State-Journal.com - Backing Obama

Photo By Photo by Kelly MackeyChristian Adair, left, speaks to a group of Barack Obama supporters at Rocco’s Pizza in the Northgate Shopping Center at the first Franklin County meeting of Bluegrass for Obama. Supporter, Liz Mcgrapth, right, wore a t-shirt in support of Obama to the meeting.

Although the presidential primary election is still more than two months away, some local Democrats met this weekend to organize in support of U.S. Senator Barack Obama.

About ten met Saturday afternoon at Rocco's Pizza in the Northgate Shopping Center. Christian Adair helped organize the meeting and said he's pleased with the turnout even though the meeting conflicted with the University of Kentucky basketball game with Georgia in Atlanta, which had been re-scheduled from Friday night.

According to the Associated Press, Obama leads U.S. Senator Hilary Clinton among pledged delegates, 1,385-1,237 while the former first lady has an advantage among superdelegates, 247-211. The Democratic National Convention is in August in Denver.

Upcoming primaries in addition to Kentucky include Pennsylvania, Indiana, North Carolina, West Virginia, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.
Adair told The State Journal that the Obama campaign emphasizes grass-roots development.

"That's why it's grown for him and so many new people are coming out for him," Adair said. "We might get people from Anderson or Shelby county and they could go back and start own group."

Adair coaches track and football at Western Hills High School and said the initial supporters locally was very diverse, including an almost equal number of men and women, whites and blacks, young and old supporters. He went to an Obama campaign event in Cincinnati and said he saw the same diversity there.

"Not at church, athletics, or concerts have I ever seen such a diverse crowd," Adair said. "Today was a true reflection of what the campaign is."

Notable local backers include attorney Bryan Hix and Magistrate Jill Robinson.

Hix said he's excited about the Obama campaign and hopes that Obama will come to Frankfort because of a strong local Democratic history and high voter turnout.

"It's his back yard," Hix said.

Robinson said she had not expected to get involved in either campaign because she didn't think the race would last until the Kentucky primary on May 20.

"Since we are going to be in play, I thought about it long and hard," she said. "I thought a lot about people's perspective of us around the world, I think that helped me decide go ahead and go with Barack. It sends strong message we're moving on."

The race between Obama and Clinton has been spirited, but Robinson said it will only get worse in the fall, when one candidate will face the Republican nominee, U.S. Senator John McCain.

Adair, Hix and Robinson all pledged to reach out and talk to friends and family about Obama and his message.

"Word of mouth is the most powerful tool out there," Adair said.

He said he hopes each volunteer will talk to 10 people and bring at least five friends to the next meeting on April 8 at Rocco's.

The group hopes to reach out to students and faculty at Kentucky State University and help start a grass roots group there as well. Other projects include a voter registration drive on April 15 and a party on May 20 to watch the election results.

They will also raise money by selling Obama wristbands and using the money to buy a campaign package with yard signs and other materials. Adair said everything is on back order because everyone is excited about the candidate.

Liz McGrapth said she really wants an Obama yard sign because he is the first candidate she has ever been excited about.

Adair, who lives in Versailles, said he's afraid someone might take his yard sign because they're so rare. Parents and neighbors have also offered to buy it from him.

Robinson said she has not heard of any local activity in support of Clinton, and supporters said they had not been contacted yet.

The Clinton website does not list any offices or events in Kentucky. A campaign spokesperson referred all questions to an e-mail address but did not reply to a request for information this weekend.

Get information and news about Obama campaign events in Frankfort at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/BlueGrassforObama

7.	Posted by perplexed March 16, 2008
	I can see rather than researching your own information, you have taken the verbatim stance that the press has about Rev Wright. THe problem here is that the white interpretation of this message as anti American shows how far off they are from the black interpretation of this mnessage. Another thing is that speech was 5 years ago. It was a motivational speech intended for a church gathering expressing the displeasure over the solutions the government had taken to ease the economic and social issues that had plagued the black young man for years. Yes , it was a poor choice of words, but the message was loud and clear. There were alternatives that the government could have taken other than building prisons to help young offenders. That being said, If Obama is elected, the task that he faces returning the government to the people is tremendous. As for experience in government, show me what the present experienced candidates have done for the American people to date. Health care has been ignored for at least 20 years. Social security has become a slush fund for petty projects. The infrastructure of America needs to be rebuilt and has for several decades. The trail of experience is the shadow that will get Obama elected. Its not just white middle aged women that are for him, its white middle aged men too.

6.	Posted by answerman March 16, 2008
	Terri, Those talking points were probably handed out at the obama pizza party. You are about as Republican as I am Define or site examples to your statement -- "Obama offers unique and valuable experience" Are these the same books Obama sites quotes from the anti American hate speech spewed from the mouth of Rev Wright? And you say "Senator Obama has unique skill in bringing people together" What people? in Mississippi Black people voted for him 91% to 9% and whites votes 71% to 26% for Hilary. You say "he has a vision of uniting people." is that with or without Rev Wright? You say "he conducts himself in a manner that represents American interests and values" Yet he won't acknowledge the American flag or the National Anthem! Also read this about his You say "He exercises wisdom in judgement" read this and tell me about his judgement ... "Obama repudiated remarks by his Chicago pastor as he sought to quell an uproar over Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who said the September 11 attacks were brought on by American "terrorism" and that African-Americans should sing "God Damn America" to protest their treatment. The Illinois senator has also been dogged by his ties to Chicago businessman Tony Rezko, who is accused of using his political clout to carry out a kickback scheme aimed at extorting millions from firms trying to do business with the state." And this is the biggest load of political BS I've seen written in a while "My hope is that the Democratic party will sense the strength of leadership and experience that Barak Obama offers the country, and fully support Obama as the nominee" Site some leadership examples other than as a community organizer. If that qualifies, we have some good people in Frankfort who also qualify for President. Keep the playbook to yourself.

5.	Posted by Terri Ing March 15, 2008
	I am a white, 45 year old Republican woman, who has voted a straight party ticket since I first voted in 1984 for Ronald Reagan. This is the first time I will vote for a democrat, because Senator Barak Obama offers unique and valuable experience that is vitally needed for such a time as this. After hearing him speak at the Democratic convention, I read both of his books, and gave them as gifts to many of my Republican friends who are now also Obama supporters. Senator Obama has unique skill in bringing people together, and he has a vision of uniting people. He is able to do this in a non-combative tone, and he conducts himself in a manner that represents American interests and values. He is sincere, and he demonstrates a strength that is humble and kind in spirit. He exercises wisdom in judgement. This is unique, and needed at this time in our country. I am not attracted to divisive politics, nor fighting that polarizes. My hope is that the Democratic party will sense the strength of leadership and experience that Barak Obama offers the country, and fully support Obama as the nominee. I will NOT support Hillary Clinton under any circumstances, (even as a vp on Obama's ticket) - if Obama is not the nominee then I'm back to my straight party Republican ticket, and will vote for McCain. Please know that I am not alone in this thought. My husband's colleague, a gay democrat, has also said he will support McCain if Obama is not the nominee, and ALL of our Republican friends agree. There is a "fierce urgency of now" and my hope is that this is a time we look back on as a new beginning in the tone of politics, and in unifying our country. Barak Obama is the only choice to lead our country forward and turn the page.

4.	Posted by Terri Ing March 15, 2008
	I am a white, 45 year old Republican woman, who has voted a straight party ticket since I first voted in 1984 for Ronald Reagan. This is the first time I will vote for a democrat, because Senator Barak Obama offers unique and valuable experience that is vitally needed for such a time as this. After hearing him speak at the Democratic convention, I read both of his books, and gave them as gifts to many of my Republican friends who are now also Obama supporters. Senator Obama has unique skill in bringing people together, and he has a vision of uniting people. He is able to do this in a non-combative tone, and he conducts himself in a manner that represents American interests and values. He is sincere, and he demonstrates a strength that is humble and kind in spirit. He exercises wisdom in judgement. This is unique, and needed at this time in our country. I am not attracted to divisive politics, nor fighting that polarizes. My hope is that the Democratic party will sense the strength of leadership and experience that Barak Obama offers the country, and fully support Obama as the nominee. I will NOT support Hillary Clinton under any circumstances, (even as a vp on Obama's ticket) - if Obama is not the nominee then I'm back to my straight party Republican ticket, and will vote for McCain. Please know that I am not alone in this thought. My husband's colleague, a gay democrat, has also said he will support McCain if Obama is not the nominee, and ALL of our Republican friends agree. There is a "fierce urgency of now" and my hope is that this is a time we look back on as a new beginning in the tone of politics, and in unifying our country. Barak Obama is the only choice to lead our country forward and turn the page.

3.	Posted by Terri Ing March 15, 2008
	I am a white, 45 year old Republican woman, who has voted a straight party ticket since I first voted in 1984 for Ronald Reagan. This is the first time I will vote for a democrat, because Senator Barak Obama offers unique and valuable experience that is vitally needed for such a time as this. After hearing him speak at the Democratic convention, I read both of his books, and gave them as gifts to many of my Republican friends who are now also Obama supporters. Senator Obama has unique skill in bringing people together, and he has a vision of uniting people. He is able to do this in a non-combative tone, and he conducts himself in a manner that represents American interests and values. He is sincere, and he demonstrates a strength that is humble and kind in spirit. He exercises wisdom in judgement. This is unique, and needed at this time in our country. I am not attracted to divisive politics, nor fighting that polarizes. My hope is that the Democratic party will sense the strength of leadership and experience that Barak Obama offers the country, and fully support Obama as the nominee. I will NOT support Hillary Clinton under any circumstances, (even as a vp on Obama's ticket) - if Obama is not the nominee then I'm back to my straight party Republican ticket, and will vote for McCain. Please know that I am not alone in this thought. My husband's colleague, a gay democrat, has also said he will support McCain if Obama is not the nominee, and ALL of our Republican friends agree. There is a "fierce urgency of now" and my hope is that this is a time we look back on as a new beginning in the tone of politics, and in unifying our country. Barak Obama is the only choice to lead our country forward and turn the page.