For What Its “Worth”

Here’s a comparison of the major candidates’ net worth. I bring this up because Hillary Clinton just took out a $5 million loan to help pump up her campaign efforts. Combine that with this interesting nugget:

Mr. Obama also has a money advantage because he has raised more money from small donations than Mrs. Clinton. An analysis by the Campaign Finance Institute, which tracks trends in political money, found that Mr. Obama raised about a third of his money in 2007 from donors who gave $200 or less. Only one-third of his money came from donors who have given the legal maximum of $2,300, compared to Mrs. Clinton who raised about half of her money from “maxed out” donors and only 14% from donors of $200 or less.

Even with the lobbyist money and decently large personal wealth, Clinton is still trailing behind Obama in money. Clinton’s river may run deep, but Obama’s runs deep and wide. And 2/3 of it are from people like you and me, not big corporations, not from donors who max out!

from Obama’s speech last night in Chicago:

The hope of the father who goes to work before dawn and lies awake with doubt that tells him he cannot give his children the same opportunities that someone gave him. Yes, he can.

We know that we have seen something happen over the last several weeks, over the past several months. We know that what began as a whisper has now swelled to a chorus that cannot be ignored — (cheers, applause) — that will not be deterred, that will ring out across this land as a hymn that will heal this nation — (cheers, applause) — repair this world, make this time different than all the rest. Yes, we can.

Lessig on Obama

Internet law guru Lawrence Lessig’s very reasoned explanation on why he supports Obama and how several recent attacks on him by the Clinton campaign are either outright lies or, at best, intentionally misleading.

Why I Endorse Obama (and not Clinton)

I have absolutely nothing against Hillary Clinton as a person. I likewise believe that we’re way over-due as a country in having a woman lead us as President. That said, I reject what the last 16 years of our politics have left us with - divisions. I see Hillary Clinton, if elected, as bringing an extension of the same liberal vs. conservative conflict that we’ve endured since her husband’s time in the White House. Her political tactics are too strategic, too careful, too (dare I say the word) calculated for my taste, reminding me very much of her husband’s and more recently, those of one Karl Rove.

I have read/listened to Barack Obama’s two books, I have listened to several of his more rousing speeches, and I have read his much of his campaign platform. I agree with him completely on voting against the Iraq war, seeing it for what it was, a convenient extension on a justifiable war against terrorists that ultimately has led to far more death and destabilization in that region that would have resulted in a continuation of the existing containment policy. I agree with him that universal health care should not be mandated but provided by the government working within the free market. I want net neutrality, guaranteeing that our bits are treated as equals as they transit the internet and that no private company or government agency is allowed to suppress our speech or invade our privacy. I want an executive branch that is balanced by the two other branches and will strive to reach across the political aisle to find a consensus, not constantly and bitterly battle over politically useful issues.

I’ve campaigned for the first time over the last few weeks for Orlando4Obama, and it has been remarkably empowering! I’ve worked with men and women of all races, ages, religions, and orientations in this campaign, all of them “fired up” and “ready to go” for Obama. They all believe, as do I, that Barack Obama not only has the ability to beat any Republican opponent but also, once the election is behind him, lead us in restoring hope in the power of the people to make government better!

Get informed about the various candidates’ platforms, listen to what they have to say. Get excited about your chosen candidate, spread their word, and inform others. Don’t vote out of ignorance or choose the lesser of evils, get fired up! Yes we can take back government, but it will only happen if we all take ownership in making it better.

That’s what Obama has campaigned on, and that’s why I will continue to spread the word about him.