Check out Obama OC’s web site for more on how you can get involved in the Barack Obama campaign here in Orange County! : )

Were you inspired by what Barack Obama had to say to Democrats in San Diego last month? Have you been amazed by all the grassroots energy behind the Obama campaign in California? Are you captivated by the Illinois Senator and what he’s accomplished? And would you now like to get involved?

Well, if you’re in Orange County, there are plenty of opportunities coming up for you to get involved! Follow me after the flip for all the details…

Tonight at 7:00 PM, we’ll be having our Obama OC Countywide Volunteer Meeting. We’ll be talking about what we can do here in OC to spread Barack Obama’s message of hope, action, and change. And of course, we’ll be talking about upcoming actions such as the “Walk for Change” canvasses!

So what can we expect on these canvass walks? Here’s how the folks at Obama for America explain it:

Think of a canvass as a neighborhood walk. Canvasses happen when a group of people get together and go door to door to homes and apartments in a selected neighborhood to spread the message about Barack Obama.

Movements are created one person, one house at a time. One or two individuals can canvass an entire neighborhood and build real support for our campaign to change America.

Your goal in the canvass is to make personal connections with other people who might not know as much about Barack Obama. You are the face of the campaign in your community.

So do you want to be the face of the Obama campaign in your community? Do you want to talk to your neighbors about this different kind of campaign? Would you like to make connections with other people in your area who may not know very much about Barack Obama? Well, then June 9 is your chance to walk for change!

Well, before you get out and walk for change, please check out these events coming up!

Beach Cities for Obama Planning Meeting on June 2 at 12:00 PM in Huntington Beach

New Hampshire Debate Watching Party on June 3 at 6:00 PM in Huntington Beach

Walk for Change Training on June 6 at 7:00 PM in Orange

And here are some of the many Walk for Change events happening in Orange County:

Santa Ana at 9:30 AM

Orange at 12:00 PM

Huntington Beach at 12:00 PM

Los Alamitos at 10:00 AM

Fullerton at 12:00 PM

Irvine at 11:00 AM

Laguna Beach at 12:00 PM

Lake Forest at 11:00 AM

Laguna Niguel at 9:00 AM

So are you ready to get out and make some change?! : )

(Cross-posted at The Obama OC Grassroots Blog : ) – promoted by atdleft)

OK, so just found out about what happened at the Day of Climate Action in Huntington Beach yesterday. Well, the marchers weren’t the only ones in HB to talk about climate change. Obama OC Grassroots also made its presence known at the pier yesterday as local grassroots activists registered new voters, talked about the many challenges facing us regarding climate change, and how Barack Obama is ready to lead on finding real solutions.

Follow me after the flip to find out more about what happened after the rally…
And, of course, for more pictures! ; )

As the rally was getting started at Pier Plaza, the Obama Grassroots team was setting up a table. And as soon as the march began, Team Obama stayed at the pier to register voters and answer any questions about Barack Obama, the grassroots campaign in Orange County, and what he plans to do about climate change should he be elected as our 44th President. Even though the gloomy clouds were beginning to roll in from the Pacific, it was all smiles for Team Obama!

We had a couple of people come up to the table to fill out voter registration forms. Whether or not they had made their decision yet on Obama, we wanted to give them a chance to engage in the democratic process. Now we had plenty more people come up to the table to ask us about where Obama stands on the issues. They wanted to know about how Obama plans to tackle climate change, meet America’s future energy needs, clean up all the corruption in government, and end the Iraq War. We answered all their questions as best as we could, and most were quite surprised to learn about all that Obama has done on these issues. It never ceases to amaze me how people come to like and respect Obama once they learn about all that he’s actually done on all these issues.

We were all pleasantly surprised to hear from local progressives who are as wowed about Obama and all is accomplishments as we were. Of course, we were also surprised to hear from previously apathetic folks who are suddenly excited about politics and the state of the nation again because of Barack Obama and his message of hope, action, and change. And yes, we were heart-warmed to see local environmentalists smile in delight once we showed them that Obama is not just providing rhetoric about climate change, our energy future, and the state of our planet…
He’s actually doing something about it now!

Perhaps this is what I like most about our Obama OC Grassroots team, and about Senator Barack Obama. It’s not about empty rhetoric, but it is about real action. It’s not about wishful thinking, but it is about real hope for real change. : )

Do you still have questions about where Barack Obama stands on ending the Iraq War? Do you just want to know more specifics about Hillary Clinton’s plan to end the war? Do you want to know how John Edwards would bring the troops home? Do you want to know what all these Democratic candidates have to say about Iraq?

Well, tonight is your chance! Go see the MoveOn Iraq War town hall debate tonight, and learn more about what all the candidates think about the war. I can guarantee you right now that there’s one in your neck of the woods, so you don’t have to go too far to see all the Democratic Presidential Candidates… But I can’t guarantee how long space will last, as these parties are filling up fast!

So what are you waiting for? If you’re in Orange County, go to one of our local debate parties tonight. If you’re somewhere else, go ahead and find a party near you. You’ll get to meet other progressive Democrats in your area, and you might just find the right candidate for you tonight. : )

Remember when I told you about that Obama OC community gathering in Laguna Niguel on Saturday? Well, I went there… And I found out that in the supposedly “Solid Republican Territory” of South Orange County, there was plenty of interest in joining the local grassroots campaign for Barack Obama!

Follow me after the flip to enjoy some more photos from Saturday’s big event…

Orange County leaders Zinnia Menardi and Renee Schwan are always more than happy to answer your questions about what you can do to help Obama in OC.

South County Leader Giovanni Jorquera talks about what’s happening with the campaign in South County. Zinnia then talks about what it means to be a part of Obama’s grassroots campaign in Orange County. I guess it means writing letters to The OC Register, and planning for the next antiwar rally, and registering new voters at the community colleges… Basically, the grassroots campaign is each of us doing what we do best to reach out to the community and get them involved in this election.

South County leader Sandie Weathers gets the projector ready for the feature presentation…

And here it is! : )

OK, so you may have missed this meeting on Saturday…
No worries! Go onto our new web site, and scroll down to the bottom of the page to join our mailing list so that you can find out about all of our future events!

OK, so perhaps you’re somewhere else in California, and you want to know how to get involved in Obama’s campaign. Well, here ‘ya go! Go onto My.BarackObama.com to find out how this campaign is ALL ABOUT YOU, and WHAT YOU CAN DO TO TAKE BACK OUR NATION from the far right and their politics of personal enrichment and global domination. Go ahead and check it out… Don’t let us OC folks be the only ones having fun with this! : )

Calling all Democrats who are supporting John Edwards for President! You have a house party to go to tonight!

We’ll watch a John Edwards DVD and join in a phone call where he will answer questions from around the country. You don’t need to donate to come to the party.

Here’s a chance for you to make a difference, and to build grassroots support for Edwards here in California. Come on, now! How hard is it to hop on over to your neighbor’s house to find out more about the candidate that you like? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:

Why not take advantage of this real chance to revitalize the California Democratic Party? I am hoping that we in the progressive movement here will take this unique opportunity to breathe some new life into the Democratic Party here, as well as to get our neighbors excited about voting again. There’s nothing like telling someone that his or her vote really matters… And now that our primary will be early and important, ALL OF OUR VOTES REALLY DO MATTER AGAIN!

We can continue to bitch and moan and whine and complain about everything that’s wrong right now, and just see more of the same…
Or we can get up and take action to change this! If we really care about building a grassroots movement here, then why don’t we use this primary as a way to start growing it? If we’re so concerned about the “media ad buys” and all the consultants, then why don’t we get out there and start growing some real grassroots? No, the candidates cannot meet all of the voters in California… BUT ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER CAN! If we don’t like the status quo, then why do we keep whining about it? Why not just get out there and CHANGE IT?!

The opportunity is now here… We just have to get off our duffs and TAKE IT!

And yes, the opportunity is now TONIGHT in Santa Cruz, Anaheim Hills, Irvine, and elsewhere in the state. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start growing those grassroots! : )

This just in from The OC Register:

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today moved California’s presidential primary from June to February, giving the nation’s most populous state a greater stake in selecting nominees and shaking up the 2008 political calendar.

“Now California is important again in presidential nominating politics … and we will get the respect that California deserves,” Schwarzenegger said during a bill-signing ceremony.

Hopefully, all of us will now use this opportunity to truly SHAKE THINGS UP. Now that California voters will now be “The Deciders” in who gets the party nomination, let’s get out there and tell our family, friends, and neighbors why their votes matter. I know I’m excited about the change, and I’ll explain to you why I’m so excited after the flip…

For far too long, California has been left out of the national conversation. And especially as Democrats, we have not had the chance to let our voices be heard on issues that we care about. We have not been able to speak out, as the candidates have asked for our money but not for our opinions. Perhaps it’s time that the party and the candidates appreciate us for more than just our money. And come to think of it, the Democratic Party would most certainly benefit if they let California Democrats have their say on these issues.

So why not allow us to let our voices be heard on Iraq, health care, climate change, transportation, land use, water use, and other important issues? After all, these are not just California issues… These are national issues, as well! Why not open up the primary process to some real diversity? What’s so bad about shaking up the process, and allowing a big urban state like California, with big issues to tackle and big dreams to share, to have a say alongside the small rural states? Why not let ALL OUR VIEWS be heard?

And for all those who are worried about an early California primary meaning the “end of democracy”, I have this to say: Why not take advantage of this real chance to revitalize the California Democratic Party? I am hoping that we in the progressive movement here will take this unique opportunity to breathe some new life into the Democratic Party here, as well as to get our neighbors excited about voting again. There’s nothing like telling someone that his or her vote really matters… And now that our primary will be early and important, ALL OF OUR VOTES REALLY DO MATTER AGAIN!

We can continue to bitch and moan and whine and complain about everything that’s wrong right now, and just see more of the same…
Or we can get up and take action to change this! If we really care about building a grassroots movement here, then why don’t we use this primary as a way to start growing it? If we’re so concerned about the “media ad buys” and all the consultants, then why don’t we get out there ans start growing some real grassroots? No, the candidates cannot meet all of the voters in California… BUT ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER CAN! If we don’t like the status quo, then why do we keep whining about it? Why not just get out there and CHANGE IT?!

The opportunity is now here… We just have to get off our duffs and TAKE IT! : )