MOMocrats™

New iPhone Obama '08 Application

I couldn't have been more geeked to receive a tweet via text to my iPhone yesterday morning from 'BarackObama' announcing the launch of the campaign's official iPhone application, 'Obama '08'. Thanks to the Twitter-SMS combo, five minutes later, I had downloaded the app and begun using it. I was able to read the latest campaign press releases, connect directly to the latest TV ads, access issue statements, and find the MOMocrats' Silicon Valley VP debate watch party (which was, I might add, a huge success).

Cool gizmo, yes, but the iPhone app is also a serious tool. If I'm in a meeting and someone brings up Obama's plan on a particular topic, now instead of having to go to the web site and spend a significant amount of time waiting for pages to load while poking around to find the right statement, I can just go on my phone and read the appropriate plan. It takes under a second to load and then it's almost as quick to e-mail it out to others. Most notably, the application has a 'Call Friends' feature that splits contacts by area code and marks when they have been called from the app. Enter anyone into the iPhone contacts and they will become part of the application.

Take A Moment and Consider Why We're Doing This

I just want to take my hat off to all of the moms out there who are getting involved in this campaign - from all parties - because it has become clearer to me over the past year how important it is to be involved, and how challenging it is to juggle everything when the stakes are high. No one will be putting off the election deadline if our kids get sick. Nobody'll step in and fill our shoes if something goes wrong at home. The things we commit to do for what we see as the greater good for our country and the world we do mostly on our own time.

Obviously I have my own reasons (that I outlined yesterday at SVMoms in a letter to my daughter) about why I'm putting in so much time and energy, but for those of us with young children who have to get childcare to do political organizing, stay up late at night after our kids go to bed in order to blog about the campaign or work with others online, it's not easy work. And for the moms who take their children with them to political events, get them involved in the process, and bring them to the polls, that's wonderful of you.

Palin In Comparison: Sorry... Not A Maverick

I'm not usually one to be critical of women running for office or in public office, because I've seen the statistics, I know how much criticism women put up with, and I understand the barriers to running for office as a woman (through trainings like Emerge and EMILY's List). It pains me really to write this, but one of the things I learned in these trainings is that sometimes "going negative" is necessary when it's an effort to educate the public about information they should be aware of in order to make an informed decision about voting.  The purpose of this post is to inform people about the campaign strategies that are being attempted by the Republicans in this particular case.  That's it.  Disclaimer done.

First off, it's not like Sarah Palin is the first woman to be considered for VP or on a VP ticket.  She's not the first woman mayor or the first woman governor or the first woman to have five kids and serve in office (see: Nancy Pelosi).  Other people can call her an opportunist or an anti-feminist or a bad mother or whatever.  I don't feel like doing that because every situation is unique.  I do, however, feel like taking on this angle that she's somehow a 'maverick.'

Joe Trippi wrote an interesting piece yesterday that got the MOMocrats thinking about this strategy of McCain's and Trippi's probably right about this too.  He says the Republican "assault will be on what is now a strength of Barack Obama’s — his focus on changing a broken system in Washington," i.e. McCain will try to prove he and Palin are more ready to make change in our nation than Obama and Biden.  Somehow, McCain and Palin, whose records show that they vote well in line with Bush/Cheney are being painted as change candidates, when the real change is right in front of us with Barack Obama, whose platform is almost entirely about change.

The DNC: My Favorite Photos, Favorite Memories

Ten MOMocrats spent the last week at the DNC, attending events, meeting politicians and celebrities, writing, videoing, twittering, and watching.  We experienced the highest highs and some of the lowest lows.  We were conflicted when the duties of motherhood called, when a little one tumbled down the stairs, several others started school, and all of our kids missed our hugs and our presence and we missed them.  We had to check our emotions many times, and other times let them flow.

We were a part of history, bearing witness to the fruit of Dr. King's dream so long ago, when some of us were children, and others weren't even born yet.  Barack Obama may not have been our first choice, but we rallied around him, our party, and our nation.  He likes to say that his "is an impossible story" and so, too, is the story of the MOMocrats.

I can't say what my favorite moment was.  There are too many.  I can't describe it adequately in words; words fail me.  All I know is that I was surrounded by a group of women I adore more every second, and cannot imagine the experience without any one of them.  I wished that the other MOMocrats--Stefania, Jen, Joanne, Jenn, and Christine--who planned to come but couldn't make, had been there.  We carried their strength and humor with us, and tried hard to do them proud.

These are some of my favorite people and moments of the Convention. I wish you could have been there.

Illinois Secretary of Veteran's Affairs, Iraq War heroine, and triple amputee, Tammy Duckworth at the Asian-Pacific Islander Caucus.  The Caucus featured a panel moderated by Yul Kwon, Survivor Cook Islands Winner, and in true API fashion, singing.  It was wonderful to see so many APIs, from so many different cultures and circumstances, all in one place.  Growing up in Ohio, we were the only Asian family in our town for many years.  It was wonderful to see so many successful Asian-Americans together with a common goal.

The DNC: Up & Coming Democratic Leaders

One of the things I didn't expect with the Democratic National Convention was the large youth contingent.  I don't know why, really, because it's not like I haven't been somewhat tapped into what they've been doing; I just didn't realize how major a force they were becoming.  When I was in college, the people I knew who were involved in politics seemed to be doing it for the wrong reasons, so I was turned off to the idea.

Somehow 13 years out, I'm still technically a youth at 35.  In February, I can no longer claim that title.  But what it means to the rest of us is that the Democratic Party is working hard to engage and mobilize people ages 18-35 and they are even working on younger people trying to get them involved before they can vote.  The youth vote is imperative for the Democratic party, especially with a presidential candidate that energizes younger people so actively.

In terms of candidates and new leaders, it's amazing to think that Joe Biden ran his first campaign for Senate at age 29 and was sworn in as a 30 year-old.  (As LawyerMama says - what have we been doing with our time?)  There was a celebration at the DNCC for 40 under 40 who are emerging leaders in the party and there are some incredible people running for office in that category.  One who has received the most buzz at the convention is Scott Kleeb, running for Senate from Nebraska.

No Police Outside Invesco for Obama Speech - Longest Lines in History

We are in the midst of a dangerous public health, safety & security situation here outside Invesco Field. The lines have wrapped around themselves farther than the eye can see. With no police or security in sight up here on the hill, there is very little water (Obama water for $2), one Porto-potty and thousands of people. The image above doesn't even begin to describe the situation. And no TV media is here to cover it. Tens of thousands of people.

We have four hours in direct sunlight before Senator Obama speaks. People are going to start dropping like flies soon - it's hot and as much as we wanted to get here early, our credentials weren't available until 2pm. Here come protestors. We are currently in the center of a black paved parking lot looking like sitting ducks.

At this point, we don't even know if we will make it in by 8pm if at all. The event has started an hour ago.

Join MOMocrats Prime Time for Barack Obama

Tonight, the MOMocrats have the opportunity to witness a momentous event with Senator Barack Obama accepting the Democratic nomination for president. We will be able to provide live coverage from the Invesco arena. The event itself begins at 3:00 Rocky Mountain Time and Senator Obama speaks at 8. But wait - there's more! Expect Al Gore to speak around 6:30-6:45, following Stevie Wonder.

Barack Obama is the Nominee - Vote by Affirmation!

Hillary Clinton came out representing New York minutes ago and proclaimed that her state was giving all of their votes to Senator Obama, then she called for an affirmation to suspend the roll call and vote as one body to support Barack Obama as president. Nancy Pelosi asked for a second, there were hundreds, and she asked for a vote, the house roared, and she announced he is the official nominee of the Democratic party. We've made history. The first woman Speaker of the House announced it and the first viable woman candidate for president did her duty for the good of the party and the country. Goose bumps...

A Leaky Kansas Connection - Obama/Bayh Bumper Stickers?

And the VP is.... Bayh, Biden, Kaine, Sebelius or Clinton? They've all been named this week as potential running mates and all but Sebelius have come out as no's. But as often happens, is there a leak?

Check this out - Obama/Bayh bumper stickers being printed in Lenexa, Kansas. Fact or fiction?

Whoever it is, MOMocrats will keep covering the story here... stay tuned...

Let's Talk About The Environment, Baby

News of the John Edwards affair seems to be cooling as war between Russia and Georgia heats up and our fearless misleader parties in China so I'd like to take a pause while Barack Obama is on vacation and talk about one of the reasons he's there: the environment. Oahu is a gorgeous place, but not all of it is pretty - Honolulu is home to pollution as is the Pacific Ocean. Polar bears may not live there, but humpback whales mate around the corner, and there aren't too many of them left now either.

I'm not going to spend too much time here going into why we need to do everything we can to support the pro-environment agenda because it should be obvious: destroy animals + destroy food + destroy water = people die. No more children, no more cute little furry animals, no more pretty flowers, no more fresh air. So we have to fix it. Now.

The Alliance for Climate Protection, Al Gore's umbrella organization for solving the "climate crisis," is a great place to start. Nearly 1.5 Million people have signed up to help. Watch the Planet Green channel. Learn, become engaged and informed. (I've become a huge fan of the show, Greensburg. It's incredible what one town can do when they put their heads together with a common mission.)