Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Obama Supporters Open Ojai Office

Ksenia McEuen’s painting of Obama, which will hang at the presidential contender’s local campaign headquarters behind the Ojai Arcade.

By Linda Harmon
Barack Obama will get a birthday present from Ojai on Aug. 4 when Ojai for Obama, a grass-roots group of supporters, opens its campaign headquarters at 323 E. Matilija St., Suite 116, at the corner of Montgomery Street, down from the Sunday Farmers’ Market.
“We are planning on opening a space where people can focus their energies,” said David Bush, an Obama supporter and one of four steering committee members that are setting up the Ojai headquarters. Other committee members are Sue Broidy, Stephen Rose and Peter Strauss. “We are a special community and we have a special candidate this year. We plan on making it a place where people can all come together, Democrats, Republicans and Independents, to elect Mr. Obama.”
According to McCain supporter and Republican caucus chair for Ventura County Mary Osborn, “We will not have an official storefront in Ojai, but we plan on launching a campaign in the valley.” Chris Collier, a McCain spokesperson, says the nearest headquarters is scheduled to open in Ventura at an undisclosed location.
The Obama office will operate under the direct supervision of one of the four alternating senior staff members, supplemented by volunteers, with Broidy as office manager.
“We already have a long list of volunteers,” said Bush, who held a successful Fourth of July fund-raising event for Obama in Meiners Oaks, part of the national Unite for a Change Day. “We raised $1,100 over the course of the day and an additional $530 was pledged online.”
According to Bush, the event drew more than 100 people over the course of the five-hour event, which featured live music and a barbecue, raising money by donations.
“As far as I know there has never been a campaign office here,” said Broidy. “For the last seven years that I have been involved with the Ojai Democrats it has usually been in my living room! I am thrilled that it is happening … It means we can all be campaign strategists now instead of relying on directions from a distant party consultant.”
David Mason, local historian, said that a trailer in the parking lot of what is now Starr Market served as a campaign office for John Kennedy’s successful bid for the presidency in 1960.
According to Broidy, Rose was the person to get the ball rolling.
“I was one of the original fund raisers for Obama over a year ago in L.A. right after he declared,” said Rose, who was then in the entertainment business and has since moved to Ojai. “The whole campaign has been about urging people to create their own experience. How could we not have an office in Ojai?”
The organization will have three main goals: phone banking, fund raising and voter registration. Rose says it will be a group effort and there will be “a main thrust to get teenagers involved in handing out fliers and registering voters.”
According to Bush, the organization already has plans for Friday night “socials” where volunteers can get together, brainstorm and plan.
“No more going over the hill for Obama supporters,” said Bush, who has joined others in Camarillo for earlier events. “As far as I know we are actually the Ventura County headquarters. I hope everyone will come join us for our grand opening (Aug. 4. 6 to 9 p.m.).”
To find out more e-mail dbush@ojaiforobama.com.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

ron paul

Anonymous said...

obama is nwo. Ron Paul dump fed reserve end gov driven economy infowars.com

Anonymous said...

I agree Ron Paul was are only hope to start changing the system. Obama will only keep it the same or cause us more debt. I don't care for McCain either but of the two choices he is the better choice. It really is about Corporate America running the country. Hold on and prepare for 300 a barrel for oil and more devaluing of the us dollar

Anonymous said...

Sure, there's lots of "sheeples" in Ojai who wants socialism in America.

Anonymous said...

What do you expect, with so many government officials ignoring democracy?

Anonymous said...

anything's better than what we have now...

Anonymous said...

anything's better than what we have now...

Really? How about what they have in Pakistan? Colombia? Mexico? Sudan? Indonesia? Iran? N. Korea? Algeria?

Ron Paul is a cute little idea for pseudo-intellectual Republicans who want to differentiate themselves from the visible Bush embarrassments. He's a "beautiful loser", just like Dennis Kucinich, who spouts great ideas (i.e. get rid of the Federal Reserve, or "Department of Peace") that would fail in practice.

Next time a 9/11, or Wisconsin flood, or Big Sur wildfire happens, just remember how Ron Paul would have handled it.

Anonymous said...

Next time 911 happens wake up this time and realize our government was involved. 911 truth rising watch on u tube. Don't be so quick to judge when you only get your info from the main media which is controlled by NWO www.infowars.com or www.prisonerplanet.com

Anonymous said...

opps that was http://www.prisonplanet.com/

Anonymous said...

Really? How about what they have in Pakistan? Colombia? Mexico? Sudan? Indonesia? Iran? N. Korea? Algeria?

Hey! You have an IQ over 65. That's an unfair advantage. Go sniff some paint and come back.

Anonymous said...

anything's better than what we have now..

"What are you so unhappy about?''
A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 Days a week?
B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?
C. Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?
D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?
E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?
F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?
G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.
H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.
I. Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.
J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.
K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with; a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.
L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents and neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.
M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world? May be that is what make you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

Anonymous said...

Amen, and amen again!

Anonymous said...

"Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?"
Wow you really don't see what is coming do you?

Anonymous said...

To quote Sean Hannity: "America is the home of souless consumers drowning in debt..."

Anonymous said...

The world loves the US?? I want what youre smokin!!

Anonymous said...

The paragraph says the world loves the US - as a country you want to live in, enjoy the good things in life, and all of the items mentioned. WHY DO A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO IMMIGRATE HERE? WHY ARE THERE MILLIONS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE US? Why is it that everytime a Republican is on the verge of winning an election, these so called anti- whatever threatens to move to Canada or another country? And guess what, these people never moved because they like it here so much they can't stand leaving their happy (or even unhappy)life here.

But it doesn't mean they agree or like what American government does or what we as Americans try to do in the international politics arena. Lots of countries don't want the US telling them what to do but you won't hear them complaining about the amount of money the US government spends on their country.

Anonymous said...

This thread pretty much sums up the OVN Blog.

SPK

Anonymous said...

That thread pretty much sums up SPK.

KMA

Anonymous said...

Good gov. agent now roll over sit stay nice training. I just have a nasty habit of thinking. Question every thing. THOSE WHO SACRIFICE LIBERTY FOR SECURITY DESERVE NEITHER B.F.

Anonymous said...

Truth is authority NOT authority is truth!!!!!!!!!!!truth is a virus

Anonymous said...

Ron Paul is out of the question. So you can sit around talking about it or do something that WILL better us as Americans and listen to Obama who WIll guide us into a better tomorrow of America! If we care about our GREEN OJAI and equal oppourtunity for all (children) then we have to choose the more likley person (Obama) who will provide this state of life.