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AndrewAdamCaldwell
Yeah, that's me in the big bow tie. I was 10 yrs old, the USA was turning 200, and I was already eager to learn about politics. I was a proud delegate to the Washington State Democratic Convention representing the 43rd legislative district, precinct 1875, and I was a candidate for National Delegate. Though I was not elected on May 17, I still wanted to represent my great state, and I proudly ran for At-Large Delegate. While I was not selected for that honor either, I continue to work hard to elect Barack Obama, and will be in Denver for the Convention. --> How I have worked so far to help get Obama nominated: Bucks & Busses & Buttons & Votes! I donated the $2300 maximum amount for the primary season out of pocket, then found whatever ways to assist others in their efforts. I helped with the 43rd LD Caucus. I co-sponsored a busload of 40 volunteers and traveled with them to help register voters in Portland. I've designed buttons, made buttons by the thousands, and helped ship them to other states by donating shipping costs. I've worked every voter registration I could possibly attend, from the public events to my own individual efforts (I carry voter reg forms in my bag at all times). Ask many of the other delegates on this site--have I ever said "no" when asked to help out... unless I was already committed to someone else's Obama event? --> What I plan to do going forward to ensure Obama gets elected: See above... And More! I will continue my above efforts to raise funds, register voters every weekend in the Neighborhood Challenge, design/punch-out/distribute buttons--in addition to my design and organizational work on the Obama Pride committee (I created t-shirt and button designs unique to our celebration) and grass-roots efforts in the 43rd LD and beyond. I will continue to network with those involved in the campaign, and work hard to reach out to others who might have stood on the sidelines during the primary season (or even supported another candidate), to grow our campaign and unify it into a powerful force. McCainanites aren't gonna know what hit 'em... --> My unique contribution as a delegate to make our delegation stronger: Guts... and humor! My own life has never been "politics as usual," as a liberal growing up in a conservative state. I offer my past experience working as a gay activist in ketchup-red Idaho, which trained me how to talk to those who might disagree with us, from Clinton Democrats to Independents to McCain-leaning Republicans. (I convinced a McCainiac co-worker to caucus for Barack.) I also know that many people still vote based on gut-feelings as much as they do based on issues, which requires as many one-on-one conversations as registrations or TV ads. Barack's campaign itself challenges the status-quo, and I have done that myself in my AIDS and LGBT activism in the past and in my current work for Obama, but with the same careful attention to individual requirements of the moment. For me, humor is often the key, and as anyone who's attended any events with me will testify--I bring a unique sense of humor to any campaign event, making even the most tedious tasks fun and festive. (Just ask the gang who bussed to Portland.) If you can get someone to laugh--even a staunch McCainanite--you have one foot in the door. --> My plan in Denver... and beyond: Bootcamp! While Obama's dynamic campaign has earned the number of pledged delegates and superdelegates necessary for the nomination, Denver could be a very unique and interesting place. Just as this is an historic year, it won't be a typical convention. We must continue to shore up support for his nomination before August, and I won't relax my steely support for Obama the Nominee until he's up there on the podium giving his historic acceptance speech on the historic anniversary of Martin Luther King's "Dream" Speech. While in Denver, I will network with other Democrats from other parts of Washington State to shift our state out of the "swing" column and make it a sure thing for Barack, as well as continue to increase my reach of contacts around the country for our campaign efforts, from button-making to grass-roots-advice-sharing. Though I resist warfare metaphors, I also have no illusions about the ruthlessness of the Republicans' wanting to hold on to power and the status quo. Denver is going to be Democrat bootcamp, and we need to show the opposition party--and the country--that Democrats can (and will) march in lock-step together to make the audacity of hope and change a reality. I am ready to serve. After Denver will come the task of unifying the troops (including reaching out to Hillary supporters, very numerous in my own gay neighborhood in Seattle), staying on message, and continuing to grow our numbers of registered voters, volunteers for Obama, and support for our ticket. Back at 43rd LD Caucus I made the pledge to devote all my free time to the Obama campaign, and I will continue to work hard in the Neighborhood Challenge to get voters registered, and share my experiences with other campaign workers via net-based message groups. I see grass-roots-organizing as our secret weapon. But all of this doesn't end on November 5, or even January 20. After the election, Obama will need his campaign to become the movement necessary to make "the change we've been waiting for" happen. We'll need to pressure our Congress to pass his legislation, and organize our communities around his strategies for change. A delegate for Obama must be a member of that movement, more than just a political officer, and willing to serve long past the election season. He or she must be a passionate active citizen, and an example. That is my goal and my promise. To learn more about me and my support and work for the Obama campaign, click here. To learn more about my pre-Obama political ancestry and activity, click here. My email address is andrew_caldwell@hotmail.com. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments about my work and committment to the Obama campaign.
Latest page update: Jul 20 2008, 12:12 AM EDT
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