(NAME-MCE) Barack for Education

[Christine Clark]

Dear Education Champion,

We are so excited about Barack Obama's profound commitment to  
providing a world-class education for all children, regardless of  
their background. In order to lead us in closing the achievement gap,  
though, Barack first needs our help in closing the gap of a different  
kind: that on the electoral map. In 2004, George W. Bush beat John  
Kerry by a total of just over two million votes in the battleground  
states of Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico, Virginia,  
Missouri and Nevada. In order for Barack to be successful on November  
4th, it is critical that he close that two million vote gap in this  
crucial group of states.

We have set the ambitious goal of, through our various networks,  
reaching out to 500,000 battleground state voters in the next four  
weeks. If we are to do so, this could potentially mean reaching one  
fourth of 2004's two million vote gap. In order to do so, though,  
we're going to need your help: Contact with 500,000 potential voters  
means 10,000 volunteers reaching out to 50 individuals each.

Additionally, in order to help the campaign effectively distribute  
their resources where they are needed most, we are also committed to  
raising at least $500,000 in donations.

With this in mind, we're excited to announce the launch of our very  
own website around these simultaneous efforts to close the Bush-Kerry  
voting gap in the short-term and the achievement gap for the long- 
term. Please visit this site at: http://www.closingthegaps.us <http://www.closingthegaps.us/ 
 >

On this site, in addition to finding information on our work and  
Barack's critical education principles, you'll find out about the  
following ways to get further involved between now and November 4th:

1)    Get out the vote! Help from inside or outside these key  
battleground states by:
A)    Joining on as a Barack for Education regional coordinator to  
engage and energize voters by either moving to a swing state for the  
final 25 days or participating in organized weekend trips.
B)    Placing calls to voters in key states and canvassing in  
important swing precincts.
C)    Hosting a Barack for Education event at your home or work or  
organizing a Barack for Education happy hour.
D)    Supporting Barack's media presence by writing a Letter to the  
Editor or Op-Ed in your local newspaper. You can also increase Obama's  
visibility by posting comments in response to education- and/or Obama- 
related articles on your local paper's website.
2)    Donate whatever amount you can to Barack's campaign, through our  
Barack for Education MyBO group <http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/ChampionsforEducation 
 >. Donations can be made at any time and will be tracked collectively  
to demonstrate the impact of educators in these closing weeks!
3)    Sign our Letter of Support for Senator Obama and his education  
principles.

Please review and send this along to your personal networks within the  
next 48 hours. Given the stakes of this election, help us get this  
message out to as many people as possible by forwarding to at least  
three people, but ideally ten or more.

Thanks so much for your support. We truly believe that if we can help  
close this two million vote gap between now and November 4th, it will  
go a long way toward one day soon closing the achievement gap for our  
children!

Sincerely,

Barack for Education Team
-- 
Jonathan Klein
(510) 593-4555
Barack for Education
Western Regional Director
http://www.closingthegaps.us
Help us close the gap!
———
Christine Clark, Ed.D.
chriseclark at mac.com
702.896.1527 Telephone
702.896.4529 Facsimile
702.985.6979 Cellular

"What are the standards that we have?  If we're concerned about  
unarmed truth--understanding this condition of truth is allowing  
suffering to speak--and unconditional love--understanding justice is  
what love looks like in public--then the question is, what suffering  
voices do we hear...and what kinds of concerns about justice are made  
manifest...?

                                                                                                                                                 —Cornell 
  West