December 20th, 2007 at 11:39 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
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/otrwith 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
December 20th, 2007 at 11:38 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
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.
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.
December 20th, 2007 at 11:35 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
ONE member Ray O’Boyle of Rheems, PA, wrote this note to a likely Iowa voter.
My name is Ray O’Boyle and I’m from Pennsylvania. I know it’s pretty far from Iowa, but I have been watching both political parties’ debates recently especially the one in your state the other day. I am writing because you folks will contribute to the direction the campaigns focus on from your caucuses. I am concerned about the direction the next administration takes in regards to the poorest of us throughout the world. The issues of extreme poverty, global disease, and intervening in regional genocide are very important to me and many Americans who are members of ONE. I am requesting you to find out where the candidates stand on these issues before you decide who you’re backing. Please visit www.onevote08.org/otr to see what position the candidates support.
The United States probably contributes more resources to help other people throughout the world than any other country. I think we truly need to continue to aid people in extreme poverty. It is a great humanitarian legacy to be proud of.
We are all part of global humanity. I believe we can make a difference. It is a privilege to continue to take the lead throughout the world in these efforts as a country.
Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate your efforts in continuing the traditions of government by the people and for the people. I intend to vote my conscience when my opportunity comes here in Pennsylvania too.
December 20th, 2007 at 11:31 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
Last week, ONE members wrote letters to Iowa caucus-goers to urge them to choose the presidential candidate with the best plan to fight extreme poverty.
When all was said and done, five were so excellent that we’ve decided to increase the power of those authors by sending their letters to 40,000 Iowans.
Below, is the first of the five, from ONE member Alex in Concord, Mass:
I hope this letter finds you well! Before I say anything else, I want you to know that this isn’t an “automated” letter. It’s been written personally by me, just for you.
You see, I’m part of an organization called ONE, and our leaders asked us all to write a personal letter to be sent to someone in Iowa about making a difference in the world. So you are the only one receiving this specific letter, though many people in Iowa will be getting a similar one.
I know, I know. You don’t have time to read this. You’re busy. You’ve got a spouse or a boyfriend or girlfriend. Maybe you have kids. A dog. A cat. I know I’m busy. But please take the time to hear me out:
Global poverty and disease are enormous issues. They affect millions. But you, friend, can make a difference!
As an Iowa voter, you have the privilege of representing your political party, your state and your country when Iowa holds the first in the nation presidential nominating contest. I don’t care if you vote Republican, Democrat, Green, Libertarian, or anything else. I just want you to make a choice that will be beneficial to the millions waiting for you to make it.
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. We have asked the candidates to tell us their thoughts, and many have personally responded to ONE!
So check it out. Make a good choice. I really hope you want to make a difference!
Oh, and by the way–if this interests you, join ONE! It’s amazing what this campaign has done. You can always shoot me an email or a letter too if you want.
We had a couple of great opportunities to meet with the Obama campaign last week.
On Monday, Senator Obama was in Las Vegas to rally students and young voters. During the event he spoke about the need to help the world’s poor by fighting HIV AIDS and educating children who don’t have access to free education.
After Obama spoke I was able to shake his hand and thank him for going “on the record” for ONE. He said, “Absolutely, I was happy to do it. It’s important.”
On Saturday the Obama campaign and the ONE UNLV Club held a foreign policy forum with Samantha Power. Samantha is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, a professor at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government, and a senior advisor for Senator Obama.
She spoke extensively about US foreign policy, Darfur, and about the ONE Campaign’s goals to eradicate extreme poverty and disease. Many of our volunteers were able attend and engage in a great discussion about why the issues of global disease, hunger, child & maternal health, and education should be a priority for the next president.
Samantha had just returned from speaking to our fellow ONE members in South Carolina and we were happy that she took some time to visit us in Nevada as well!
On Saturday morning I attended a rally for Governor Mike Huckabee at Lizard’s Thicket (yes, this is a restaurant!) in Columbia, SC. It was our first encounter with the Governor since he went “On The Record” for ONE.
I thanked him for participating. He told me that he enjoyed the opportunity and said that making the presidential candidates go on the record about our issues is a great idea. Although we were not able to take a photo with him, we did present him another ONE band, which he gladly accepted it.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:59 am | posted by Virginia Simmons
Throughout November 2007, ONE members sent tens of thousands of petitions to the presidential candidates asking them to go on the record with their plans to combat extreme poverty and global disease.
Now we have their replies - and we’ve put them into ONE Action’s brand new “On The Record”website.
Use the site to watch each of the candidates’ personal video responses to ONE members and their 50-word plans on:
* Reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis;
* Eradicating malaria;
* Improving child and maternal health;
* Achieving universal primary education; and
* Cutting in half the number of people without clean water or enough food.
Then, use ONE Action’s “On The Record” tool to compare up to three candidates’ plans and send that comparison to your friends.
You may have noticed that a few candidates haven’t sent in all of their materials yet. If you haven’t already, sign the petition and urge them to send in their plans.
By getting every candidate to go on the record, we’ll be able to be smart voters as we head to the polls, and no matter whose elected in 2008, we’ll be able to hold the next president of the United States accountable to his or her plan.
(I’ll go ahead and post a bunch of their plans and videos next.)
November 29th, 2007 at 2:17 pm | posted by Aaron.Banks
Libby is back at it, delivering On the Record petitions to the Ron Paul and Rudy Giuliani campaigns in Iowa. Great work, Libby! Check back here often to find out the latest on the campaign and how you can get the presidential candidates to go on the record and commit to fighting extreme poverty and global disease.
November 28th, 2007 at 2:43 pm | posted by Weldon Kennedy
For the last few weeks we have been turning on the heat for the presidential candidates to tell us exactly what, if elected, they would do fight extreme poverty and global disease.
So far this “On the Record” campaign has been stunningly successful as we’ve delivered more that 55,000 petition signatures to each of the campaigns. But if we’re going to get all of the presidential candidates to take this challenge and make the On the Record campaign a success, we need to go all out. It’s phone call time.
To make a call:
1. Go to ONE.org/OnTheRecordCalls/
2. Use the drop down menu to look up candidate’s numbers.
3. Use the talking points to help you with your call.
4. Fill out the form and check off each candidate you called.
This is a huge chance to make a real difference in the fight against poverty. If we can get all the candidates to make commitments to fighting poverty now, before the primaries and caucuses, we stand a good chance of our next president being dedicated to our cause.
The ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, volunteers, members and coalition partners.
The content of each post and each comment represent the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of the ONE Campaign or ONE Action. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any posts expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.
