Obama wants you to pledge loyalty to him tomorrow

American Thinker ^ | March 20, 2009 | Lona Manning

[neverdem]

They have taken a pledge of loyalty to Obama, and they say they are coming your way tomorrow for yours. Organizing for America, the Obama-for-President campaign morphed into Obama-for-Maximum-Leader army, will hit the streets for their "Pledge Project Canvass," knocking on doors and accosting folks in parking lots and sidewalks to ask them to sign a pledge to support Obama's policies for health care, energy and education reform.

Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee, is variously described in the media as [President Obama's] "own version of a lobbying firm", "a parallel organization to the Democratic National Committee" and "an independent force to lobby for Obama's goals" (Houston Chronicle); "an independent group" (Dayton Daily News); Obama's "citizen army," and a way of building public opinion" (The Bergen County Record); "a grass-roots lobbying group," (Roll Call), "Obama 2.0" (Newark Star-Ledger), "a joint partnership," (DNC press release), and as a "political bully," (AP).

According to Mitch Stewart, Director of OFA, the organization will be "getting out in front of Washington and asking our elected officials to lead the charge on energy, education and health care this year."

So one might suppose that all the names and emails collected this weekend will be sent to our lawmakers in Washington in the form of a petition. Except that David Plouffe, Obama's former campaign director and an "advisor" to OFA, has emphatically stated that they will do no such thing.

Plouffe "stressed that Organizing for America is not aimed at twisting the arms of members of Congress but meant to keep activists engaged on issues such as health care, energy and the economy."

Syndicated columnist Dick Polman reported on January 29 that:

"Mr. Obama's aides emphasized that the effort was not created to lobby directly or pressure members of Congress to support Mr. Obama's programs... ‘This is not a political campaign,'' Mr. Plouffe said. ''This is not a 'call or e-mail your member of Congress' organization.''"

Whoops! Looks like Plouffe is out of the loop on that one. The OFA website prominently asks people to call Congress and helps them look up their representative's name and number. It even provides a script.

Now, it is confusing to see the Democratic National Committee asking for help to persuade the Democrat-led Congress and the Democrat-led Senate.

But according to OFA Director Stewart, ordinary folks like you are needed to combat "a Washington establishment that doesn't welcome change.... It's up to you to show Washington that Americans are demanding this new direction."

Okay, so who in Washington, exactly? Is the DNC going to give the names and emails to lobbyists? To Washington bureaucrats? That's doubtful. The sign-up sheet to be used for the pledge drive does not mention any privacy policy.

It does reveal (at the very bottom) that OFA is a project of the DNC. This might come as a surprise to dedicated Obama supporter Janine Poppa, who told the Dayton Daily News, "It is a nonpartisan effort, and I hope people believe it's nonpartisan, because we truly do need each other to move it forward."

Poor Ms. Poppa might be disillusioned to learn that the Florida Democratic State machine unabashedly bragged to the St. Petersburg Times that they were "preparing to tap into Barack Obama's grass roots machine to build the biggest political operation ever seen from the state party."

"The million-dollar question is how to translate the activism and enthusiasm that Barack Obama was able to create and translate it down the line,'' said Steve Schale, a Democratic consultant who managed Obama's Florida campaign. "That's the challenge, but fundamentally the state is better for Democrats than ever before because of what Barack Obama was able to do. It's still up to candidates to have compelling messages and drive up enthusiasm."

No doubt the Florida Dems will be getting another memo from Plouffe to remind them that OFA a movement "not to win an election, but to change this country."

Phillip Elliott reported in January that the extensive OFA email list is not even being shared with the DNC: "Party officials had hoped Obama would transfer his list of supporters to the party, a move that would put them in control of one of the most extensive campaign organizations in politics. Instead, Obama decided to keep ownership of that enormous campaign and install his own loyalists to run it."  This was done, Obama's aides insisted, in the name of being "post-partisan."

And Stewart and Plouffe, those idealistic grass-roots campaigners, stress that OFA is all about getting feedback from the Obama followers: "Mitch... believes so strongly in feedback, so we want to hear from you!"

The website is all about making "sure your voice is heard."

So tut-tut to Macon Phillips, the 30-year-old White House director of New Media, who told the New York Times that the OFA website "would give the White House another way to reach the public without having to rely on the mainstream news media." Doesn't he know that OFA is for people to communicate with their Leader, not for the Leader to send messages to his people?

Turns out even commenters at the Daily Kos are skeptical of the post-campaign uses of a campaign database.

"A small concern... again, small, but I need to voice it. I'd love to work like this to push for certain issues and policies I want to see enacted......however...I don't want to see this turn into some type of "permanent campaign". If anyone knows how the Obama administration is drawing that line I'd like to hear about it."

"There's no more campaigning to do.We won. Now it's up to us to usher in Obama's Age of Responsibility by working together to help fix America. The new goal is in service projects, not electioneering."

"I think it would be nice to include a smidge of something somewhere about the difference between governing and campaigning - it'd not only help answer any critics, but it would again draw another difference between the Obama administration and 8 years of Bush."

Whatever OFA is, David Plouffe at least thinks ''[t]his has obviously never been undertaken before. So it's going to be a little trial and error.'' As we noted on Wednesday, it seems as though OFA's organizers are ignorant of the lessons of history and of the sinister ambitions of leaders who created their own private organizations, loyal only to them.

[boxerblues]

“Castle Law” is protection & self-defense of your home and family from all invaders with whatever means necessary.

[PennsylvaniaMom]

Though tempting, I would not deface their ‘property’ in anyway. Anything like that, in writing, could be distorted as some kind of threat. I wouldn’t touch their papers, their clipboard...but I love the idea of using my cell phone to make a photographic record of the ‘canvasser.’ A photo of their vehicle/license could also be useful should any subsequent vandalism occur. Just about every cell phone is a camera these days...put it to use!

[LibertyRocks]

Perhaps I should’ve added the word “Physical” before “Altercation” when I said the last thing we need right now is an Altercation.

I have no problem with getting right back in their faces, and telling them “what’s what”, and exactly what I think of their ideas and plans for us. They have no problem showing anger towards us, and it is HIGH time that they tasted a bit of their own medicine. Freedom of Speech is there for a reason and if we don’t USE it we WILL lose it!

I would just hate to see people winding up in jail with an assault and battery charge which would leave them completely unable to speak out due to an inability to control their tempers. Self-Defense, OF COURSE! OFFENSIVE action - NO. Some people are well-suited to engage in a “healthy” passionate debate. Others, and people probably know if they are this sort or not, find it difficult to do so without losing their cool...

That’s the only reason I included the caution - to remind people to check themselves and make sure they are in control of themselves before attempting to confront these people because they WILL push every button you’ve got just HOPING you will haul off and hit them and they can have you arrested...

Civil Disobedience is admirable as long as you are fully prepared to accept the consequences of your actions. I however do NOT condone, nor will I advise anyone to engage in physical violence. That would only hurt our cause at this point I feel, and give Obama more ammunition to use against us.

This is all just my opinion of course, others are obviously free to disagree with my POV.

[Logic n' Reason]

Of course we'll pledge our loyalty to obammer!

Our kids too!!

Don't think this can happen???

Think again....then act!

[LibertyRocks]

ROFL... I don’t think I could’ve resisted going out and saying something to them! It might have been great fun to see them bristle and be afraid like they try to make us feel when they are in a group...

At least we know that some of THEM know that members of the Military will NOT take kindly to their ideas and propaganda...

God bless you & thank you - from the bottom of my heart - for your service to our Country, and for protecting my family.

[LibertyRocks]

I told my husband about all of this when he came home last night, and one of his ideas was to make a huge sign saying BEWARE: COMMUNISTS ARE NOT WELCOME HERE...

Alternately, we are considering printing up these bills and at least handing them out along with a copy of the Constitution to all of our neighbors on our block. We’ll probably create a special package of information about Fascism, Communism, etc... for our Obama worshiping City Councilwoman who lives on the corner though! I know for a fact that my Hmong neighbor who fought with us, and suffered under the Commies will recognize exactly what we are seeing... Hopefully, I can talk to him and he can spread the word among their community as well... I don’t think ANY of them want to see what happened in Laos happen here...

[GoCards]

Anyone comes a knockin that you do not know. DO NOT answer the door.

[grobdriver]

Ave Ceasar...

[Arpege92]

“This would not be a good time to come knocking on my door. they might hear some things they dont agree with.”

Hell, I welcome the knock. Nothing would make feel better than tell off an obamabot and then throw them off my property!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[surfer]

I think some people might be getting knocked out today!

[LibertyRocks]

Sorry, I missed your post earlier!

Try not to be frightened, although I understand exactly how you feel. Remember the old line if it helps — “We have nothing to fear, but fear itself”. It’s a VERY true statement.

God doesn’t want us to be fearful. He wants us to stand firm and tall, and if you pray and ask for his help and guidance in these things he WILL be there for you, even in the midst of the WORST things you can possibly imagine... Put your faith and trust in the Lord, and seek Him out whenever you start to worry or be afraid. Even just taking a few seconds to quickly pray a silent prayer requesting the assistance of Heaven’s Host of Angels can help tremendously I’ve found.

I think your plan to tell them that you are loyal to God and Jesus alone, or as you said for our Jewish Freepers God alone, (or for our Pagan Freepers - whatever god you have pledged you life to, for our Atheist Freepers perhaps something along the lines of refusing to pledge unquestioning loyalty to any man, etc... etc...) is a VERY good one... It will allow you to publicly affirm your faith as well as send a clear message that there are those of us that will NOT blindly follow them.

As you said, perhaps it will make them think for a moment and consider what they are really asking us to do by signing these oaths. I’ll be praying that God will use this opportunity to open some of their eyes.

Keep your head up — no matter what happens we have the Lord’s promise that WE WILL PREVAIL in the end! We are under His wing, and with God ANYTHING is possible!

May God bless you & yours Livius, and may He protect you from all harm. - LR

[LibertyRocks]

Just after I finished my post to you my favorite praise song of all time started wafting through my head. I’m a singer, so for me singing also helps dispel my fears...

I wanted to share with you the following hymn. It always hits me square in the heart, and gives me courage...

(Apologies to those Catholics who may be sick to death of hearing this song, and who by merely seeing these lyrics may give you an “ear worm”! LOL I don’t know if this is still a common hymn for mass or not, but we must have sang this a million times when I was growing up!)

If you’ve never heard the song itself, I did find a decent version on YouTube which you can hear here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBH-Eh9Bjjg&feature=related

~ Be Not Afraid Lyrics ~

You shall cross the barren desert,
but you shall not die of thirst.
You shall wander far in safety,
though you do not know the way.

You shall speak your words in foreign lands,
and all will understand,
You shall see the face of God and live.

Be not afraid,
I go before you always,
Come follow Me,
and I shall give you rest.

If you pass through raging waters
in the sea, you shall not drown.
If you walk amidst the burning flames,
you shall not be harmed.

If you stand before the pow’r of hell
and death is at your side,
know that I am with you, through it all

Be not afraid,
I go before you always,
Come follow Me,
and I shall give you rest.

Blessed are your poor,
for the Kingdom shall be theirs.
Blest are you that weep and mourn,
for one day you shall laugh.

And if wicked men insult and hate you, all because of Me,
blessed, blessed are you!

Be not afraid,
I go before you always,
Come follow Me,
and I shall give you rest.

[TYVets]

Going door to door with a petition takes on a whole new meaning with the castle law in so many states

[Antoninus]

I’m glad to sign it using my Cambodian alias, Phoc Yew.

[Piquaboy]

I wish they would come knocking on my door. They will then have to go home and change their underwear.

[boxerblues]

Maybe I will try out a new wardrobe this weekend, open carry with a brand new holster...maybe in pick leather

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I hope they come to our door.

Think of what fun Charley has with Mr. Turtle or Bernie and you'll get a sense of what's in store for the first Obot who darkens my doorstep.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I must be living in a different world.

You are living in a different world, mate. You're in Australia. The USA is getting to be more of an alien planet every bloody day.

[MrB]

Foo Beaux

Cajun Cambodian

[spectre]

http://www.printfree.com/Signs/no_soliciting.htm