The people of America need our help. This past November the world watched with great anticipation as Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States.

Many of us hoped this historic moment signaled a significant change in US domestic and foreign policy. Others believed in the fundamental idea behind Obama’s nomination and presidential campaign: to move on social and environmental issues – and to re-engage people in our democracy – we need to embrace a new style of political leadership. Leadership born of respect, empowerment, and inclusion.

Right now the Obama administration is trying to bring forward real and substantial HEALTH CARE INSURANCE REFORM. And it is desperately needed.

47 million people in America lack health care insurance coverage. It is the first piece to a larger agenda for social, environmental, and economic progress. The Republican Party and a network of impassioned conservative activists have been highly successful in drowning out and distorting what insurance reform is all about: Reducing Costs, Increasing Choice, and Expanding Coverage. The Republican strategy? Oppose all reform, spread miss-information, incite hate and distrust, build on-the-ground opposition, vote down legislation, break President Obama, and win back the White House/Senate. If this legislation fails the greater agenda for change is under serious threat. We need to help citizens rise above the fray while providing facts and honest information.

OBAMA AND OUR AMERICAN NEIGHBOURS NEED OUR HELP.

Over the coming weeks we will being using tools available from “Organizing for America” to call Americans to help them better understand what his plan is really all about.

As we did to help Obama get elected, we will be organizing “Call your Southern neighbour” parties across Canada. Together, we can help our fellow Americans get public health care.

During 2007 and 2008 hundreds of Canadians flocked to the US to help Obama get nominated and elected. We knocked on doors, engaged volunteers, and reached out to people one phone call at a time.

Join us in the coming weeks to help make the promise of change real.

November 4, 2008 marked a historic day for many citizens in America and around the world as Barack Obama, the first African-American, was officially declared the winner of the US presidential election. It has been an exciting time for us at Canadians For Obama – but this victory wouldn’t have happened without the dedication and support of all of you.

It’s been such a long journey for Canadians for Obama, but it has been worth every moment of it. We received calls from our volunteers across Canada and the States letting us know about how they were able to help out. One of the co-founders, Braeden Caley, who was in Washington DC and Centreville, Virginia informed me throughout the day how his Canadian team got out the vote on the grounds.

We’d like to express our sincerest gratitude for all that you’ve done thus far, whether it be phoning our neighbours to the South reminding them where to vote, driving long distances and dealing with American border guards just so that we could volunteer for the campaign, or just calling our American friends and family – this was all the reason for change.

Democrats Abroad Canada is organizing a meet-up for people from Canada attending the Obama inauguration. We will meet outside the security perimeter at the Third and C Streets NW security check-point. Closest Metro stop is Judiciary Square on the Red Line, which is two blocks north of the security check-point. Michael Meneer of Democrats Abroad Canada will be at/near the intersection holding a Canadian flag starting at 8:30 a.m. Around 9:00 a.m. we will have some brief remarks from Democrats Abroad leaders, then proceed together to find a good viewing location for the swearing in.

STORIES FROM THE ROAD

Over the past couple of weeks Canadians for Obama has been collecting stories of fellow Canadians who were able to volunteer with the Obama campaign (and also those who wanted to share their congratulations). Thank you all that have contributed your stories thus far.

NEXT STEPS for Canadians for Obama

Well now that we’ve gotten Obama elected, what do we do next? We got some great ideas to channel all this empowerment and energy:

Volunteer in your community. Now that you’ve been re-energized and feel all this power to do good, let’s go out and change the world!

Help the Canadians Political System! Get in touch with your municipal, provincial or federal parties to help out where you can – we need all the help we can get our own country rebuilt! Email us and we can give you some leads.

For me, a remarkable string of campaign trips started because of a casual conversation – a conversation between good friends about how a certain aspiring American leader was offering and in many ways exemplifying so much of what we sought from our own politics. I never thought I’d meet that man, talk to him, and certainly not travel tens of thousands of miles to campaign for him, repeatedly(!) – but in 2008, I did – and the experiences I had along the way, and the cherished memories I hold from them, will stay with me forever.

Years before he would eventually become President of the United States, Barack Obama began to fascinate us. He inspired many in 2004, with his call for an end to the steep divisions that have – for far, far too long – defined politics not only in the United States, but throughout much of the world. He demanded unity, and he demanded better from his fellow citizens and leaders.

As a candidate for President, his demands began to resonate more strongly with my friends and I. His story was so compelling, his promise so exciting, and his courage so necessary for a troubled and violent world that we quite simply decided we had to be a part of ensuring Barack Obama and his ideals could win.

In a spur of the moment decision, we packed three carloads full of enthusiastic Canadians and campaigned for the final push in the Washington Caucuses, way back in February of 2008. We phoned relentlessly, that first night. We made posters, we folded pamphlets, prepared walk packs, set up caucus station leaders’ packs and had an absolute blast. We were in Snohomish County, on the edge of Everett. I thought, going down to work on this brief campaign, that it would be a first and last quick foray into the inner machinations of a one-of-a-kind Presidential campaign, but what we discovered when we won that on Saturday Caucus in February – the day Barack won his first state after ‘Super Tuesday,’ – was that this was not so much a campaign as a movement. Excited, inspired, and motivated by how easy it could be to help bring about such important change, we then became some of that’s movement’s most active footsoldiers.

I campaigned in Washington, Texas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia. We took some big groups and some small ones – all inspired young Canadians (with the exception of Kaila Ann from Snohomish!!!) from across the full spectrum of Canadian political affiliations – and some who had never been involved in any sort of politics ever before.

Thank you everyone for your continued support and assistance for the sea of change that is occurring to our Southern neighbours. Can you believe we’re in the home stretch here, with the finish line in sight? Naturally, we’re all following the news and know that the numbers are looking very good, but this no time to slow down. We need to continue working at full speed to ensure the vote that we registered and ID’d actually makes it to the polls!