This is really cool: Obama proposes a trade: voters for hoops

[Drunken Irishman]

Posted by Scott Helman, Political Reporter March 28, 2008 02:54 PM



http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/03/obama_proposes.html

In the spirit of March Madness, Barack Obama is offering a unique incentive for Indiana high-schoolers to register their friends to vote in the May 6 primary: If they collect the registration forms, he'll play a little basketball with them.

It's a program the Obama campaign is calling the "3-on-3 Challenge for Change." Here's how it works: Every high school student who gets completed registration forms from at least 20 friends will qualify for a 3-on-3 game against Obama and his undisclosed teammates. (A warning to the high-schoolers: One of Obama's closest aides, Reggie Love, played on Duke's 2001 national championship team.)

[LisaM]

1. Is that legal?

It sounds like pay to play.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. He's not asking for their vote, he's asking them to register.

[JackORoses]

5. no money involved, just good ol' basketball

I'd like to see Hillary and Barack in a game of one-on-one streetball.

Do you think Hillary shoots Granny-style?

[City Lights]

13. Did you read it? Who said anything about "pay to play," besides you?

Sounds like someone is jumping to conclusions. :eyes:

[LisaM]

17. No, but what I am saying is that it could be considered to have a value

I just never heard of being able to reward voter registrations with a service, but maybe it's okay.

[TheWraith]

20. I'm not sure it counts as a service. Possibly as a contest? nt

[undeterred]

2. Oh, that's fun.

:hi:

[redqueen]

4. Hah... nice one.

:D

[silverweb]

6. Brilliant!

GObama! GObama!

[DerekJ]

7. They are smart.

[otohara]

8. Pandering to Youth

trying to register new voters, I'm outraged!

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. Youthism plays its ugly head once again

PRETTY KOOL

[ampad]

19. Nothing worse

Nothing worse than good old exercise and registering to vote. I swear what is this country coming to.

[Whisp]

9. what a fantastic idea.

that campaign is full of them.
brilliant people.

[Coexist]

10. that is a really great idea.

[Buzz Clik]

11. Indiana high schoolers tend to be among the best on the planet at basketball.

He better bring his best game. The NBA is bursting at the seams with former Indiana high schoolers.

[BumRushDaShow]

12. Oh my... this is clever...

And probably unprecedented! :thumbsup:

[City Lights]

15. Great idea!

They really have their shit together. :thumbsup:

[crispini]

16. ahaha! brilliant! nt

[TeamsterDem]

18. very clever n/t

[SoxFan]

21. Great idea

They held a 3-on-3 tournament in NH last summer. The finals were held at the Manchester Boys & Girls Club, with Obama's brother in law, Craig Robinson as the special guest. Robinson is the head basketball coach at Brown University.

[Johnny__Motown]

22. Change you can believe in

I love it

[cooolandrew]

23. You gotta hand it tothe guy. Pure genius to fid a new way think outside the box.

[MH1]

34. Probably comes from listening to the ideas of others.

It seems to me that he probably encourages creative ideas and fosters an environment where people feel valued for innovative thinking.

Oh what a horrible trait that would be to have in a president, huh? ;)

[VolcanoJen]

24. Coolest idea ever! And what a graphic!!!

I can't wait to see the video/photos from this event!

[hedgehog]

25. I think what really sold me on Obama as much as anything else is the pure joy

he brings to so much he does! That, plus his sense of humor!

[knixphan]

26. now we're talkin.

And have Sir Charles show up and point a camera at him

[BeyondGeography]

27. I was hoping for a basketball tie-in with Indiana

He's got this shared passion with the Hoosiers...great that he could find a way to work it into the camapign.

[Catherine Vincent]

28. Anything Obama does is cool to you guys.

He could take a dump and some of you think it's great!

:)

[cali]

30. and the same goes for some of you adoring little hillbots

:)

[Catherine Vincent]

31. Not towards Hillary.

But I sort of felt that way about Big Dog. :)

[Barack_America]

29. Man, we could've used that here in Philly.

Our high school registration was rough, though we got it done. This could've made it a whole lot easier.

But an awesome concept, nonetheless.

[msallied]

32. Damn that campaign is SMART!

That's just downright grassroots American fun. I'm in love with this guy. lol

[KaptBunnyPants]

33. What if 1000 people qualify?

That's a lot of basketball.

[FatDave]

35. Does the white house have a basketball court?

If not, I'll bet it does by sometime next spring.

[moondust]

36. I'd like to see him play Hillary, McCain, and Bush.

Three on one!!!

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

37. This guy is a teacher. He bargains just like one.

What a great idea.

[bklyncowgirl]

38. Very creative--sort of like the "Dinner with Barack Thing"

Sounds like fun too--not to mention good publicity.

I'm almost tempted to put in a donation to qualify for "Dinner with Barack" however since my giving a primary candidate a donation pretty much guarantees their doom in the polls (sorry about that Bill Richardson but you seem happy with Obama so I guess it's cool) I've been hesitating.

I like the idea of injecting a little fun into the thing. Too bad Bill Bradley didn't think of this when he was running.

[Tribetime]

39. is basketball big in Indiana ? excellent idea

[Norrin Radd]

40. Hillary Clinton could offer a similar friendly sport she's good at to encourage youths to register

to vote:

paintball.



Just teasing! ~ please don't get into a huff.