Usher, Etheridge, Dave Matthews, more: Obama's GOTV

[babylonsister]

Usher, Etheridge, more: Obama's GOTV

Posted May 9, 2008 8:45 AM
The Swamp

by Don Frederick


Ever since he claimed his strong win Tuesday night in the North Carolina primary (and ceded the nail-biting race in Indiana to Hillary Clinton before most prognosticators), Barack Obama has clearly signaled that he's ready to move on with a general election campaign.

As part of that, his campaign has announced 14 co-chairs of "Vote for Change," its label for a nationwide voter registration drive.

All pretty predictable and routine ... until the list is perused.

Who knew, for instance, that Usher -- the R&B singer and record-label owner, identified in the Obama release by his full name, Usher Raymond IV (pictured at left) -- had any interest in the nitty-gritty of political organizing?

Same with band leader Dave Matthews.

And knockout actress Kerry Washington?

All three will be, according to the campaign, among those who "will oversee the program's efforts and act as surrogates to boost participation across the country."

The first quote about the effort, in fact, comes from singer Melissa Etheridge (right), who says, "Barack Obama started his career as a community organizer in Chicago, working with communities devastated by plant closings, and after law school he returned to those neighborhoods to register new voters. From the beginning of his career, he's made change happen by enfranchising people at the grassroots, and that's what Vote for Change is all about."

more...

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/05/usher_etheridge_and_more_obama.html

[BlooInBloo]

1. This new infrastructure, which extends the Dean strategy is wonderful...

People have recently been big on the idea that change can only come from the bottom, and bubble up. This party realignment - shifting power away from the entrenched Democratic party institutions - is pure top town. A stellar example of leadership.


EDIT: There's a good discussion of it at Digby's blog (not by digby herself, unfortunately, but it's still good.)
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/05/obama-party-by-dday-on-saturday-in-over.html

[DevonRex]

2. Melissa Ethridge? That's big. Thank you. nt :)

[Tarheel_Dem]

3. I can't wait. I love them all, but Melissa Etheridge has my heart, and I'm

black...go figure. She is just one helluva singer/songwriter, and always at the forefront of what's right about America. I'd put her right up there with Bonnie Raitt, whom I also love. Thanks for posting babylonsis.

:hi:

[babylonsister]

5. I think she's wonderful, too! Smart people going for the right choice.

Go figure! :hi:

[DevonRex]

6. Loved her first album, hated the second. But her more recent

stuff is pretty good. After this, I'll go buy some of her stuff again.

[goclark]

7. I agree ~glad she is for Obama and the others too

Have you noticed that the Hollywood people have been low key in the Primary?

I think that is a tactic of the Obama campaign.

Wait until the general and do the drip drip drip

[Tarheel_Dem]

8. I think their hesitation to jump in has been out of respect for Bill &

Hillary Clinton. Obama has a lot of support in Hollywood, but I think it's worked to his advantage to keep that support under wraps, lest he be labeled a Hollywood elitist by the rightwing. Of course, I could be wrong.

[goclark]

9. I agree

[MadBadger]

4. Get ready for a new vote for Change tour in October

Springsteen, Usher, Dave Matthews, Etheridge, Arcade Fire, Wilco, REM, all known current supporters. Than the usual others can join in too.

[flpoljunkie]

10. Huffington Post also headlines Vote For Change! ONE MILLION DONORS! ONE MILLION VOLUNTEERS!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/