Merry McCain Monday

Sen. John McCain was in New Hampshire on Monday and I caught up with him with some ONE members at a noontime stop at a Concord, NH local pub.

I gathered with ONE members Andrea, Lindsay and Concord Republican chair - and NH ONE Ambassador, Jeff Newman. Sen. McCain made his way through the bar and instantly recognized us and yelled out, “ONE!” like he was seeing an old friend. He thanked us for being there and commended the work we were doing in NH.

Because there were so many people in the restaurant we did not have much time to speak with him, but I snapped a picture on his way out the door. You can see NH ONE State Director Neil Levesque to his left and NH ONE Ambassador Jeff Newman (who always sports his ONE band) behind the Senator.

Afterward, I was able to speak with former Gov. and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, who is campaigning with Sen. McCain and was having lunch at the bar. After introducing myself, I spoke with him about PEPFAR and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. He stressed the importance of US humanitarian efforts around the world. He told me that it is a very important component of our foreign policy, and even more, he said it also reflects the values of our country. We also spoke about Sen. Brownback, who endorsed Sen. McCain, and has worked hard in the Senate to fully fund the MCC.

Here in New Hampshire, ONE is crossing party preferences and even candidate preferences, to unite as ONE to celebrate and encourage US efforts to save lives in the most desperate places on earth.

-Matthew Bartlett, Regional ONE Organizer

Bluff Road ONE Sabbath

The weekend of November 23 - 25 was the first ever ONE Sabbath weekend, in the pilot of year of what we hope will become a major expression of the impact of people and communities of faith in the fight against extreme poverty and global disease.

ONE members across the country downloaded materials from our faith resource page ONE.org/faith and organized services and group activities in their houses of worship. A recap of Bluff Road African Methodist Episcopal Church’s ONE Sabbath in Columbia, South Carolina is below.

On Sunday, November 25, I attended services at Bluff Road AME Church in Columbia, the home church of ONE Vote ’08 SC ambassador Leon Love. Pastor Ellis White led a brief presentation about the One Campaign. He shared with his congregation of 100 plus members that during this holiday season we need to be mindful of those in other countries who are suffering from poverty and disease.  After referencing numerous bible verses and praising the One Campaign, he invited me to address the congregation.  I discussed the importance of fighting poverty and how clean water can save thousands of lives.  I stressed the need to elect a President who cares about eradicating poverty, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and pneumonia, and educating all children.  I also thanked Pastor White for representing South Carolina on our national media call to promote One Sabbath activities.

-Bianca Crawford

Historic $2.4B Aid Increase Passes House!

Last night the House voted to pass the Senate’s version of the fiscal year 2008 omnibus spending bill,

The legislation includes a historic $2.4 billion increase for global poverty programs - money that will literally save thousands of lives.

Happy Holidays.

-Virginia Simmons

ONE to one - Letter 5!

ONE member Brianna Shepard from Santa Monica, CA, wrote this letter to a likely Iowa caucus-goer. We liked the letter so much that we’re amplifying her voice by mailing it to 8,000 more Iowans.

I am writing you from Santa Monica California, a long way from Iowa. You may have guessed in this political season that this is a political note — it is, but with a different message which I am hopeful you will read.
In this letter I am not asking you to vote for a particular candidate, or even a party. I am asking you, a fellow citizen, to take a few minutes to consider extreme poverty and global disease and how our presidential candidates plan to put the leadership of our great country to work, to help millions of people around the world lift themselves out of poverty.

As a concerned ONE member, an organization with 2.4 million members including thousands in Iowa, I am asking you to find out where the candidates stand on issues of extreme poverty and global disease by visiting ONE Action’s On The Record campaign at www.onevote08.org/otr which has video from the presidential candidates and a tool that lets you compare their plans to achieve the following goals:

• Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis;
• Eradicating malaria;
• Improving child and maternal health;
• Achieving universal primary education;
• Cutting in half the number of people without clean water or enough food.

Helping people help themselves, by ending extreme poverty and global disease, is the right thing to do, no matter which candidate you vote for. So, when you go into your caucus, I ask you to please think about which candidate has the best plan to tackle these important issues and to help change our entire world for the better.

Thank you for your concern.

Sincerely,
Brianna Shepard, ONE member
Santa Monica, CA

ONE to one - Letter 4!

ONE member Jillian Slater of Minneapolis’s letter to Iowa caucus-goers.

I’m not going to be caucusing on January 3rd. In fact, I don’t live in Iowa and I’ve never met you. I’m not a member of the U.S. government, or being paid to send out a mass letter to a number of people on a list. I’m a hair stylist from Minnesota, a typical 9-5er, so to speak, and I’m taking the time to write to you today because there is an issue that I care deeply about.

I’m not asking you to vote for a particular candidate, or even a party. I’m just hoping you’ll take a few minutes to learn about extreme poverty and global disease and how the presidential candidates plan to put American leadership to work to help millions of people around the world lift themselves out of poverty.

I know it’s hard to involve yourself in such an issue when it doesn’t hit close to home, but it shouldn’t have to! Imagine yourself in their position…no way out. If we find it necessary to get involved with issues in Iraq and the Middle East as a whole, why should we not take concern with the masses of people around the world hurting as a result of poverty and disease? I’m not a saint, or anything close to it, I just have a heart that beats with a passion for those less fortunate. I know you do to. You have an amazing chance to do something about it.
ONE has put together a pretty interesting website called On The Record www.onevote08.org/otr with video from the presidential candidates and a tool that lets you compare their plans to achieve the following goals:

• Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis;
• Eradicating malaria;
• Improving child and maternal health;
• Achieving universal primary education;
• Cutting in half the number of people without clean water or enough food.

Ending extreme poverty and global disease is the right thing to do, will make the world a safer place and is within our power. When you go into your caucus, think about which candidate has the best plan to tackle these issues and to help change our world for the better. Remember, it’s not as far from home as you may think. Please reach inside your heart and take action… It’s up to you!

Sincerely,
Jillian Slater, ONE Member
Minneapolis, IN

ONE to one - Letter 3!

ONE member Pamela Kombe of Kissimmee, FL, wrote this letter to a likely Iowa caucus-goer as part of our “ONE to one” campaign. We thought it was great and decided to maximize her voice by mailing to 8,000 more Iowans.

My name is Pamela Kombe. I’m writing today to talk about extreme poverty and global disease - issues I care deeply about.

First let me tell you I grew up in a suburb of Pittsburgh, slightly upper middle class. In the beginning I saw my parents struggle and I thought we were poor. But as I grew up, I understood more about poverty. In 2004 I married a man from Kenya, Africa, a wonderful man, with strong family values and an unbelievable work ethic. This man knew first hand of poverty in its ugliest meaning. All of my husband’s family still lives in Kenya, the challenges they face everyday are unlike anything you and I could ever imagine.

To imagine your own mother missing meals for days, to be sick with malaria, and not be able to get the medication because it’s so expensive. To not have clean drinking water. To watch her 25 yr old son die of AIDS, in an agonizing way that is preventable with affordable medical care. These are things we deal with, and we do everything we can to make their life easier in any way possible.

As a concerned ONE member, an organization with 2.4 million members including thousands in Iowa, I am asking you to find out where the candidates stand on issues of extreme poverty and global disease by visiting ONE Action’s On The Record campaign at www.onevote08.org/otr<. This is a way that you can have a say in the life of someone not as fortunate as you and I.

You may have seen ONE members at campaign events or our ads in newspapers or on TV. We're committed to making sure the next president of the United States is a strong leader in the struggle to end global poverty, and I hope you will join us and caucus for the candidate that you think has the best plan.

Sincerely,
Pamela Kombe, ONE Member
Kissimmee, FL