Sen. Hillary Clinton was campaigning in Somersworth, NH, yesterday and I just got this amazing ONE story and video from Michael Castaldo! Go ONE!
-Matthew Bartlett, ONE Regional Organizer
“The senator’s voice was ailing so she kept her comments brief and had two mics set up to take questions. When she announced ‘question time’ several people rushed to one mic – I walked to the other. I was so excited to have the opportunity that my hands were shaking, and I left my tripod in my seat… this left me with the choice of a shaky video, or focusing on my question and no video. So I chose the latter and tried to calm down and get it out right.
I spoke about the one million people that die each year from malaria – death from a mosquito bite. I mentioned that Bill Gates himself praised US efforts to fight malaria around the world, and he urged all the candidates support and expand the Presidential Malaria Initiative. I asked how her administration would address global malaria. As soon as I finished, the senator recalled me to the mic to speak about the ONE Campaign in front of the entire crowd.
After I explained our 2.4 million people movement, I began filming.
I even got to pass a ONE band to Senator Clinton via our NH ONE Ambassador Bill Shaheen.”
Sen. Fred Thompson was in Dover, NH, yesterday afternoon and stopped in at a local restaurant. Since Dover is the hometown of ONE’s Marine, Michael Castaldo, he was there to represent for ONE and the world’s poorest people. He sent me this great ONE story:
“Thanks to my ability to make friends, and buy expensive bottles of wine, ‘Koz’ – Chris Kozlowski the chef and owner of the ‘Orchard Street Chop House’ was glad to see me. And as a chef myself, I have had more than one personal tour of his kitchen and restaurant, so I knew the back entrance as well as the front. This enabled me to position myself where I knew Sen. Thompson would be coming in and ‘band’ him there.
In the hour before Fred arrived, I talked to his advance staffers and they had some great things to say about ONE and our professionalism. Fred finally walked in, and after banding him, one of his staffers said “you guys are everywhere”! I said, “Thank you for noticing”! The senator was kind enough to pose for a picture but because I did not have the flash turned on, it is too dark to be of much use. I am attaching it anyway.”
From the Main Streets to the back room kitchens, you never know where you will find ONE! Way to go Michael.
Today is a special day in New Hampshire. Not only is it debate day for the 2008 GOP presidential candidates, but it is also ONE’s Marine, Michael Castaldo’s birthday! So he will be trading his ONE shirt for a suit tonight and will be attending the GOP Debate as a special guest of the ONE Campaign.
Michael – your service to our country, our world, and to ONE is inspiring and empowering. You are a tireless campaigner for the world’s poorest people, and have helped lead the way for ONE Vote ’08 in the Granite State.
You are a hero, and on your birthday we say thank you and wish you many more!
ONE’s Marine Michael Castaldo got a hot tip that Mayor Rudy Giuliani was going to make an appearance at Chowerfest in New Castle, NH and sent me this amazing email:
“Well it was a hot one and for a chowder fest and that does not bode well. Since I was early, I put myself to use and helped set out the cold drinks and get the tables ready for the chowder. When it was time to serve the chowder I was the one ladling it out of the massive pots into the chaffing dishes for service by the proud chefs.
In between I went around saying hello to the many guests that had assembled, and making sure the host’s family, and the Rudy staffers were banded. I found myself as usual at these events bumping into a few other former marines and as is also usual, we ended up congregated in a corner, and this time we talked about the ONE Campaign. Each marine in turn told his version of why extreme poverty and its eradication was the key to national security. Each of them would gladly re-up and serve alongside the other – you could see it in their eyes…
Moments later the wives, standing along side each other, shook their heads in agreement and almost in unison said “that’s what you are always saying honey”. Then one former marine said “Africa is the key” – I swear it was not me. He had never heard of the ONE campaign before.
As for the mayor – I was able to thank him for the comments he made during his speech on international affairs recently. I told him “I think you have taken a page out of the ONE Campaign’s play book” – he smiled broadly and said “The ONE Campaign has it right”. He then was kind enough to pose for a picture accepting a ONE band…”
The fight against global disease and global extreme poverty is not an easy job – but with the help of ONE’s Marine Michael, and all 2.4 million ONE members, we can save millions of lives around the world by lending our talents and voice to ONE Vote ’08. This is our chance to make poverty history.
ONE is campaigning to ensure that the Congressional budget does not cut foreign assistance programs like Feed the Future that help people break the cycle of poverty and hunger.
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