To be clear

I'd like to clarify my position on "being positive." I am not in any way advocating saying only nice things about Senator Obama's opponents. Instead, I'm suggesting, tell the complete truth, but do it respectfully. The "What Would Obama Do?" concept is not literal, either, in that, as grass roots campaigners, we can and should talk about issues in detail that often Obama cannot.

For example, Senator McCain has clearly stated that one of his essential goals is to appoint Supreme Court justices specifically to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/95b18512-d5b6-456e-90a2-12028d71df58.htm

It is not negative campaigning to point this out. It is not "dirty" to provide truthful and complete information on the opponent's positions. With the above issue, it is also not negative to mention that no previous modern presidential candidate has admitted that they would select Supreme Court justices based on a "litmus test" of this kind, either for or against an issue. It would be negative, though, to say something like, "John McCain hates women," which would not be productive or influential at all.

Negative campaigning about McCain would include, for example, his age, his personal relationship/marriage issues, his temper, or the Internet-based "Manchurian Candidate" issue. You'll never hear Obama talk about these things, but, instead, you'll hear him honor McCain's military service, then talk about the issues McCain has stated his position on.

Cindy McCain is off limits, other than her public statements, such as her comments about Michelle Obama. The reason is, if the Republicans bait us into attacking Cindy, it will blur the evilness of their attacks on Michelle. We MUST take the high ground, and let the Republicans look like fools throwing their poop at us like chimpanzees as we march proudly to the White House.

The key is, we don't need to go negative to win, and, in fact, it would only serve to hurt us. We're winning now, and we will continue to do so as people finally get to know McCain for who he is now (versus the "maverick" he was in 2000), and as people who were not paying attention to the primary start listening to Obama and learning who he is. We should be positive, hopeful, respectful, and understanding that there are valid other viewpoints than ours, so we can use this new form of campaigning to usher in a new era of politics along with a new President.

The Step Back, Take a Deep Breath Event

On June 28th, many of us will host or attend a "Unite for Change" house meeting. The "Step Back, Take a Deep Breath Event" is a pre-event event of sorts.

Barack Obama has made it clear that he would rather lose with integrity, than win with a negative, dirty campaign. He has set an example of calm, positive, respectful campaigning that is unprecedented and inspiring, even in light of so many personal attacks against him, his family, his friends, and his supporters. Senator Obama is a model for us as we deal with people in our lives and on the Internet.

The general election has begun. We've just ended an emotional primary. We're up against an opponent more than happy to use old school, negative, dirty campaigning. It is so easy right now to get angry, to respond negatively, to get caught up into a downward spiral of name calling and fighting, even amongst ourselves.

We need to reset, reboot, take a deep breath and restart our brains and our emotions. This "event" is a moment, a few minutes before our house party, to do just that. Wherever you are, close your eyes, take a deep breath, let go of the past, clear your heart, and visualize how you intend to represent Barack Obama during the house party AND for the next five months. Commit to thinking, "What Would Obama Do?" every time you feel the urge to retaliate, whine, attack, or respond-in-kind to negativity.

Sign up for The Step Back, Take a Deep Breath Event

Republican Operation "whatevers"

Someone forwarded a link to an interesting article about yet another Republican Operation something that is designed to cause disruption amongst Democrats.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/5/18/84042/4327

I witnessed Operation Chaos myself - Rush Limbaugh's plan to disrupt the Democratic Primary by asking Republicans to cross over and vote for Hillary in the Democratic Primary instead of voting in the Republican primary, so I know these things are real. So how do we respond to this?

Remember this - as these people lurk for the sake of hurting us, they're also seeing us be friendly, fair, intelligent and caring. Read Barack Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope, to see how he handles racists comments, etc. These people are simply uninformed. They've been told we "liberals" are elitist godless monsters, and tend to stick to a couple of "news" outlets - FoxNews, Limbaugh, etc. that reinforce those mistaken stereotypes. So this is an opportunity! By doing what Obama would do, being respectful, staying out of baited arguments, giving intelligent discourse, we have the opportunity to reveal ourselves to be who we really are. It's unlikely, but still possible, to move some of these people over while they lurk, or at least diffuse their anger. It's simply another good reason to stay on point and stay positive.

Before you respond to any emotional, divisive post or comment in groups, blogs or forums, ask yourself these things:

1. Could this be a troll (someone who is just trying to cause trouble)?

2. Am I reading this right (often we read into things what the person didn't intend - a weakness of the typed word versus the spoken word)?

3. What would Obama do in the same situation? Would he attack?

Hillary and Positive Campaigning

As a reformed Republican, I understand the high level of emotions our race against Hillary Clinton created. Senator Obama brought me to the Democratic Party after 27 years as a Republican. It's been 16 months of grueling, face to face, heated campaigning. During this time it's been difficult to remain positive and respectful, as Senator Obama has requested we do.

When our football team wins, we often get in the faces of opposition fans. It's only natural in our competitive society. Just as it's easy to "go negative" against an opponent, it's easy to gloat when we win.

At this moment, though, we are in a different situation. We didn't win against an opposition party, nor against a set of policies we were strongly against. Instead, our candidate was selected over the other candidates, who all had similar positions, within the same party. We're all part of the same team, now with the same goal, to get Senator Obama elected to the Presidency of the United States.

So, in the name of "What Would Obama Do?", I suggest we put the past completely behind us and join with the Hillary supporters who are now Obama supporters. Senator Obama has asked us to do it, and it only makes sense to welcome new team members with open arms. Close your eyes, breathe deep, release the past, and let's move on to November as a unified group.

Yes We Can, Together!

The Past is Past

After creating this site, I started conversing with some fellow "reformed Republicans" about the old school politics we used in the past. Of course Democrats play the same tricks, but Republicans are pros at the attack ad.

• 1988 Bush Sr. against Michael Dukakis - The "Get Out of Jail Free" cards we handed out to make it seem that, because Dukakis let Willie Horton out of jail early, he was pro-criminal. ''Mike Dukakis has furloughed more than one murderer per day,'' said the small yellow card. It was headed, as in the game Monopoly, ''Get Out Of Jail Free, Compliments Of Michael Dukakis.'' It went on to say: ''Mike Dukakis is the killer's best friend, and the decent, honest citizens' worst enemy.''
• 1992 Bush against Clinton - starting with Gennifer Flowers, list is too long to mention.
• 1996 Dole against Clinton - same ol' same ol', but the added "fun" of attacking Hillary for her health plan, and even rumors of her murdering Vince Foster.
• 2000 Bush against Gore - Captain Planet, "I invented the Internet," "Lock Box..." All we did was mock him and make him into a cartoon.
• 2004 Bush against Kerry - Remember Kerry in the "bunny suit?" But it was the swiftboating that is a model for negative campaigning.

I am so excited that Obama has been able to get this far without any personal attacks, rumors, or fake issues (like flag pins). It's inspiring, and I'm enjoying the new political world. When Obama wins this general election, it will be a message to everyone, especially Republicans. However, it appears, based on the Republican Party failing multiple times this season in special elections using dirty politics, that they will not learn. That's okay - because right now we're supporting a Democrat!

Welcome to the WWOD blog

It's difficult to remain positive during this campaign! Senator Obama wants a new kind of campaign, and has asked his supporters to join him in being positive, respectful, and sticking to the issues. So I've created this site to help us think before we speak, "What Would Obama Do?"

I am a reformed Republican. My family and I have been working on the Obama campaign in Indiana for many months. I've been a supporter since before Senator Obama announced his candidacy, after reading his book, The Audacity of Hope.

As a Republican during past elections I have been a participant in Republican attack-politics, what I call Old School Politics. Through Obama's leadership, I have seen the light, but it's like suddenly never swearing again - not a quick and easy process. Here is what we should NOT do:

• Attack other candidate's personal lives or personalities.
• Spread rumors or insulting jokes.
• Get caught in arguments about "fake" issues like gaffes, pastors, flag pins, etc.
• Get angry or confrontational, no matter how others are acting.
• Use foul, divisive or racially charged language.

It will be difficult, as I've slipped several times just in the last few weeks. Won't you join me in this new world of positive campaigning?