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Obama rally in Naples was one of 100 in state
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Barack Obama supporters hit the streets of Naples on Saturday to spread the word about their choice for president.
The event was part of a statewide canvassing kickoff and was one of about 100 such events held Saturday in communities throughout Florida.
More than 35 volunteers showed up at 10 a.m. for the first shift of the event. Campaign staff gave those attending a training session and sent them out to knock on doors of potential voters.
The diverse group of Naples canvassers split into pairs to cover about 100 homes during their shift. Each gave their own reason for becoming involved in the Obama campaign.
“I’m from Jamaica where politics are so corrupt,” said Garth Scott, who works as a server and is an Obama backer. “Coming here and having an opportunity to get involved with professional politicians – I feel it’s my duty to volunteer and give back.”
Canvassers each had a list of names of people to speak with and voter registration forms to hand out to people they interacted with who aren’t yet registered.
“In Naples we’re asking volunteers to talk about what Obama can offer the area,” said Alejandro Miyar, regional communications director for the Obama campaign. “For Naples, it’s an area that like the rest of Florida isn’t in the wonderful situation that it was during the time of a Democratic presidency.”
Volunteers weren’t given scripts to follow while talking to people. The main instructions were to introduce themselves as Obama supporters, find out where individuals stand on the candidates and what is important to them right now.
For Margi Wood, who works in elderly companion care, getting out to talk to people about Obama is important because she feels it’s time for change.
“I feel like we’ve had a lot of the same issues -- way too much war for way too many years, the economy going down, and the environment,” Wood said. “I’m hopeful that Obama can address all those issues in a different way than it’s been happening.”
Many of the volunteers seemed to agree with Wood on the issue of change.
“I think we definitely need a change from the family politics,” Scott said. “The Republican Party appears to be a family of too many ‘yes’ men.”
With a slogan of “Change We Can Believe In,” the Obama campaign will be working to convince more people in the area that he is the right choice for voters.
“Naples is an area that in the past Democrats thought we shouldn’t compete in,” Miyar said.
Now the presumptive Democratic Party nominee plans to open a campaign office in downtown Naples in the next few weeks.
“We feel that we can gain traction (with Naples voters),” Miyar said.
That’s what the volunteer canvassers are hoping to help the campaign do.
“I was reluctant to come today because maybe I’m not that well-informed, but I decided to volunteer to meet like-minded people who are out for a good cause,” Wood said. “Doing this as a group makes a difference rather than trying to do it on your own.”
Contact Catherine Howden at catherine.howden@gmail.com
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I looooove Margi Wood's comments.
GO OBAMA!
Currently, there's a DEMOCRATs OFFICE on Fifth Ave. and there's an OBAMA rep. from his campaign waiting to answer any questions from Naples residents and visitors to Naples.
Maybe he'll open three more offices around town.
His campaign is so in touch with society, and today's event will prove to be the start of many exciting interactions here.
Looking forward to meeting his wife in Ft. Myers at the end of the month, too.
#1 Posted by beetlejuice on July 19, 2008 at 8:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BIG RED!!! Down with the Libs!!!
#2 Posted by The_Brooks on July 19, 2008 at 9:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yomama Hussein Who?
Is he a Pakistani politician?
Will he be visiting the States anytime soon?
Has our President Bush approved his visit?
What did the Pope have to say about it all?
Is he flying in directly or will he making a Venezuela pit stop first?
#3 Posted by Naplestango on July 19, 2008 at 10:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
beetle-your a dumba**
#4 Posted by waldini202 on July 20, 2008 at 2:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm Voting Republican!
can be found at
www.imvotingrepublican.com
#5 Posted by bicoastal on July 20, 2008 at 8:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
waldini - is that what Republicans do - name call because somebody doesn't share your point of view?
You'll find that Obama supporters aren't intimidated by such juvenile & immature behavior. This is exactly why we are OBAMA supporters - we are TIRED OF THIS TYPE OF GARBAGE FROM OUR POLITICIANS.
What do you think your accomplishing? Do you believe that calling somebody a name will make them switch their vote? I could easily sit here and do the same - but I'm a grown man.
#6 Posted by fearisfailure on July 20, 2008 at 8:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
SAY NO TO SOCIALISM DON'T VOTE OBABA.
#7 Posted by napleslocal1968 on July 20, 2008 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
OBAMA 08 !!!!
#8 Posted by pandora on July 20, 2008 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Enough with Republicans !! Vote OBAMA 08
#9 Posted by pandora on July 20, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
EXCELLENT post WHATAZOO!
I'm proud to be voting for Barack Obama. He's the candidate for change. John McCain is the candidate for the status quo.
When Bush took office seven years ago, gas was under $1.50 a gallon. Gas at the pumps has tripled since then.
On off-shore drilling:
Even John McCain recently admitted that his offshore drilling proposal has mainly "psychological" benefits.
The Republicans support drilling 50 miles from our coastline, and some even include Alaska's ANWR.
The Democrats on the other hand support drilling on the 68 million acres of leased land already reserved for drilling, uncapping the existing wells that have been shut off for decades and tapping into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
On the War on Terror:
Republicans support staying in Iraq and invading Iran while trying to fight the real war on terror in Afghanistan.
The Democrats (and Iraq's leaders) support us leaving Iraq. The Democrats also support building the forces in Afghanistan to go after the Taliban and those whom actually invaded our nation on 9/11/01..... al Qaeda.
On the Environment:
McCain doesn't even seem to understand his own plan to deal with greenhouse gas emissions by saying he doesn't support "mandatory" caps, which are essential to his proposal.
On Health-Care:
McCain's not familiar with his own position on insurance companies covering erectile dysfunction drugs but not birth control.
Democrats support universal health for everybody, including those with pre-existing conditions. The Republicans don't.
On the Economy:
McCain was one of only two Republican senators to vote against the 2001 cuts and one of only three to oppose the 2003 cuts.
Now on the campaign trail, McCain says he now supports making the Bush tax cuts permanent. All while fighting war on two fronts.
Obama supports tax cuts for everybody earning less than $225,000 a year and raising taxes on those earning more than that.
On Immigration:
McCain is now against his own immigration bill.
The list goes on and on like the Energizer bunny.
Vote for Barack Obama in 2008
John McCain is no different from George Bush.
It's a no-brainer.
http://politicalplace.com
#10 Posted by Ironside on July 20, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You're exactly right Ironside by "no-brainer"...
Here's hoping that you find yourself a brain by election day!
#11 Posted by Naplestango on July 20, 2008 at 12:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Republicans only way to get a point across.... Hurling personal attacks.
You offend me none, Naplestango. I consider the source.
#12 Posted by Ironside on July 20, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Answers to Post #3:
Yomama Hussein Who?
This is the kind of ignorance that will contribute to the Democrat's victories in November.
Is he a Pakistani politician?
If you're inquiring about Barack Obama..... No, he's an American citizen.
Will he be visiting the States anytime soon?
If you're inquiring about Barack Obama..... He lives here.
Has our President Bush approved his visit?
I don't believe you need (p)Resident Bush's approval to travel abroad. Did John McCain?
What did the Pope have to say about it all?
The Pope is against the war in Iraq.
Is he flying in directly or will he making a Venezuela pit stop first?
There will be no "pit stop" to Venezuela.
John McCain's strength is Foreign Policy?
It doesn't show here:
http://www.politicalplace.com/phpBB3/...
#13 Posted by Ironside on July 20, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My party is better than your party
We are right you are wrong
We don't mud-sling only you do
My peahole view is the best
#14 Posted by houdal on July 20, 2008 at 1:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FDR (DEMOCRAT) led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us; Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost ... an average of 112,500 per year.
Truman (DEMOCRAT) finished that war and started one in Korea . North Korea never attacked us. From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost ... an average of 18,334 per year.
John F. Kennedy (DEMOCRAT) started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us.
Johnson (DEMOCRAT) turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost ... an average of 5,800 per year.
Clinton (DEMOCRAT) went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.
In the years since terrorists attacked us, President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and, North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people. And the Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking.
Sorry to screw up your agenda with facts.
Just seemed you towel head lovers needed a history lesson.
Obama for President is like having a German President while we were fighting Hitler.
#15 Posted by Hindsight on July 20, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hindsight - as you are judging all Democrats as one, can I now judge all Republicans, and assume them to be as ignorant and childish as Naplestango? Thanks for letting me know it's OK to do that.
OBAMA 2008.
#16 Posted by fearisfailure on July 20, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The_Brooks - who or what is big red?
Serious question, I'm not being sarcastic it's just the first time i've heard it.
#17 Posted by fearisfailure on July 20, 2008 at 2:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hindsight good post (almost):
Everybody concedes Vietnam was a war we should have never gotten involved in. Not from the start when Eisenhower sent in advisors and not when Kennedy escalated the United States involvement by sending combat troops.
Like Desert Storm, a war you neglected to list, Bosnia was already at war. Iraq was not at war with anybody when the Bush administration invaded. Unlike the current war in Iraq, Desert Storm and the war in Bosnia were obviously planned to perfection and had exit strategies. As a result they had minimal casualties.
You also failed to mention the Falkland Islands and Granada for some reason. Maybe that’s because it was Reagan a Republican that was responsible for them.
The Taliban is NOT crushed and al Qaeda has grown since 9/11. They are not crippled. It would be a huge mistake believing otherwise.
Thumbs up to Bush for Libya and recent negotiating efforts with Iran. It's good to see him taking Obama's advice on negotiating with Iran. It shows that McCain is on the wrong track about negotiating with these countries and Obama is correct.
Too bad you had to ruin your otherwise good post with bigoted remarks of "towel head lovers." These type of racist comments will only contribute to the Democrat’s victories in November.
http://politicalplace.com
#18 Posted by Ironside on July 20, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Aquaman, actually it's more like "extreme Islamic Fundamentalists."
#19 Posted by Ironside on July 20, 2008 at 3:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sorry. :)
#20 Posted by Ironside on July 20, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"towel head lovers."
Wow - I didn't think racism existed. And in such a small 'laid-back' tolerant City such as Naples.
Wonders will never cease.
#21 Posted by fearisfailure on July 20, 2008 at 4:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There are quite of few questions about barack still unanswered. One, is why he lies about his childhood?
quote
From 'Dreams of my Father', "In Indonesia, I had spent two years at a Muslim school"
"I studied the Koran.."
From 'The Audacity Of Hope, "I will stand with the Muslims should the political winds shift in an ugly direction."
From 'Dreams of My Father',
"I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself to whites"
#22 Posted by oldtimer on July 20, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
oldtimer, would you please give me the page numbers where you found those quotes. I'd like to research it.
#23 Posted by Ironside on July 20, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
McCainiac is too entrenched in Bush Doctrine.
The economy, international state of affairs, and American Family can only improve through Obama.
oldtimer, the youth of this nation will vote, and oldtimers like you who make this a race issue, or a religious issue will be out of luck.
Youngins (Gen Y's) will have thier way in the next vote.
Maybe they'll even have jobs after he's in office, too.
Move over, oldtimer theres new voters waiting to be heard...
as they shout
OBAMA in 08!
#24 Posted by beetlejuice on July 20, 2008 at 8:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This thread is pathetic. ALL of you need to grow up. Like it or not both parties have their own failings and anyone who says that their party better than another is a 3 year old. Their are plenty of bad Republicans without a doubt, but their are just as many bad Democrats. I wish that we lived in a world where world peace was possible. Sadly, the world isnt there yet. Americans need to work together, that is where we gain our strength. There is nothing stronger then a nation that is united. Only by uniting ourselves can we unite the rest of the world.
#25 Posted by jeb14 on July 20, 2008 at 10:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
GO OBAMA!!
#26 Posted by Citizen_239 on July 21, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with #29. GO AWAY OBAMA!!
#27 Posted by RockfordGrad on July 21, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
jeb14:
I'm with you.That was pretty much my point.
#28 Posted by houdal on July 21, 2008 at 11:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
GO BLUE!! Down with selfish republicans!!
#29 Posted by ga8orfan13 on July 21, 2008 at 12:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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