Gov. Richardson
Aug 17th, 2007 10:25 AM UTC
By Field
What are the Iowa State Fair Soapboxes?
A twenty minute opportunity for presidential candidates to tell the crowded Iowa State Fair what they will do for our country. Rep. Duncan Hunter, Sen. John McCain, and Governor Bill Richardson were amongst the participants for the first week of the State Fair.
These candidates were hit with tough questions from ONE members about America’s role in eradicating TB and malaria and creating access to the medication needed for HIV/AIDS patients. All responded with different strong solutions. With each question ONE members asked the candidates, the crowd shouted cheers of support!
-Deborah Helsen, Iowa ONE volunteer
This week I visited the new campaign headquarters for Governor Bill Richardson in Columbia, South Carolina.
I received a warm welcome from Political Director James D. Dukes, Jr., who also wore a ONE shirt and wristband. Not only was Mr. Dukes enthusiastic about Richardson’s commitment to ONE issues, he also said every Democratic candidate should focus on these areas of critical concern.
A central part of Richardson’s foreign policy platform calls for the United States to serve as a leader in the global fight against poverty, with a special emphasis on fulfilling the Millennium Development Goals through international cooperation.
-Mekell Mikell, SC Co-Field Director
Aug 8th, 2007 10:18 AM UTC
By Field
This week, Juliet Reid and I attended the New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson’s Presidential “Job Interview” at the University of Iowa campus. After a brief speech outlining his qualifications, Gov. Richardson took questions from the audience. When asked about the HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa, Gov. Richardson stated that the US, needs to become part of an international community that deals with these issues and that the U.S. can’t afford to NOT give more in development aid.
He mentioned that entrepreneurial initiatives would be one way to help Africa help themselves. He also mentioned ONE co-founder Bono, saying:
“You know why Bono is so popular? Bono went around and told countries how we are saddling all these [less developed] countries with debt. He
said ‘Lets forgive the debt and help with creating infrastructure and help them.’ This is the way to go.”
He also commented that increasing accessibility to generic drugs would be something that would help African nations combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.
We were happy to see that several of his staff members were wearing ONE bands, and they helped so that we got to talk to the Governor about ONE
and hand him a band. The Governor was happy to see us there in our ONE shirts, discussing the issues and graciously posed for a photo.
-Claudia Espinosa, Iowa ONE volunteer
A formal meet and greet was held today in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, by Robert Burton and the East Cooper Democrats for Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico. The debate tonight is fast approaching and candidates are beginning to pepper the low country.
We were received well by the host and what turned out to be a good many people who were well aware of the ONE Campaign and our efforts. While waiting for the governor’s appearance, we were able to answer an assortment of questions about ONE Vote ’08.
Finally appearing to the crowd, Gov. Richardson worked his way around the room shaking hands until he reached us, and exclaimed with a loud voice, “ONE!! It is great to see you guys!”
The governor talked about many issues important to his candidacy, but what I was impressed with most was the way he spoke about the role of the United States in the fight against AIDS and the duty we have to combat extreme poverty. Read his recent endorsement of ONE.
Last weekend, ONE volunteers went to Sen. Chris Dodd’s Vegas office opening, Gov. Bill Richardson’s Reno office opening, and a BBQ with Elizabeth Edwards.
At the Dodd event, I spoke with the senator and thanked him for his support on the Foreign Operations budget this year. He spoke about the need to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa and recalled some experiences from his time in the Peace Corps.
Reno ONE volunteers attended Bill Richardson’s Northern Nevada office opening. They thanked him for his commitment in the fight against extreme poverty – and for his endorsement of ONE Vote ’08.
Gov. Richardson mentioned that everywhere he goes, ONE volunteers are always there to greet him.
Thurdsay night, Democratic presidential candidates Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, John Edwards, Mike Gravel, Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and Bill Richardson participated in a live, televised forum at Howard University.
ONE volunteers seized this opportunity to send these presidential candidates a message when they arrived at the forum. Each volunteer got one sign that said one of the following words, “What will you do to end extreme poverty and AIDS?” We set up across from a sea of presidential candidate supporters and signs. We could tell that lots of people were intrigued by our unique message. Cars slowed down while they passed us on busy Georgia Avenue to see what we had to say! Our group traveled a few blocks down the sidewalk (in order!), shouting our message so other groups saw us, too. A few limos and town cars with dark tinted windows passed by us, so we can only speculate on who may have been inside!
An hour into our demonstration, our shouting was overpowered by a torrential storm, but that didn’t stop us until our signs were dripping ink and unintelligible!
This was just one of many times the candidates and their supporters will see ONE in the crowd urging both to make ending extreme poverty and AIDS a top priority in the 2008 elections.
By the way, a similar forum with the Republican candidates will occur in September at Morgan State University in Baltimore. Read more on the presidential forums here.
We had some great experiences in Nevada recently.
Many of our ONE members in Reno were able to attend the Hillary Clinton town hall meeting at Hug High School, including Ryan Dhindsa along with his brother Kyle and father Hardeep.
Ryan is an 8th grade student in Reno; after seeing a movie about poverty in Africa last year, Ryan had a strong desire to help raise awareness. Ryan and his classmate have raised thousands of dollars to help eradicate poverty. Ryan’s father, Dr. Hardeep Dhindsa, is a local surgeon who donates his time and skills each year in Africa performing surgeries. Upon hearing about this dynamic family Senator Clinton’s staff made sure that Senator Clinton had a chance to meet Hardeep, Ryan, Kyle as representatives of ONE.
All three were able to meet privately with Senator Clinton to discuss ONE and give her a ONE wristband which she immediately put on.
Bill Richardson was also in Carson City recently where he held a town hall meet and greet.
Richardson spoke at length about global poverty. In reference to the role of the president as an international leader, Richardson said, “We need to be concerned about helping the poor nations throughout the world. We need to focus our efforts on issues like international poverty and AIDS.”
Governor Richardson and his staff have been very helpful to ONE in Nevada. The Richardson staff even spent time handing out ONE wristbands at a union rally in March.
John Edwards visited Las Vegas last week for a town hall at UNLV.
A local ONE activist gave Edwards a ONE wristband at the VIP meet and greet and Edwards enthusiastically showed it off at the forum.
Our ONE members were given front row seats and cheered as Edwards spoke passionately about the moral duty we have to eradicate poverty at home and abroad. The local Edwards staff also sported the ONE band and let our local organizers sign up new members at the door.
