Archive for June, 2007
CNN and YouTube have teamed up for two special presidential debates through which you have the chance to ask the candidates their stances on ONE’s issues. If you are chosen, you may get to see the debate live and give your thoughts afterwards. CNN is currently accepting submissions for the Democratic debate. The deadline for vote submissions is July 22 (but the earlier the better!).
We asked our ONE interns (and some staff) to come up with their own questions to ask the candidates—not surprisingly, the questions ended up sounding suspiciously like the kind of questions we’d like to hear at the debates! Even if they don’t get selected, they will surely be seen—one of them has over 250 views in only three days.
Submit your own question now, and don’t forget to add it to our ONE Vote ’08 YouTube group as well.
These statements were released yesterday in support of the Iowa launch:
Ray Hoffmann, Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, issued this statement on the ONE Vote ’08:
“ONE Vote ’08 is a very important bi-partisan campaign that is making global health and poverty a priority for candidates in the upcoming election. The Republican Party of Iowa is 100 percent behind ONE Vote ’08 and their efforts to educate and involve voters in the political process by raising awareness of these global issues.”
Chairman Scott Brennan from the Iowa Democratic Party released the following statement in support of the ONE Vote ’08 Campaign:
“ONE Vote ’08 is a way for Iowans to bridge the partisanship that so often divides Democrats and Republicans; we can all unite behind the goal of ending extreme poverty around the world,” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Scott Brennan. “As the First in the Nation Caucus, Iowa has a unique opportunity to encourage all presidential candidates to address the ways foreign policy and security will focus on saving lives by expanding global access to health services and education, while reducing the number of people living in hunger. I applaud these efforts and look forward to working with former Governor Terry Branstad and former Lt. Governor Sally Pederson in the fight against global poverty.”
Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) released the following statement yesterday on the launch of the Iowa ONE Vote ’08 campaign:
“Extreme poverty is a deeply disturbing problem that breeds global instability and unrest. Taking a strong leadership role in eliminating global poverty will only make America stronger in the eyes of the world. I’m proud to be a part of Iowa ONE Vote ’08 to send a message to our next President that this issue is of critical importance.”
Rep. Dave Loebsack (R-IA) released the following statement yesterday on the launch of the Iowa ONE vote ’08 campaign:
“Thinking globally and helping others throughout the world has never been more important. I am proud to join the ONE Vote ’08 campaign because it is critical we elect a President committed to using our nation’s influence to help end global poverty. This is important for the future of America and the future of millions across the globe.”
Last night, Sen. Fred Thompson came to New Hampshire to meet with voters and explore the possibility of his own presidential run.
As we gathered in a convention room in Manchester, I saw a lot of ONE members floating around, and a few people flashed me the ONE bands that they received at the NH debates.
I was talking with ONE member, Andrea Synborski when Sen. Thompson turned the corner and approached us. Andrea told him about the ONE Campaign and I mentioned Senator Frist as being one of our nation co-chairs. Andrea pulled out a ONE band, as she did, he told her “Oh yes, I need a ONE band” and immediately put it on.
The room was filled with press and people soon crowded around Sen. Thompson so it was difficult to talk with him, but that did not stop our Marine Michael from getting a picture with him in his ONE shirt.
After the senator’s remarks, I was able to urge him to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa as president. I spoke briefly with the senator’s wife and offered her a ONE band too. She asked “what is ONE”, and I described the movement of Americans that want our nation to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa. But before I could finish my sentence, she enthusiastically recognized what ONE was and told me that she had read all about it on Sen. Frist’s website! She gladly accepted a ONE band from me and told me she would reiterate our message to her husband.
Senator Thompson said that he will be back to New Hampshire, and when he does, he will undoubtedly hear from ONE members that it is time to make poverty history.”
Today’s Iowa ONE Vote ’08 launch was a great success not only for
Iowa but for the entire campaign so far. People from far reaches of
the state and beyond came out to help us kick off this great campaign
including Iowa native Jessica Vanden Berg who has been out in D.C.
running things for us.
It started off with a great performance by Tubabu, an African percussion band
that played before the speakers took the stage. Gov. Terry Branstad welcomed
the crowd to the event and spoke a few words about the importance of the campaign before
turning it over to Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson who emphasized the importance of
educating the public on these issues so that we can come together as one to help fight for the issues.
After Lt. Gov. Pederson, Natalie Sugira took the podium and told a
very heart felt story about her journey from Rwanda to the United
States back in 1990 and how she lost close family members to the
genocide in Rwanda. She spoke of friends of hers that managed to
survive the genocide only to die from HIV/AIDS to put a human face on
the struggle that we are fighting for.
Overall, about 100+ people were in attendance with many expressing their excitement and anxiousness
to start helping our campaign in anyway possible.
Perhaps the most unique part of the morning was seeing republican and
democratic presidential campaigns stand side by side at tables we had
set up for them to promote their candidate. It could have made for
some tense moments but everyone handled it in a very professional
manner. We in Iowa look forward to adding to the already great
successes of the ONE Campaign over the course of the next several
months.
Yesterday, I attended an office party in Columbia at the new South Carolina headquarters for John Edwards. The senator and his wife answered questions from different office and house parties from around the country via teleconferencing. He is an avid fan of ONE, and he stressed the moral imperative of ending global poverty, with education, improving sanitation, and economic development as corner stones of his initiative.
Several of the people attending the event were quite impressed with his commitment to fight global AIDS and poverty, particularly those who were with the South Carolina Campaign to End AIDS. After the teleconference ended I took a picture with the Edwards staffers and several attendees all proudly displaying their ONE Bands.
For those of you in DC, Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson will participate in a live, televised forum tonight at Howard University. We are trying to get tickets, but they are very limited, so keep reading for how you can make an impact with ONE Vote ’08.
ONE’s membership is working to end extreme poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. We know our next president must support these goals as well, so let’s give these presidential candidates a message when they arrive at Howard University tonight. Each ONE volunteer will get one sign that says one of the following words, “What will you do to end extreme poverty and AIDS?” The candidates will read the signs much like a billboard as he or she drives past the volunteers.
We need volunteers from 7 pm to 8:30 pm tonight. For more info, email me at Ranna@one.org.
