ACORN for Obama

From February 22nt, 2008

This will be fairly short but I don't see this anywhere. But ACORN PAC has endorsed Obama. What is ACORN?

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is the nation's largest community organization of low- and moderate-income families, with over 350,000 member families organized into 800 neighborhood chapters in 104 cities across the country. Since 1970 ACORN has taken action and won victories on issues of concern to its members, including better housing for first time homebuyers and tenants, living wages for low-wage workers, more investment in our communities from banks and governments, and better public schools.

On all the fights. Katrina, Living Wage, Predatory lending, Education and Affordable housing just to name a few, ACORN has been on the front lines fighting for change.

And today they endorsed a fellow community organizer, one who has been with them in the fights though the years.

NEW ORLEANS, LA -- ACORN’s Political Action Committee today announced that it has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for President.

ACORN PAC’s representatives went through an extensive process of interviewing each of the major Democratic candidates. ACORN is a national anti-poverty organization which has hundreds of thousands of members in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods in 104 cities.

"Last night, Sen. Obama received the more than necessary two-thirds of the majority needed from our elected national leadership to secure the endorsement," said Maude Hurd, ACORN’s National President. "Over the past months, we have worked with the leading candidates; ACORN’s members have deep appreciation and respect for Senators Clinton and Edwards and their work on behalf of our communities. What it came down to was that Senator Obama is the candidate who best understands and can affect change on the issues ACORN cares about like stopping foreclosures, enacting fair and comprehensive immigration reform, and building stronger and safer communities across America."

But there is a deep connection between Obama and ACORN:

When Obama met with ACORN leaders in November, he reminded them of his history with ACORN and his beginnings in Illinois as a Project Vote organizer, a nonprofit focused on voter rights and education. Senator Obama said, "I come out of a grassroots organizing background. That's what I did for three and half years before I went to law school. That's the reason I moved to Chicago was to organize. So this is something that I know personally, the work you do, the importance of it. I've been fighting alongside ACORN on issues you care about my entire career. Even before I was an elected official, when I ran Project Vote voter registration drive in Illinois, ACORN was smack dab in the middle of it, and we appreciate your work."

Obama ran Project Vote with the help of ACORN, and I believe his first legal case was representing ACORN. In short Obama has been fighting with ACORN on the issues that matter most for his entire career. But what will they do for him? Ohio ACORN at least is doing something:

GOTV for Obama! Ohio ACORN is doing a Get Out The Vote project with the OBAMA Campaign. Ohio ACORN is hiring canvassers to go door to door encouraging voters to vote for Barack Obama.

ACORN is hiring in Cleveland (216)431-3905, Columbus (614)425-9491, Cincinnati (513)221-1737, for Dayton (call Cincinnati), and for Toledo call Cleveland. Or email polnatoh@acorn.org and your inquiry will be routed to the appropriate person in each of these cities. Intake and training will be held daily at local ACORN offices. Canvass begins on Wednesday Feb. 27th and will work through election day. Please, only persons wishing to work all or most of these days (Saturday and Sunday included) should inquire.

Please do not contact the Obama campaign directly regarding this post as they are not the organization doing the hiring and it will only distract their staff and volunteers from the other important work they are doing on behalf of Senator Obama.

Not all endorsements are hugely meaningful. But anything that puts more troops on the ground will help in this close race. So you should get active too!

Join with us and let's March 4th Together.

Just by clicking that little image you can donate, have someone match you and let the donation is coming from us in the netroots. The Obama campaign is making a huge grassroots effort but it won't be cheap. So pony up ;) Also if you are that type, please call random people in March 4th States. It is not time to sit on the sidelines and watch. It is time to get active! Tag, your it!