By Michael Crawford
We are down to the wire folks with only seven days until election day. In that seven days we can expect McCain, Palin and the GOP to throw as much slime and diversion as they can muster to try to scare, terrorize and fool voters into voting for them.
We can’t let them get away with it. Not this time. Not this year. Not when so much is at stake.
By Michael Crawford
Cross-posted at Bilerico
With little more than two weeks before election day, now is the time to pull out your little black book and contact everyone in it about Barack Obama.
This election is the most important in at least a generation and for LGBT Americans it is even more crucial. We have the chance to play deciding role in electing the most pro-LGBT president in history. And, the difference between Sen. Obama and John McCain could not be clearer.
Allowing McCain to be elected as president would four more years of the kind of anti-LGBT policies that we got from George Bush. Electing Sen. Obama has president opens up the definite chance for us to finally pass an inclusive ENDA and the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act, to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and to finally develop a national AIDS strategy.
By Michael Crawford
As LGBT organizations kick their electoral efforts into high gear, a number of groups are sponsoring training sessions to recruit and strengthen the skills of volunteers. The efforts are a great chance for you to learn how to get engage with campaigns in your local community, meet new and make a difference in the fight for LGBT equality.
Here are some upcoming trainings:
NJ/NY – September 13
Organizations in New Jersey, including Garden State Equality, are holding a day of campaign training for volunteers for Barack Obama and Democratic Congressional candidates on Saturday, September 13 from 9am-1pm. The training will take place at Montclair State University, University Hall, 7th floor, One Normal Avenue, Montclair, New Jersey, a close-in suburb of Manhattan. You can take an NJ Transit train from Penn Station in Manhattan directly to the campus and back.
The training is free and breakfast will be provided. Please arrive Saturday at 8:30 am to register.
The speakers will include New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, U.S. House candidates Dennis Shulman and Linda Stender, Newark Mayor Cory Booker and several others.
The training is coordinated by BlueWaveNJ PAC. The program will include training on:
Cleveland, OH – September 20-21 and
Long Island (Huntington), New York – September 20 – 21
The Human Rights Campaign presents Camp Equality™, an intensive, 2-day interactive training program that combines lectures, discussions, and real-life simulations. Camp Equality™ teaches both advanced and fundamental skills to help strengthen the impact our community has on the 2008 elections. Click here to register for a Camp Equality™ near you.
At the two-day training, you’ll have the opportunity to choose one of two tracks:
Advanced Track: Working on a Campaign: This track is designed for you if you are one of our more experienced campaign volunteers. This track teaches participants the modern mechanics of organizing for political campaigns. During your sessions you will learn advanced techniques of targeting, organizing, media relations, volunteer coordination, Get Out the Vote, and the latest campaign technology.
Fundamentals Track: Working on a Campaign: This track is designed for you if you want to learn the step by step fundamentals necessary to be successful at the grassroots level. Topics will include: planning, volunteer recruitment, field, planning events, canvassing, earned media, and even writing a blog. You will learn the basic skills that are essential to putting your local issue or political campaign in the best position to win.