We had around seventy to eighty people show up for the Texans for Obama/Asian Americans for Obama Meetup at Scholz’s yesterday at 5:00 PM despite the unusually chilly weather.  It was an excited, enthusiastic crowd, and the energy for Sen. Obama this far in advance of the election was inspiring.  The Meetup also provided a great way for several undecided people who are curious about Sen. Obama to learn more.  I had fun talking to both those who are already on board and eager to contribute and those who are intrigued but still waiting to make a decision on the race.

We even had a great media presence.  To see the News 8 Austin coverage of our event, click here.  Watch this space for a whole hour of coverage from Austin’s local cable access channel.

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Just a reminder to those in the Austin area to sign up for the first Asian Americans for Obama Meetup this Sunday, January 28, at 5:00 PM at Scholtz’s Beer Garden.  We’ll be meeting with the Texans for Obama group to discuss ideas for contributing to the campaign and for celebrating the February 10 announcement.

Go here to sign up, or click on the link on the right side of the page.  Don’t forget to RSVP after you join!

This Friday, January 26, 2007, at 10:00 AM, join a group of prominent Houston business, political, and civic leaders in a show of support for Sen. Obama’s Presidential run at a press conference at Reggae Hut, 4814 Almeda, Houston, TX 77004.

Check out the Evite here, and take a look at the press release for the event here.

Spread the word!

Senator Obama announced today that he will file papers to create a "presidential exploratory committee."  This is one of the first major steps towards officially declaring as a candidate for the Presidency, and it is looking increasingly likely that Sen. Obama will be running for President in 2008.  This is why it is even more important that grassroots organizations such as ours must build up our networks and resources so that we can hit the ground running when Sen. Obama makes his official decision on February 10. 

Here are some simple steps you can take right now:

1. Spread the word about our website,  www.asianamericansforobama.com. 
2. Tell your friends, family, and colleagues to join our mailing list by e-mailing asianamericansforobama@gmail.com.   
3. Spread the word about Sen. Obama’s announcement by telling people to visit http://www.barackobama.com/video/from_barack_transcript/index.php for the transcript of the announcement and watch the video.
4. If you’re in the Austin area, spread the word about our first Meetup at Scholz’s at 5:00 PM on Sunday, January 28.  Go to http://democrat.meetup.com/1059/ to sign up.
5. E-mail us and VOLUNTEER!!!

Here is the text of Sen. Obama’s announcement:

A Message from Barack

                         

Watch Barack’s statement
on forming a Presidential
Exploratory Committee

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Have you been waiting for your chance to shine on the next American Idol?  Are you racking your brains for a way to show America and Sen. Obama why he is the right person to lead our great nation?  Then start flexing your creative muscles and send in your original video to the Students for Barack Obama YouTube Video Contest!  From the Students for Barack Obama website:

"STUDENTS, CITIZENS, LEND US YOUR VOICES!
             

We’re looking for you, the Obama supporters of the web generation to
put your tech savvy to the task of persuading the Senator to run for
President.  We need the best, the brightest and the most creative of
you to send in your video asking, imploring, or outright begging Barack
Obama to run for President.  Explain why you think Senator Barack Obama would make a great  President.
Persuade him with statistics, arguments, or personal appeals.  Sing him
a song.  Pledge your paladin’s Sword of a Thousand Truths in his
service, or something.  We can’t wait to see the awesome ways you
demonstrate your support.  We’ll post our favorites on this site for
all to see, and send a bundle of them to the Senator himself.
               
Here’s how it works:

1.  Record your message to Barack Obama, explaining why you want him to run
2.  Post your video on YouTube
3.  Submit your link to the below form:  Students for Barack Obama will
use this to get in touch with you about your video.
4. Then, we’ll post the best videos that fit the following specs:
    - Why you support Obama.
    - Between 15-60 seconds long.
   
- No attacks on other Presidential candidates.  We’re shooting for new
kind of politics — a kind where nominees are not the lesser of two
evils, but the greater of two goods. "

So grab your cameras, get your friends together, put on your dancing shoes, and make America proud.  For more information on submitting your video, go here or here.

From the Associated Press via the Chicago Tribune:

Obama a hit as he honors MLK; no presidential announcement

By ASHLEY M. HEHER

Associated Press Writer

Published January 15, 2007, 2:27 PM CST

HARVEY, Ill. — Sen. Barack Obama sounded more like a preacher than a
politician on Monday when he brought thousands of faithful admirers to
their feet during appearances honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

But
Obama didn’t deliver the one thing the crowd clearly wanted: a
declaration that the nation’s only black U.S. senator would run for
president.

"I didn’t want to use this day to indicate my plans because I am
humbled by what Dr. King accomplished," said the Illinois Democrat, who
told reporters he would make an announcement about a possible
presidential bid "very soon."

"I
don’t think that whatever my political plans are, are comparable to the
heroic struggles he went through," he said. "And I don’t want to draw a
false parallel."

Read the rest of this entry »

From the Associated Press via the Chicago Tribune:

Obama a hit as he honors MLK; no presidential announcement

By ASHLEY M. HEHER

Associated Press Writer

Published January 15, 2007, 2:27 PM CST

HARVEY, Ill. — Sen. Barack Obama sounded more like a preacher than a
politician on Monday when he brought thousands of faithful admirers to
their feet during appearances honoring Martin Luther King Jr.

But
Obama didn’t deliver the one thing the crowd clearly wanted: a
declaration that the nation’s only black U.S. senator would run for
president.

"I didn’t want to use this day to indicate my plans because I am
humbled by what Dr. King accomplished," said the Illinois Democrat, who
told reporters he would make an announcement about a possible
presidential bid "very soon."

"I
don’t think that whatever my political plans are, are comparable to the
heroic struggles he went through," he said. "And I don’t want to draw a
false parallel."

Read the rest of this entry »

From RunObama.com, some news about Sen. Obama, including a rumor that he may announce his bid for the Presidency on January 15, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Dear Friend,

Happy New Year! On the first day of the new Congress Senator Obama took a strong stand against corruption with an Op-Ed in the Washington Post writing:   

"This past Election Day, the American people sent a clear message to Washington: Clean up your act…   

     The truth is, we cannot change the way Washington works unless we first change the way Congress works."   

Changing Congress may be Step One but sending Barack Obama to the White House is the Next Step.

With reports growing every day that Sen. Obama will announce his
decision in January, it’s important we do all we can to encourage him
to run for President. In fact, the NBC 5 News in Chicago hinted in a recent report that Obama may have a major announcement coming as soon as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this weekend.

Send the RunObama Petition To Your Friends and Family to Spread the Word About Barack Obama

Barack Obama has been increasingly compared to Bobby Kennedy for his
ability to inspire and involve people. Last week Ethel Kennedy, Robert
Kennedy’s widow, spoke to the New York Times about Sen. Obama and said,
"He’s terrific.  He can’t run soon enough" and later:

As she rode in an elevator, surrounded by a few members of her family,
Mrs. Kennedy lowered her head when she was asked whether such
[security] concerns should prevent Mr. Obama from running. She shook
her head, indicating her answer was no.

“Life,” she said, “is an adventure.”

The  RunObama Blog is your place for the latest news and analysis on Senator Obama.

Happy New Year!

The RunObama Team

Welcome to Asian Americans for Obama!  Our organization was created to help reach out to and organize the Asian Pacific American community to help elect Sen. Barack Obama the next President of the United States.

Watch this space for information about Sen. Obama, events, member tools, and multilingual outreach materials.  In the meantime, visit Run Obama or Draft Obama to sign the petition to encourage Sen. Obama to run.  Also, students can visit Students for Barack Obama to join their nationwide campus organizing efforts and find out about their Facebook group.  Facebook members can also join the Asian Americans for Obama group.

Asian Americans for Obama is currently looking for volunteers to help organize local chapters, design and maintain the website, or translate site content and outreach materials.

To join our mailing list, volunteer, or for more information, e-mail asianamericansforobama@gmail.com.