Letters for Iowa

Paul Tewes, Obama's Iowa campaign manager sent out this letter to Sam Graham-Felsen on the official barackobama.com blog asking supporters to encourage the volunteers in Iowa.

Dear Sam,

I have an unusual request for you.

I've written a few times before -- my name is Paul Tewes, and I'm the state director for the Obama campaign in Iowa. I'm sure you've already heard about what's happening here, from the tightening poll numbers to the growing energy on the ground.

Our campaign has tremendous momentum, but there's a lot to do before the January 3rd caucuses.

Here's the challenge...

Our ground operation is in full swing, and we're well on our way to recruiting Precinct Captains in all of Iowa's 1,781 precincts.

Each Precinct Captain is a volunteer who has taken on a serious responsibility in their local community . They are the backbone of our campaign in Iowa. Barack could not do this without them.

Our success depends on the motivation and dedication of these everyday people. They have their own families, their own jobs, and all the other responsibilities of their lives, but they have volunteered to take on this important role in our campaign because, like you, they believe in Barack Obama.

Please take the time to share with them a word of encouragement. Share with them the common bond that binds us -- belief in each other, belief in this campaign, and belief in this country.

There are two ways you can get in touch -- send an online note or send an old fashioned letter in the mail, care of one of our 37 offices here in Iowa.

Write to an Iowa Precinct Captain or a volunteer now. Let them know you appreciate the effort and sacrifice they are making to win Iowa for Barack:

Send an Online Note:

http://my.barackobama.com/emailiowavolunteers

Send a Letter in the Mail:

http://my.barackobama.com/writeiowavolunteers

These Precinct Captains and volunteers are the lifeblood of our operation.

By sharing your words of encouragement and your personal reasons for supporting Barack, you could motivate someone to make that extra phone call, knock on a few more doors, or dedicate a few more hours to the cause in this crucial first-in-the-nation caucus state.

Send your message, tell your story, and make an impact now.

Thank you,

Paul

Paul Tewes
Iowa State Director
Obama for America

Obama News on Monday

The Obama campaign has decided to capitalize on the reaction of supporters to today's attacks on Sen. Obama by the Hillary Clinton campaign:




Robert Reich, Bill Clinton's Secretary of Labor, also had some comments to make on the Clinton assault:

I’m becoming increasingly concerned about the stridency and inaccuracy of charges in Iowa -- especially coming from my old friend. While I’m as hard-boiled as they come about what’s said in campaigns, I just don’t think Dems should stoop to this. First, HRC attacked O's plan for keep Social Security solvent. Social Security doesn’t need a whole lot to keep it going – it’s in far better shape than Medicare – but everyone who’s looked at it agrees it will need bolstering (I was a trustee of the Social Security Trust Fund ten years ago, and I can vouch for this). Obama wants to do it by lifting the cap on the percent of income subject to Social Security payroll taxes, which strikes me as sensible. That cap is now close to $98,000 (it’s indexed), and the result is highly regressive. (Bill Gates satisfies his yearly Social Security obligations a few minutes past midnight on January 1 every year.) The cap doesn’t have to be lifted all that much to keep Social Security solvent – maybe to $115,00. That’s a progressive solution to the problem. HRC wants to refer Social Security to a commission. That's avoiding the issue, and it's irresponsible: A commission will likely call either for raising the retirement age (that’s what Greenspan’s Social Security commission came up with in the 1980s) or increasing the payroll tax on all Americans. So when HRC charges that Obama’s plan would “raise taxes” and her plan wouldn’t, she’s simply not telling the truth.

I’m equally concerned about her attack on his health care plan. She says his would insure fewer people than hers. I’ve compared the two plans in detail. Both of them are big advances over what we have now. But in my view Obama’s would insure more people, not fewer, than HRC’s.

Obama received an endorsement today from John Adams, Brigadier General, US Army (retired), former Deputy United States Military Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Barack Obama’s ability to listen and inspire will allow him to shape a new domestic strategy of working together as Americans to safeguard our constitutional liberties and secure the blessings of prosperity for all our citizens. His sound judgment and ability to make tough choices under pressure will help him to shape a new international strategy of cooperating with our friends abroad to enhance global peace and security. We need his vision and integrity to address America's domestic and international challenges,” Adams said in a statement released by the campaign.

Other high-ranking military retirees who have endorsed Obama are Richard Danzig, 71st Secretary of the Navy; Major General Scott Gration, U.S. Air Force (Ret) and General Merrill “Tony” McPeak; Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force (1990-1994).

Paul, Obama lead in military contributions

Republican Ron Paul lead all presidential candidates in contributions from the military according to the third quarter finance reports. Barack Obama came in second and first among Democrats.

In the previous quarter, Obama led followed by Paul in second.

Paul received $63,440 in donations from current military employees and several retired military personnel followed by Obama with $53,968 and John McCain came in third with $48,308.

McCain is a decorated Vietnam Veteran and ex-Navy pilot.

Obama and Paul both publicly oppose the war in Iraq.