Down in Downingtown with the McCains

Cindy and John McCain were just about to leave a rally in Downingtown, PA but stopped when they saw my ONE shirt! They came back around and I gave both of them white wristbands, thanking them for their support. Mrs. McCain commented on how much she enjoyed her trip to Rwanda with ONE this summer and Senator McCain thanked me and all of the ONE volunteers he sees at his rallies across the country for being advocates for the world’s poor.

Every voice in the fight against global poverty really does count, whether you have a national podium or a black and white ONE t-shirt in a crowd.

-Lauren Conn

Governor Palin in New Hampshire

This week, Gov. Palin made her first trip to campaign in New Hampshire. And just like every candidate before her since late 2006, she was greeted by ONE members from all over the Granite State celebrating our nation’s efforts to save lives in the developing world, and asking the next President to accelerate these historic and heroic efforts.

In Dover, ONE’s Marine, Michael Castaldo made it out to the campaign rally with his son Louis. Although they did not get a chance to speak directly with Gov. Palin, Michael was able to snag a quick photo with NH’s Senator Sununu, who most ONE members know from his work as an original co-sponsor of the newest global AIDS, TB, and Malaria Bill called PEPFAR.

Later on, I caught up with Gov. Palin with some ONE members in Laconia. We were poised and ready with ONE bands but unfortunately did not get a chance to speak with her. Either way, I’m sure that she saw our ONE shirts in the crowd!

As we head into the final days, ONE members everywhere should be proud of all the efforts we have collectively taken in this election cycle to make sure that the next President of the United States leads the fight against global disease and extreme poverty. From taking action online, to letter writing, to meeting the candidates at various campaign rallies, we are raising our voices together as ONE, with the world’s poorest people.

-Matthew Bartlett

HRC in PA

I went with a crew of ONE volunteers to a rally in Horsham, PA featuring Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Governor Ed Rendell, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz to thank Governor Rendell for recently signing the proclamation making PA a State of ONE!

I handed the governor a ONE band and he kept it on up until the point he waved goodbye to supporters from his car.

Mayor Nutter stopped by to talk about making Philadelphia a City of ONE - which we hope to accomplish with his staff in the coming weeks!

-Lauren Conn

New (Hampshire) Biden Sighting

Sen. Joe Biden was in New Hampshire yesterday to campaign in Dover and Manchester. ONE’s Marine, Michael Castaldo made it out of bed early for the world’s poorest people and caught up with Sen. Biden at the Dover event. He was able to briefly speak with Sen. Biden, who was one of the original co-sponsors of the new global AIDS, TB, and Malaria bill- called PEPFAR- that President Bush signed a few months ago. Michael even snapped a quick photo with him on the way out.

In Manchester, I caught up with Sen. Biden with some ONE members too. After his speech, we made a quick dash to the rope line and we were able to briefly thank him and celebrate the new PEPFAR bill. We also encouraged him to accelerate efforts to save lives around the world by providing full funding for the Millennium Challenge Corporation - a new and more efficient way of creating partnerships in development between the US and desperately poor nations.

Our efforts to save lives in highly impoverished countries reflect the best of American values and traditions. But it is also a very wise effort to help make more friends and allies around the world and prevent further instability and despair.

-Matthew Bartlett

ONE takes over Pennsylvania!

Greetings from Pennsylvania! Yesterday we had a historic day with the Pennsylvania State Legislature. The PA House and Senate both passed resolutions declaring October 16th as “ONE Campaign Day” in Pennsylvania! The resolutions also recognized the ONE Campaign’s advocacy, issues, and efforts to combat global poverty and disease. House resolution 918 and Senate resolution 404 passed yesterday with overwhelming support!

To highlight these achievements a press conference was held in the Harrisburg Capitol’s Main Rotunda. PA Senators Wayne Fontana and Vince Hughes made remarks and are the primary sponsors for SR 404. PA Representatives Curtis Thomas and William Kortz– the primary sponsors for HR 918—also spoke along with Representative Mike Vereb. We were also very fortunate to have one of our PA Co-Chairs Senator Harris Wofford attend our event and make special remarks on behalf of Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll. Both Senator Wofford and the Lt. Governor are champions for ONE’s initiatives.

We were also joined by Northern Lebanon High School’s student council and volunteers from Alvernia College and Lebanon Valley College. Our volunteers were FANTASTIC! The day before this event I received a letter from Governor Ed Rendell declaring Pennsylvania as a ONE State! We proudly displayed the letter—found below– at the press event along with the proclamations from Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll and Mayor Stephen Reed of Harrisburg. All in all, this was a busy and amazing week for ONE in PA loaded with special achievements! We had our capitol city declared a ONE City, our state made a ONE State, and two resolutions pass from the state legislature forever making October 16th as “ONE Campaign Day” in PA! Our volunteers were already talking about ways they could raise awareness in honor of ONE Campaign Day in PA! Great work everyone!

-Brian Sweeney, ONE Vote 08 Field Organizer

PS- WHP CBS 21 News was there to cover the event. Click on the image below to view.

Click “Read More” to view Governor Rendell’s letter.

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No Debate

The presidential debate is moments away. Given this weak economic climate, there is very real concern that the presidential candidates may backtrack on the smart and historic commitments they’ve made to fight extreme poverty and global disease.

It’s up to us to make it clear that we want no debate about backing away from those promises. Click here to sign the below petition asking Barack Obama and John McCain to keep their commitments to fighting global poverty.

Senators John McCain and Barack Obama,

As you work to find a solution to the global financial crisis, please do not waver in your support for the world’s poorest people. It is now more important than ever to stand up for effective, efficient solutions that save millions of lives, strengthen the global economy, and win the hearts and minds of people around the world. I’m keeping my commitment to fight global poverty, and I ask you to do the same.

Thank you for your voice,

Chris Scott

Mayor Stephen Reed has AgREED to make Harrisburg a ONE City!

Hello from Pennsylvania! On October 1st, ONE volunteers Dan Donmoyer, Abbey Fisher, and I convened at Mayor Stephen Reed’s office to witness him declare our capitol city of Harrisburg a ONE City! The Mayor also agreed to be an ambassador for our ONE Vote ‘08 platform. Mayor Reed was very informed on our issues and understood the importance of helping those most vulnerable in the world.

He also added that it is certainly in our country’s best interest to lead the fight against extreme poverty because things that happen in foreign countries can affect us here at home. Our volunteers were very happy and excited to witness this historic proclamation. AND this is just in time for Tuesday, October 7th when the PA state legislature will declare October 16th as “ONE Campaign Day” in Pennsylvania!

-Brian Sweeney, ONE Field Organizer

Obama and McCain’s Plans

Foreign policy advisors to Sens. Obama and McCain lay out both candidates’ policy objectives for Africa in two separate articles posted on allAfrica.com. The articles are excerpted from remarks made at a recent National Press Club Forum, “U.S.-Africa Policy Agenda and the Next Administration.”

Check ‘em out:

• Obama’s Three Objectives for Continent, by Witney W. Schneidman, an adviser on Africa to Obama
• McCain’s Vision for Freedom, Peace and Prosperity, by J. Peter Pham, a foreign policy and national security advisor

-Steve Wilson

ONE meets up with Jill Biden and Michelle Obama in Philly!

Spirits remained high, even after waiting in lines for 2 hours, to represent ONE at a “Change We Need” Rally in Philadelphia with guests of honor, Michelle Obama and Jill Biden. When we met up with Jill Biden, we were able to hand-deliver a familiar gift. Dr. Biden laughed as she put on her ONE wristband thanking me because she had left her “ONE bands at home.” I think her laugh had something to do with the fact that it was the THIRD band I had given her in two weeks!

Dr. Biden has spent a lot of time in the Philadelphia area lately and ONE volunteers have been there thanking her for her support every step of the way! Perhaps she discussed her multiple campaign trail run-ins with ONE with Ms. Obama who will hopefully receive just as many ONE bands from PA volunteers before November 4!

-Lauren Conn

Obama Talks Global Poverty to CGI

Senator Obama just addressed the Clinton Global Initiative via a live satellite feed and spoke of his commitment to embrace the Millennium Development Goals, “erase” the global education gap, and advance global health.

Below, an excerpt and video from his remarks.

(Senator McCain spoke at CGI a couple of hours ago, and we covered it here.)

We all have a stake in reducing poverty. There is suffering across the globe that doesn’t need to be tolerated in the 21st century. And it leads to pockets of instability that provide fertile breeding grounds for threats like terror and the smuggling of deadly weapons that cannot be contained by the drawing of a border or the distance of an ocean. These aren’t simply disconnected corners of an interconnected world. That is why the second commitment that I will make is embracing the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015.

This will take more resources from the United States, and as President I will increase our foreign assistance to provide them. But resources must be focused on the right priorities. No one wants to put good money after bad, or ignore the underlying causes at the root of these problems.

We shouldn’t just settle for a status quo – anywhere – where you can’t start a business without paying a bribe. Corruption wastes our tax dollars. It also ruins lives. This is a human rights issue, and we need to treat it like one.

We shouldn’t help those in need without helping them help themselves. That’s why I’ll partner with the private sector in creating a new fund for Small and Medium Enterprise, so we’re investing in ideas that can create growth and jobs in the developing world.

Above all, we must do our part to see that all children have the basic right to learn. There is nothing more disappointing than a child denied the hope that comes with going to school, and there is nothing more dangerous than a child who is taught to distrust and then to destroy.

That’s why the third commitment I’ll make is working to erase the global primary education gap by 2015. Every child – every boy, and every girl – should have the ability to go to school. To ensure that our nation does its part to meet that goal, we need to establish a two billion dollar Global Education Fund. And I look forward to signing the bipartisan Education for All Act that was first introduced by Hillary Clinton – a true champion for children.

Finally, we must continue the progress that’s been made to advance the cause of global health. I’ve been proud to support the PEPFAR program. I think (more…)