Gresham Outlook endorses Barack Obama

Submitted by Jenni on April 12, 2008 - 10:37am

Today, the Greham Outlook published an editorial in support of Barack Obama for President:

Oregon Democrats can do their part to encourage the nation to move forward by throwing their support to Sen. Barack Obama in the May 20 primary.

The fact that Oregon matters at all in this presidential race is something of a small miracle, considering the lateness of its primary. But since Oregonians have a rare chance this election year to influence whom the Democrats ultimately select to run in November, the state's voters ought to stake their claim on the future and help the nation transcend bitter divisions of the past.

...

The two Democratic candidates have similarities on the issues, and they present an opportunity to break racial and gender barriers for the nation's highest office. But our support for Obama comes down to a belief that the nation is weary of family dynasties in the White House and is in search of new ways to resolve old battles - domestically and abroad.

...

But in the end, this isn't just about Democrats. All voters will have a chance to vote in November, and a McCain-Obama matchup would provide the best forum to debate the future direction of this country, including monumental issues of war, an ailing economy, sustainability, decaying urban infrastructure, terrorism and a dysfunctional health care system.

After 20 years of Bush-Clinton-Bush, the American public deserves two candidates - McCain and Obama - who aren't tethered to the orthodoxies of their parties' recent past.

You can read the entire editorial here.

Jenni's blog

a vote for Obama?

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on April 13, 2008 - 6:45pm.

While the crowd was indeed diverse, some students at the event questioned the practices of Mrs. Obama’s event coordinators, who handpicked the crowd sitting behind Mrs. Obama. The Tartan’s correspondents observed one event coordinator say to another, “Get me more white people, we need more white people.” To an Asian girl sitting in the back row, one coordinator said, “We’re moving you, sorry. It’s going to look so pretty, though.”

“I didn’t know they would say, ‘We need a white person here,’ ” said attendee and senior psychology major Shayna Watson, who sat in the crowd behind Mrs. Obama. “I understood they would want a show of diversity, but to pick up people and to reseat them, I didn’t know it would be so outright.”

http://www.thetartan.org/2008/4/7/news/obama

Quite common

Submitted by sysadmin on April 13, 2008 - 7:05pm.

I have to say this is quite common in campaigns. It's not something I like, but it is a way that a campaign can show the diversity of those attending the event. I've seen events where this wasn't done, and every single picture and shot of video was nothing but white people - even though there was a good mix in the crowd. So to those who only see the pictures and video footage are given the wrong impression.

I've been in the position on numerous occasions where I was the one being moved into the picture (such as at an Ann Richards for Governor event when I was 16) or was working with a campaign and was tasked with rearranging people.

It's also common for campaigns to make the "hand made" signs themselves and then hand them out at the events. They're made by volunteers, often using messages provided by the campaign, and then sprinkled through the areas that the cameras will see.

In this day and age where most people only see a tiny snippet or video or a few pictures, campaigns work their hardest to ensure those pictures and videos can be the best representation of the campaign as possible.