This weekend, I got to be a part of one incredible event on the most beautiful fall day ever. President Clinton along with several other of Arkansas' present and past political leaders (and Mary Steenburgen) were in town for a "Painting Arkansas Blue" rally. The event originally started out as a Get Out the Vote rally where we were going to meet, march down to the early voting location, and then have a cookout. Well, just a few days before the event was scheduled it grew exponentially and I got to be involved. Jason got to play grillmaster and I helped serve up the food.... not glamorous jobs, but boy people love some free food!
Anyway, the speeches were all excellent. It was really something to see so many people here of all places gathering to show support for Obama! I would love so much to see our state be something other than solid red on the electoral map... I'd even be ok with baby blue. I just hate that we're considered in the bag for the Republican party. I'd really like to think that we could show the country that we're more progressive than that, particularly since we seem to be A-Ok with electing Democrats on the state level.
Afterward, I hung around and got to shake Clinton's hand and tell him thanks for also talking about Initiated Act 1 because it is so under-covered here, but is really very important. For those of you not in Arkansas (or those here who don't yet know) it's an act on the ballot that would prohibit so so many people from potentially becoming foster parents. It would ban anyone who is unmarried (gay or straight) from serving as a foster or adoptive parent and take away the ability for judges to make decisions on a case by case basis. It was really good to hear him and Ms. Steenburgen speak out against the act and I'm happy that I got to thank him for that in person. I tried to get a picture with him, but it was nuts and I only managed to get a blur, oh well. I did get lots of good pictures throughout the day. You can check them all out on flickr.
5 comments:
Sounds like a day to remember!
Check out the electoral college graphic from the nation's high school election at channelone.com---only 5 or 6 red states on the map!
Clinton is still so freakin' charismatic!
I tagged you on my blog 'cause I'm mean like that. Go read it! :)
So cool! I've already voted, and I was a big NO on Act 1.
I miss Bill.
Yeah, Act 1 is making me very sad, it's not looking good for how it turns out either :(
The best thing I've heard about the failure of act 1 is someone who asked if all the self-righteous voters who voted it down are now going to take in all the children who need homes. Yeah, I'd guess that's a big NO.
Someone on a news bit today on the radio actually said that she is certain that with effort put toward educating people about the need for foster/adoptive parents, all the children who need homes will have them.
I'm sure all the people at DHS are slapping their foreheads in shock that they didn't think of that! Sheesh!!!
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