The Innovation Platform
As many of you know, I've always been deeply involved in politics. I believe there is such thing has good government run by good politicians who write and pass good policy.
It's with this in mind that I'm excited to announce my support for Reshma Saujani's campaign for Congress.
Reshma's first and biggest hurdle will be the primary election she has this coming Fall. As we get closer to the date, I'll be asking for your help in getting out the vote.
Right now, however, I want to point you to what has drawn me -- along with Chris Hughes, Jack Dorsey, Alan Patricof, and many others in the startup community -- to backing Reshma: Her "Innovation Platform."
Click-through to the Innovation Platform and you can find new policy ideas from Reshma and her supporters. On this page you can find Reshma's stance on immigration reform, and on this page you can find my idea for increasing Scholarships for Computer Science.
Reshma's Innovation Platform is innovative both in terms of content and format. It's her platform mixed with ours.
So please, go add your voice to her platform. Let's change politics together.
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Dancing to ‘Hail to the Chief’ and Sweating to the National Anthem
I believe my toes are still numb from yesterday's Inauguration; but my heart is warm for two distinct reasons:
The first was the sight of people dancing the The Presidential Anthem ('Hail to the Chief') for the first time in my lifetime (maybe ever?). 'Hail to the Chief' has always seemed somewhat inappropriate to me: not because we shouldn't revere our President, and give him the respect the Constitution allows him, but because the march seemed to highlight the outsized amount of Power held by such unfitting men.
When Obama exited the steps of the Capitol and the band struck up, people danced all around me. "Change We Could Believe In" became "Power We Can Celebrate." It's a newer, smarter Power, and I look forward to seeing it in action.
And if we are ready to dance to "Hail to the Chief" I think we should be ready to sweat to our National Anthem.
The second reason I am so moved is because I believe the call to National Service made yesterday will be met by my fellow Americans. Obama renewed the call for us to tackle our Nation's problems as if it was effort like going to the moon. To step up, "not because it is easy, but because it is hard."
I believe my work with the NY Tech Meetup is one form of service: hopefully our work will help create jobs and a stronger industry will stimulate technological advances which are good for all people.
However, it is not enough. So, this weekend I am going to start orientation to become a Big Brother. I've chosen Big Brothers and Big Sisters of NY (over great programs like Camp Interactive) for personal reasons (see below), but there are so many ways to serve society and this Country. I'm sure many of you already do serve in some way (and many work to serve their families in a way which cannot allow more work); but if you do not yet serve in some way, consider Obama's call to service, and consider joining me and sweating to the National Anthem.
Personal Note: I’ll point you to the inspiring story of America’s first Big Brother, as reported in the Cincinnati Post in 1999.
Here’s an excerpt:
The phrase ‘All men are created equal’ echoed in [Irvin] Westheimer’s mind, fresh from a re-reading of the Declaration of Independence that began his day. But the pitiful scene in the downtown alley struck him as a bleak contrast to Jefferson’s powerful eloquence.
Westheimer ran downstairs and introduced himself. The boy, friendly but somewhat wary, said his name was Tom.
That Irvin Westheimer, seen below presenting Richard Nixon with a plaque naming him an Honorary Big Brother, was my Great Grandfather. (Click image to enlarge and read the funny quip Irvin said to Nixon at the event)
One Week
I awoke this morning with very strong feelings.
One week.
It weighed on me. Today's Tuesday. Next Tuesday Barack Obama will be President.
As I got out of bed and got ready for work, I thought back so something Michelle Obama said a matter-of-factly times during the campaign season -- her word still rang true to me:
"Barack Obama will be the underdog until he is sitting in the White House."
One week, and Barack Obama -- and everything he stands for -- is still the underdog.
Getting this far was the unlikely story of my lifetime. Seeing Barack Obama speak at the 2004 convention, and then knowing he should be the next President, only to then become a part of that unlikely story and successfully change politics -- it's almost too much for a 25 year old to reconcile.
Were we, as underdog believers in a Different Democracy -- a Country throwing itself at the Future, rather than hiding and fighting under the cloak of its past -- really successful in our efforts to Change the world and elect Barack Obama? Will he, sometime in the early afternoon of January 20th, 2009, really sit in the White House?
Will our ideals go from underdog to topdog?
Not yet.
The fight for affordable healthcare, equitable taxation, Smart Power, green power, vibrant educational and competitive technological systems has just begun.
We were underdogs for this chance. But now we have our chance.
So, this week, let us celebrate -- one last time -- this accomplishment. Let us dance and sign one last time. The fight was hard and the victory was sweet. We won the Chance to Change.
But next week -- one week from today -- let's get to work.
Mobile Commons Legislative Lookup Tool
In building technology for campaigns -- electoral and otherwise -- one of the most difficult tasks is determining which congressional district you're working in. The databases which hold such information are generally out of date, proprietary or without APIs. Worst of all, they're tied only to existing voters and their addresses, versus a specific location on a map. This means that it's next to impossible to target unregistered voters with relevant campaign information. This also means existing voters have to look-up their district with one of these clunky tools before calling their representatives to ask for change.
My friends at Mobile Commons just fixed this problem, releasing an open source database for querying congressional and state legislators by latitude and longitude.
As a former campaign worker, I see this new tool being incorporated in applications like the Barack Obama iPhone app or a mobile application for Union outreach workers, giving Organizers the ability to quickly and accurately ID a constituent's congressional district and deliver relevant information.
Whatever the tool is used for, I'm excited. This could end up being a really powerful tool for Democracy 2.0.
Blue or Red
When people congratulate me on the Obama win, I tell them to congratulate Fran Ginn.
It's a cliche in politics to talk about your prototypical volunteer or case-study supporter, but the case-study story-telling comes easily to those who are out on the campaign trail talking to hundreds of voters and volunteers. Someone stands out to you and reminds you why you're doing what you're doing, whether you're the candidate, staff, or a volunteer -- and that person makes everything you see and do on the campaign tail make sense. That person stands for the campaign.
I had two such people while in Ohio. One was Fran Ginn: a woman who, in her 60s, just got her college degree a few years ago. She's religious and cares about many moral issues, not just one. Health care is a problem for Fran, because both she and her husband need it and need it to be affordable. She knows the truth because she lives it: no free-market solution will ever exist for those with pre-existing illness. Obama's plan was speaking directly to the systemic neglect of her condition.
Fran's also a great writer. The essay below, called "Blue or Red" was published in the local County weekly. I asked her for an electronic copy because I think it's important for you -- my reader -- to know the real people we should congratulate for Obama's victory. It's Fran, for the hundreds of doors she knocked on and the dozens of minds she helped make up to support Barack Obama's unlikely victory for this Country.
Blue or Red, by Fran Ginn
I got dressed this morning so my dear husband could take me out to breakfast. As I walked out to his truck I realized I was wearing a red top and blue jeans, I thought to myself, there I go again being indecisive.
I used to be all red all the time. Red stands for pro-life. I am definitely pro-life. Red also stands for a laissez-faire economy; if we leave the economy alone competition will take care of it; I don’t believe that one anymore. Red stands for banks and whatever they want; lend money to everyone and then expect the government to bail them out. They insist that some people sign papers letting the bank take payments out of their accounts. When an emergency comes up and these people don’t have a payment to give, the bank takes what little money they have left, then closes their account. Red stands for loss of our freedoms; government meddling into our private business. Red stands for a war that almost everyone knows is wrong, except the ones in charge. We need new bridges, college costs are up, public schools are failing, and our elderly have to go thumbing because there is no money for them either.
I have to start wearing more blue. Blue is helping people that want and need a union to get one without getting fired from their job. Unions stand for regular raises, protection of workers jobs when they are sick, health insurance, and retirement plans. Blue stands for reforming the way companies go bankrupt and how they handle worker’s retirement accounts. Workers will get their pensions before management takes all the available money. Blue means we will not waste anymore tax dollars in a useless war in Iraq. Blue means passing laws that let older Americans live in their homes with help instead of going to nursing homes.
I realize neither party will have a perfect solution to problems. This year, more than any before it, we need some real change in the way our economy is run. We must not stand still for the United States to go into debt to a Communist nation like China. What happens when China forecloses on the United States? Can that happen? I don’t know for sure. Somehow, we must turn around this economic mess and come out on top. The few freedoms we have left may be at stake. Blue stands for Obama/Biden, and that’s who I will vote for this November.
Ohio needs you
If it's not clear to you why we must elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States, please watch Fmr Sec of State Colin Powell's stirring endorsement of Obama's campaign.
But while endorsements help win a news cycle or two, they don't win campaigns. Here in Ohio, the most pivotal state in the 2004 election and once again "ground zero" for electing our next President, we need more ground troops in the final weeks and days leading up to the election. We need you knocking on doors and talking to swing voters.
Why do we need people? Because McCain's ruthless strategy of sowing doubt about a Black man with a middle name of Hussein is working.
Dozens of folks I've talked to ask me, "Is it true he's not a Christian? Is it true he doesn't pledge allegiance to America?" Folks here know Obama's policies are best for America, but they're being lead to doubt him as a person.
And this is where YOU, as a person, come into play.
More powerful than any dishonest robocall or fear-mongering mailpiece is your presence at someone's door.
The media may lie (talk radio is powerful business in these parts), but a friendly face with an earnest and respectful desire to talk about the election never does.
So, this is my ask for you to come and help. And here you have two options:
- Visit the Come to Ohio site on BO's website and get placed in the right area by the campaign experts.
- Come to Cincinnati and work with me and other local organizers. Use my contact form to let me know when you plan on coming.
Ohio needs you. I know you can give up a weekend -- so please do.
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Campaign Update (Podcast)
I recorded this the other night:
No Regrets
No Regrets -- My Story
Effective Monday, I have taken leave from Rose Tech Ventures and am dedicating my next month to helping Barack Obama win presidential election by winning my home state of Ohio.
On Sunday, I took the 20 hour train ride, from New York to Cincinnati, passing through three critical swing states (PA, VA, & OH) and meeting folks of all walks of life. If you ever get a chance, you should ride The Cardinal and see some of America's best towns.
Monday morning, at 10am, I then reported for duty at the Eastern Cincinnati campaign HQ, and am working with the local Obama Campaign for Change organizers -- taking any and all command -- until election day, knocking on my old neighbors' doors, calling folks across town, and helping organize more volunteers.
I've dropped everything so that come November 5th, I have No Regrets. I'll be blogging my experience here, Tweeting a lot, and doing some live broadcasts from my new Qik account.
What are you doing?
What ever you do, I hope you have No Regrets too.
No Regrets -- The Video
This video is a part of the call for you to have No Regrets too.
Helping out in this campaign is easier than you may think. Many of you have great intentions, and would love to help out in this campaign. The only problem: you don't know how damn easy it is.
But easy -- and critical -- it is: Just go to My.BarackObama.com, register your account, and take a look at the Dashboard they create for you. There, you'll find a list of thing that need to be done -- stuff you can do. It may be calling voters (after your first call, it's a breeze) or it may be traveling to a nearby swing state to knock on doors. It could also be something as simple as sending a letter to an editor. Go do this now.
Also, if you're already doing something for the campaign, please head to NoRegrets08.org -- the video's official site -- and record your story.
No Regrets -- The Final Push
For many of you, taking time off work is hard. It's been hard on me too. Very hard. But, to make it easier for you, I'm offering to find you room and board in exchange for you taking a few days off work in early November, traveling to Cincinnati, and helping me get the final vote out. Already I have three folks signed up. I'd like to get a dozen more.
If you're willing to come to Cincinnati from Oct 30th -- November 4th, contact me here and I'll get you hooked up with a place to stay. We need your help!
No Regrets -- Making the Video.
When I started collaborating with Lindsay Campbell, Fred Graver, and Adam Quirk on the No Regrets video (see above), I picked "No Regrets" as a theme, because I feel strongly that it's the perfect measurement of one's involvement in this campaign.
The idea: as long as you call a voter when you have a moment, go knock on doors in a swing state when you have a day, or give a dollar when you have it, you can't -- regardless the outcome of this election -- have any regrets. So, let that be your guide. How much should you contribute? Enough so you won't have Regrets.
The reason I was collaborating with Lindsay and Fred in the first place is because they're such great representatives of this mantra. There are few people busier than Lindsay and Fred. One is a rising star in the emerging space of episodic video and the other has several Emmys under his belt, and is working full time on a new startup. Let's at least assume they tie in business with most of you, my readers. But, Fred's traveled every weekend for the past month to a different swing state, knocking on doors and talking to voters. He chronicles his experiences on his Tumblr and in The Huffington Post. And Lindsay, well, she's been going down to West Philly every weekend for weeks, registering dozens of new voters and talking to uncommitted voters.
So this video is about walking the walk. Adam Quirk, who edited the video and helped write and direct it, chipped in because he wasn't sure if he'd get back to native Indiana or not, so helping with this video would be his part.
Scott Solary can't take time off to knock on doors, so he helped shoot this video and get the word out about how you can have No Regrets in 2008.
BREAKING: Obama ‘08 iPhone app now available
Early this morning, the Official iPhone app of the Obama/Biden campaign went live in the iTunes app store.
The application -- which I was able to help test over the last two weeks, under strict muzzle orders from its developers -- allows you to call your friends in swing states, find local events, and access Obama's platform at your fingertips, among other things.
An earlier version of the application also had a "Find Polling Location" feature, which was cut from this first release version, presumably in an effort to get the app to market as soon as possible.
And, while the application itself isn't extremely tied into the campaign, the developers did some interesting things to tie it into its networks of users.
For instance, when you make a call to a voter in a swing state (the app sorts your address book by swing state), it also uploads stats on how many calls are being made. Then, on the application's stats page, you can see how many calls have been made nationwide and how many the top caller has made.
While possibilities abound for how an iPhone app could be more integrated into a political campaign (door knocking lists and voter regisration come to mind), the Official Obama '08 iPhone app does mark a revoluntionary step in political/technological history. Clearly, bringing a campaign to mobile handsets is the future of electioneering -- where the key to winning campaigns is still door to door, location-based voter contact.
Registered to Vote?
Are you registered to vote?
FYI, here's a link to register.
It's important that you do this now (like NOW!) if you haven't.
Who is Nate?
You've found Nate Westheimer's blog. Nate wears many hats. He's the EVP Product & Technology and Co-founder of AnyClip, the Organizer of the NY Tech Meetup, and Advisor to Flybridge Capital Partners.
More about Nate can be read on his Bio page and you can follow his thoughts on Twitter
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