Saturday, June 28, 2008

Unite For Change Over Some Wine & Cheese (UPDATED) (UPDATED)


Neighbors organizing neighbors on behalf of a campaign - there is very little more important to a political campaign than this.

And Team Obama is absolutely no bullsh*t at helping facilitate those neighborly spirits.

Read yesterday's email from their campaign:

XXXX --

Attend a Unite for Change event this Saturday Tomorrow, Obama supporters all across the country will be hosting more than 4,000 Unite for Change events.

If you haven't signed up for an event yet, there's still time to find one near you:

http://my.barackobama.com/uniteforchange

The goal of Unite for Change is to bring together people who supported all of the Democratic candidates, as well as Independents and even some Republicans. Obama supporters like you are reaching out to anyone who is tired of the politics of the past and looking for new solutions to the challenges we're facing.

People have signed up to host more than 4,000 events tomorrow -- and they need your help to bring change to their communities.

Here's what some Unite for Change event hosts have told us about their events:

"We are so excited about what we have planned.... We are having the young generation spread the word through Facebook, while we spread the word through the Obama site, local newspapers, flyers, emails and good old word of mouth! This is so much fun and so exciting. Obama has really inspired my family and I to step up and take action with him to change this country."
-- Susan from Riverside, CT

"I'm co-hosting the event with my friend Charlie. We met while running the phone bank operation at a field office in Falls Church, Virginia during the primary election.... Our goal is for our neighbors, of all ages, careers, political affiliations and political interests to meet each other and learn how they can get involved locally. This should be a fantastic opportunity for people to get to know others in the community and to help Obama win in November!"
-- Matt from Arlington, VA

"This is giving us an opportunity for a real sense of community. When you work on this campaign, you experience that.... I love being around people who are working for the same goal. We all feel connected already - even people we don't know - we all feel connected in support of this man who is a true inspiration."
-- Sherry from Huntsville, AL


With more than 4,000 events planned in all 50 states, there's a Unite for Change house meeting near you. RSVP today:

http://my.barackobama.com/uniteforchange

These house meetings are a great way to get to know your fellow supporters and help build a united volunteer organization in neighborhoods all across the country. I hope you can make it.

Thank you,

Jon

Jon Carson
National Field Director
Obama for America
Now click on this link to see how Team Obama organizes and markets Unite For Change events within 150 miles of Washington DC (our current location).

Most. Impressive.

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(UPDATED) A reader writes to express her displeasure with our use of "wine and cheese". And to explain that this sophisticated grassroots organizing is nothing new for Team Obama:
...Anyway, here's why I am responding to this post: Do you know that the Obama houseparties are not new? We've been doing them (or something similar) for months and months. When I was doing field organizing during the primary, I used to host weekly meetings at my house. There was always wine and beer on hand, but that's just me. Sometimes we ordered pizza or I would put out chips and salsa. At any rate, it did not feel like a "wine and cheese" gathering for latte liberals, it was grassroots organizing. We held an event at a community college, targeted farmers markets, knocked on doors, made phone calls and went to our local neighborhood council meetings. It was unlike anything I've done before. We worked hard, but it was such a rewarding experience. I met some really terrific people.

As for the house parties, we asked our precinct captains to hold house parties before Feb. 5/Super Tuesday. It was a way for them to connect with their neighbors. I think that win or lose (and you know I hope win!), the Obama campaign has had an enormous impact on people who have not been involved in politics before, it has empowered people (do you know the campaign gave unprecedented access to voter info databases to volunteers) and it has brought a lot of people into the political process.
So noted.

But we are still BLOWN AWAY by the grassroots sophistication of Team Obama. Even if they have been doing it this way for several months.

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(UPDATED) (UPDATED) And the campaign begins closing this particular circle.

Flawlessly.