Cross-Post: I am the One Millionth Obama Donor

[ellisonz]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4811318

For posterity!

:toast: to Obama DUers.

[Luftmensch067]

1. That is so cool!

I really like your piece on how unfortunately easy it is to get into crazy debt paying for college. I loved John Kerry's plan four years ago to help college-age students pay for their education in exchange for community service and I'm so happy to see Senator Obama including this idea in his platform (both primary candidates have incorporated a lot of Kerry's good ideas from 2004 into their plans which, as a Kerry supporter, makes me very proud.) It's obscene that it should be such a financial burden for a young American just to get an education!

I'm especially proud to see the millionth donation come from HI because I grew up in Kailua from the age of 8-18 (a while ago, now!) With the kind of debt you're carrying, donating money to a political campaign is a real commitment to democracy and American ideals and you deserve to be celebrated for it! :dem: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :woohoo: :applause: :patriot:

[ellisonz]

3. Aloha!

Barack really does understand how messed up the college loan system has become:

Obama's plan focuses on eliminating the relationship between private lenders and universities, which he said would save billions in taxpayer's money. Instead of banks disbursing loans to college students through financial aid offices and then having the government make subsidy payments to banks, all loans would be distributed from the government through a direct loan program.

"One way we can make college more affordable is by reforming a wasteful system that profits private banks at the cost of taxpayers," Obama said. "Through a direct loan program, this year alone we would've saved $6 billion that could've funded one million need-based Pell Grants for struggling students."

Obama's proposition, which he originally pitched in 2004, comes in light of the rising cost of public and private universities and recent scandals involving illegal arrangements between school and private lenders. Over the past five years, according to the College Board, the cost of public universities for in-state students has ballooned 35 percent, and the cost of private colleges and universities has risen 11 percent. In February, Northwestern President Henry Bienen announced a 4.96 percent increase in tuition for the 2007-2008 school year.

"(The plan) doesn't solve all the problems, but by taking this one step we can start making college more affordable for every American," Obama said.

http://www.nytimes.com/uwire/uwire_MRP051620076664939.html

I'd be ever more impressed if he got that done instead of national service. The banking industry will fight it like hell because we're a strong source of long-term income for them. The truth is that effect of high costs and high rates hasn't really begun to be felt by most students and parents.

I'm going to cough up more after we win on March 4th.

How many years you been off the Islands? Come back at all?

Feel more than free to join the discussion on my Obama blog.

[Luftmensch067]

4. Thanks for posting this, Zach!

I didn't know that about Obama's plan -- will come in handy tomorrow when I'm organizing in R.I. :-)

I haven't been "home" since 1983!!!!!!!!! I know a lot has changed -- more chain stores, Starbucks, etc., but I hear from friends that a lot has stayed the same, too. I grew up in Kailua, and I'm pretty amused to find out that it's sort of a resort community now and our beach is known around the world! We thought we were just a backwater suburb -- who knew?!

I'm the same age as Barack and, even though he went to Punahou and I went to Kailua High, I feel like I know something of the time and place where he grew up. I would LOVE to have someone in the White House who really understands the kind of melting pot mentality we had in HI and knows that lots of different kine people can live and work together and laugh about their differences. I still listen to Frank Delima and Rap Reiplinger and love that Island spirit, even though I've been gone so long...

I'll check out your blog for sure.

Aloha to you, too!

[ellisonz]

5. You're welcome.

It's at the bottom of the PDF on college afford ability at the Obama website. It's the most drastic part of it.

I imagine the changes since 1983 have been dramatic, but the people have remained the same to an extent. LOST is filmed at Kailua beach. I marched in a July 4th parade with the Democratic party two summers ago in Kailua. That's got to be the most all-American July 4th parade for several thousand miles!

I've seen 3 sides of that stick: urban and divided in LA, suburban and white in college, and Hawaii. I think Hawaii is by far the most interesting. Frank De Lima recently wrote some funny songs about June Jones that can be found at his website.

:hippie:

[Luftmensch067]

6. Yeah, Hawaii people are special, IMO

I'm glad to hear that you think they are the same -- that's what I hoped! Lost is filmed at Kailua Beach?!? I better start watching. LOL! Mahalo for the De Lima website lead, too!!

[City Lights]

2. That is so cool, Zach!

:toast:

I'm in IL and remember watching the number of donors approach the million mark that night. I so wanted to watch it happen, but I couldn't stay up any longer. :boring:

:yourock: It's so cool that his millionth donor is a DUer!

[goclark]

7. That is so cool!

:hug:

[TBF]

8. Very cool!

I remember reading about you on the Obama website (I'm new to DU). I'm a very progressive thinker but have not been active in politics for many years. Barack has inspired me to get involved again, and I have been donating over there with the "match" donations to try to bring in more first-time donors.

I love how Barack has made this campaign about all of US instead of him, and has especially inspired me by bringing in so many young voters. If that doesn't qualify him for leadership I don't know what does.

I hope you'll be able to donate again!

[Kukesa]

9. Welcome to DU! n/t

[4_Legs_Good]

10. Wow!!!

Sorry for chiming in so late (hopefully we're up to 1.1M now, but Obama took down the ticker :( ), but great work!

:toast:

David