Message to Obama: "Show Me You Have The Courage"

Run time: 06:26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X1yf8ZdK1c   Posted on YouTube: May 31, 2009 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: May 31, 2009 By DU Member: keepCAblue Views on DU: 1309

 
Robin McGehee's heartfelt and transcendent speech at the Meet in the Middle 4 Equality rally held in Fresno, CA on Saturday, May 30, 2009 - the first Saturday after the CA Supreme Court ruled on the court case to invalidate Prop 8 that passed in November 2008, eliminating the right of same-sex couples to legally marry. At 4:30 into the video, Robin McGehee gives a message to President Obama, asking him "show me you have the courage, show me you have the courage to produce change that I've believed in, that I've lobbied for. I've believed in you, and I'm asking you to prove it." Robin McGehee was forced to resign from her position as President of a P.T.A. board after she attended a "No on 8" rally. She was instrumental in organizing the Meet In The Middle 4 Equality rally.

-The bill to "reign" in the credit card companies is a joke.

-He spent more time on TARP than actually reinstating Glass-Steagal; there's still NO new regulation.

-Iraq (enough said)

I know it's still too soon to tell but he's just another Clinton, a Republican in Liberal's clothing.

I should've voted for Nader.

feel duped.

The more I learn about the guy, the more angry I get. We treat the only guy thats done more for this country as a citizen than any politician in office as a leprous. Are we really that stupid?

"We treat the only guy thats done more for this country as a citizen than any politician in office as a leprous. Are we really that stupid?"

As the saying goes "What have you done for me lately"

Well? What has Nader done lately?

You seem to want to do the same for Obama.

I could really give a shit about the "what have you done lately" scenario.

-The work of Nader's organizations led directly or indirectly to the formation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, deregulation of the airline and trucking industries, at least eight major federal consumer protection laws, and periodic recalls of millions of defective cars and trucks.

-his research has led to the passage of numerous consumer protection laws in such areas as automobiles, mining, insurance, gas pipelines, and meatpacking, as well as the creation of government agencies such as the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

-opposed the use of chlorinated fluorocarbons, which damage the ozone layer; and worked to prevent limitations on damages that consumers may receive from corporations through civil lawsuits.

THAT is what he's done for you lately. He's inspired laws and started organizations you and I take for granted everyday. Every principle a true liberal adheres to, Nader put into action. I'm not getting upset with Obama because he "hasn't done anything for me lately", I'm upset because he isn't addressing problems that have been more than outstanding. BELIEVE ME, I truly hope he proves me wrong!

the candidate that you feel would serve America best.

...but you're doing it anyway. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

TARP, for all it's faults and flaws, kept a major depression from happening.

We're getting out of Iraq. SO what's the problem?

Yeah, you shouldn't voted Nader. Nothing like voting for someone who only points his head out every 4 years to feed his vanity.

It seems the far left put a litmus test to people just like the far right does.

The far left needs a divided America just as much as the far right does.

-I agree with TARP, I see it's necessity (I never said I didn't) but it is ABSOLUTELY POINTLESS to pump someone full of blood while letting the wounds that caused the loss go unchecked. I understand rescuing the banks, the Financial Services industry makes up over 40% of our economy but ask yourself WHY. Ask yourself WHY we had to bail the banks out to begin with. It's the very thing republicans want and very thing democrats turn a blind eye to, unregulated financial-free-for-all.

-"We're getting out of Iraq" -says who? if you look at the policy instead of the rhetoric; we are most certainly NOT getting out. We're pumping more troops in and spending more money on it. The "timeline" is a pacifier for people like us, and on you it's obviously working.

-"Nothing like voting for someone who only points his head out every 4 years to feed his vanity."
Are you fucking kidding me?
Think about your interpretation of him "poking his head out"; when is that? how is that? -the media. I'm sure if Nader could get more coverage he would be happy to oblige. Unfortunately, his funding, and his coverage is grossly inferior to mainstream candidates.

-"4 years to feed his vanity"

Non-Profits started by Nader;

Citizen Advocacy Center
Citizens Utility Boards
Congress Accountability Project
Consumer Task Force For Automotive Issues
Corporate Accountability Research Project
Disability Rights Center
Equal Justice Foundation
Foundation for Taxpayers and Consumer Rights
Georgia Legal Watch
National Citizens' Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest
Pension Rights Center
PROD (truck safety)
Retired Professionals Action Group
The Shafeek Nader Trust for the Community Interest

1969: Center for the Study of Responsive Law
1970s: Public Interest Research Groups
1970: Center for Auto Safety
1970: Connecticut Citizen Action Group
1971: Aviation Consumer Action Project
1972: Clean Water Action Project
1972: Center for Women's Policy Studies
1973: Capitol Hill News Service
1980: Multinational Monitor (magazine covering multinational corporations)
1982: Trial Lawyers for Public Justice
1982: Essential Information (encourage citizen activism and do investigative journalism)
1983: Telecommunications Research and Action Center
1983: National Coalition for Universities in the Public Interest
1988: Taxpayer Assets Project
1989: Princeton Project 55 (alumni public service)
1993: Appleseed Foundation (local change)
1994: Resource Consumption Alliance (conserve trees)
1995: Center for Insurance Research
1995: Consumer Project on Technology
1997: Government Purchasing Project (encourage purchase of safe products)
1998: Center for Justice and Democracy
1998: Organization for Competitive Markets
1998: American Antitrust Institute (ensure fair competition)
1999: Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest
1999: Commercial Alert (protect family, community, and democracy from corporations)
2000: Congressional Accountability Project (fight corruption in Congress)
2001: Citizen Works (promote NGO cooperation, build grassroots support, and start new groups)
2001: Democracy Rising (hold rallies to educate and empower citizens)

His Activism investigated government corruption, publishing dozens of books with their results::

Nader's Raiders (Federal Trade Commission)
Vanishing Air (National Air Pollution Control Administration)
The Chemical Feast (Food and Drug Administration)
The Interstate Commerce Omission (Interstate Commerce Commission)
Old Age (nursing homes)
The Water Lords (water pollution)
Who Runs Congress? (Congress)
Whistle Blowing (punishment of whistle blowers)
The Big Boys (corporate executives)
Collision Course (Federal Aviation Administration)
No Contest (corporate lawyers)
Destroy the Forest (Destruction of ecosystems worldwide)
Operation: Nuclear (Making of a nuclear missile)

People who think THIS is vanity are the same people that eat up everything the media tells them with out doing any research or thinking on their own.


-"It seems the far left put a litmus test to people just like the far right does."

YES! YOU'RE FINALLY RIGHT! When you're dealing with issues of morality, THAT IS PRECISELY WHAT YOU DO. It's not dividing a country but standing up for what you believe is moral or immoral. When choosing a politician that is most representative, YOU-DO-NOT-PICK-PEOPLE-OVER-PRINCIPLES. Something that I did by voting for Obama instead of Nader.

Ralph ran on ego, hiding behind principle, and bears some responsibility for the regime of Bush and Cheney.
As much good as he did and more, was negated by his ignorance of the difference between Bush and Gore
Your list of his accomplishments ends in 2001. It really ended in 1999

You hit the nail right on the head.

There's a reason why even Nader's most staunchest supporter didn't support him this time around. They knew he wasn't running for them, but was running for himself.

Nader warns of the growing "imperialism" of huge, multinational corporations: an evolution that, he feels, has led to a grand convergence of corporate and government power -and you want to equate him with Bush and Cheney, are you fucking serious?

Nader is at least intelligent and doesn't cow-tow to special interests and the Saudis! He's devoted his life to helping this country. Politicians devote their lives to helping themselves.

Even though that list ends the organizations, the activism, and the consumer rights carry on. Here's another list;

1. Ending Slavery
2. Ending segregation
3. Civil Rights
4. Clean Food and Water
5. Safe working environments
6. End of Child Labor
7. GI Bill

The list above ends at #7... but what is listed are things we PRESENTLY benefit from everyday. I'm sorry I have to explain the "list" concept to you.

>>>>-I agree with TARP, I see it's necessity (I never said I didn't) but it is ABSOLUTELY POINTLESS to pump someone full of blood while letting the wounds that caused the loss go unchecked. I understand rescuing the banks, the Financial Services industry makes up over 40% of our economy but ask yourself WHY. Ask yourself WHY we had to bail the banks out to begin with. It's the very thing republicans want and very thing democrats turn a blind eye to, unregulated financial-free-for-all.<<<<<

And keep in mind this happened well before Obama took office. So now he has to spend time trying to unscrew what happen while the Bush Administration. Could it be better? Hell yes. But I'd rather see him handle it the RIGHT rather than the LIBERAL way.

>>>>-"We're getting out of Iraq" -says who? if you look at the policy instead of the rhetoric; we are most certainly NOT getting out. We're pumping more troops in and spending more money on it. The "timeline" is a pacifier for people like us, and on you it's obviously working.<<<<

Yeah, because Obama promised "immediate" withdraw from Iraq during his campaign. Wait...no he didn't. He promised all troops out by 2010. Maybe we should wait until them to pass judgment don't you think?

>>>>Are you fucking kidding me?
Think about your interpretation of him "poking his head out"; when is that? how is that? -the media. I'm sure if Nader could get more coverage he would be happy to oblige. Unfortunately, his funding, and his coverage is grossly inferior to mainstream candidates.

****a whole bunch of stuff that ends in 2001*****<<<<<<

Again, what has Nader done lately?

That's the question you're asking of Obama right? Nevermind the progressive promises he's kept, why hasn't he kept all his progressive promises? He's been president a whole 4 months after all.

>>>>YOU-DO-NOT-PICK-PEOPLE-OVER-PRINCIPLES. Something that I did by voting for Obama instead of Nader.<<<<

You're right, you don't pick people over principles. But what you and a bunch of other liberals did instead was pick IDEOLOGY-OVER-PRINCIPLE.

Contrary to what you may believe, ideology and principle are totally different.

But that is just the beginning.

To date there are eleven trillion bucks going from Main Street America to Wall Street. Without much supervison, other than the assurance that we can 'trust' Geithner, Summers, Rubin and Bernancke.

In other societies those people would be hanging from lamp posts!

Both he and Michelle know to their core the risk to them.
Yet they get up everyday and work for this country.