Note: the HRC endorses Barack Obama as the best candidate for the preservation and furtherance of human rights.
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When I am President of the United States, gays and lesbians will have somebody who will fight for equal rights for them, somebody who opposes Don't Ask, Don't Tell, somebody who's fought to make sure that gays and lesbians aren't discriminated against on the job or hospital visitation. Because they are our brothers and sisters, and I don't mind anyone knowing where I stand.
— Barack Obama
November 16, 2007
That last part is my favorite: "I don't mind anyone knowing where I stand." For Barack Obama, standing up for GLBT rights isn't something he does behind closed doors, away from TV cameras. He does it with pride and resolve, without hesitation.
We've never had a President who's spoken like this. But we can – yes, we can – if we all pitch in.
John McCain's negative attacks are working. McCain is ahead by 5% in one poll this week. Make a donation to the Obama campaign through HRC and send a powerful message: people who care about GLBT equality are counting on Obama to stay strong.
Contribute to Sen. Obama's campaign in the next 48 hours and move us one step closer to a pro-equality White House.
http://www.democracyengine.com/page/oe260808
The deadline to make your gift is Thursday night, when Sen. Obama accepts the Democratic Party nomination for President of the United States in Denver. That's your last chance to have your gift count towards the donation limits that are set for the primary season – and the best way to send Obama into the general election season with the strength to beat John McCain.
Thursday night's speech comes 45 years to the day after Martin Luther King spoke of his dream on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Sen. Obama has made it clear that he believes the struggle for GLBT civil rights is an extension of the historic movement led by Dr. King – equally consistent with America's founding principles, equally urgent as a moral imperative.
Barack has promised to work for "an America that lives up to our founding promise of equality for all – a promise that extends to our gay brothers and sisters."
Donate before Sen. Obama accepts the nomination on Thursday and help break the anti-gay stranglehold on the presidency.
http://www.democracyengine.com/page/oe260808
But it doesn't start and end with the presidency. You can make sure a President Obama has the strong allies and leaders he needs in Congress when you support these courageous pro-equality candidates:
• Congressman Mark Udall, who has earned a 100% on HRC's scorecard and whose opponent for the U.S. Senate, former Rep. Bob Shaffer, earned flat 0% ratings in Congress;
• New Hampshire's former Governor Jeanne Shaheen, who signed a repeal of the state's ban on gay adoption, enacted a law to ban workplace discrimination, and supports her state's new civil union law;
• Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who has clearly and publicly opposed Arizona's discriminatory marriage ballot measures, in 2006 and again this year. She faces a tough reelection campaign against the state senator who cast the final and deciding vote that put the marriage amendment on the ballot this year;
• Iraq War veteran and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" opponent Ashwin Madia, who is running for a hotly contested seat in the battleground state of Minnesota;
• Comedian, writer, radio talk show host, and outspoken supporter of the GLBT community, Al Franken, who will be running against the Minnesota incumbent, Senator Norm Coleman;
• Mark Begich, who is running against the corruption-mired Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens. The race is an opportunity to replace a senator who's repeatedly cast votes against the GLBT community--voting for the Federal Marriage Amendment and against the Matthew Shepard Act--with a true GLBT advocate;
• Congressman Tom Udall, who supports key HRC legislation such as the fully-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act and strong hate crimes prevention legislation, and will be running for the open Senate seat in the battleground state of New Mexico.
All these candidates, Sen. Obama included, are in tight races. The winners will be the ones whose supporters tried the hardest, dug the deepest, and gave the most.
Give by Thursday night and help them win.
http://www.democracyengine.com/page/oe260808
There's so much at stake. There's never been an election like this one. Believe me, Troy, you're going to want to be a part of this.
Warmly,
Joe Solmonese
President, HRC
48 hours left until the biggest fundraising deadline of the presidential campaign!
Watch our new video and help elect Barack Obama and other pro-equality lawmakers.
http://www.democracyengine.com/page/oe260808
