritative for anything but his opinions.

[Coexist]

14. kos was not the author of the diary

and the Unionleader author makes it quite clear what he included/omitted in the article in the beginning of it.

Again - they were put there not to knock Senator Clinton, but because they have good, concise information about Senator Obama's accomplishments.

[Captain Hilts]

3. Voting to condemn Moveon.org's Petraus ad? nt

[Barack_America]

4. Getting rid of DADT and DOMA (all of it).

Abolishing the Bush tax cuts.

Making community college free via rebates.

etc.

[usregimechange]

5. here ya go

League of Conservation Voters Scorecard: Obama 100%, Hillary 71%
View Hillary's scores/votes:
http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=10902&congress=1102&lvl=C

View Obama's scores/votes:
http://capwiz.com/lcv/bio/keyvotes/?id=3181&congress=1102&lvl=C


Children's Defense Fund Scorecard: Obama 100%, Hillary 90%
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4304396
Special thanks to DUer ProSense.


ACLU Congressional Scorecard: Obama 80%, Hillary 67%
Lifetime scores:

Obama: 82% (better than Edward Kennedy's and John Kerry's)
Hillary: 75%

[mrreowwr_kittty]

7. He wants to restore Habeus Corpus.

[Colobo]

12. Good advice, Doc!

[mkultra]

13. maybe a pledge

maybe someone should come up with a civility pledge and have posters agree to it.

[JVS]

15. Once the nominee is selected, they better not get nasty.

Until then, I think convincing GDP partisans is a lost cause

[bicentennial_baby]

16. I really like his agriculture/rural policy ideas:

Ensure Economic Opportunity For Family Farmers

* Strong Safety Net for Family Farmers: Obama will fight for farm programs that provide family farmers with stability and predictability. Obama will implement a $250,000 payment limitation so that we help family farmers — not large corporate agribusiness. Obama will close the loopholes that allow mega farms to get around the limits by subdividing their operations into multiple paper corporations.

* Prevent Anticompetitive Behavior Against Family Farms: Obama is a strong supporter of a packer ban. When meatpackers own livestock they can manipulate prices and discriminate against independent farmers. Obama will strengthen anti-monopoly laws and strengthen producer protections to ensure independent farmers have fair access to markets, control over their production decisions, and transparency in prices.

* Regulate CAFOs: Obama's Environmental Protection Agency will strictly regulate pollution from large CAFOs, with fines for those that violate tough standards. Obama also supports meaningful local control.

* Establish Country of Origin Labeling: Obama supports immediate implementation of the Country of Origin Labeling law so that American producers can distinguish their products from imported ones.

* Encourage Organic and Local Agriculture: Obama will help organic farmers afford to certify their crops and reform crop insurance to not penalize organic farmers. He also will promote regional food systems.

* Encourage Young People to Become Farmers: Obama will establish a new program to identify and train the next generation of farmers. He will also provide tax incentives to make it easier for new farmers to afford their first farm.

* Partner with Landowners to Conserve Private Lands: Obama will increase incentives for farmers and private landowners to conduct sustainable agriculture and protect wetlands, grasslands, and forests.

:)