It is my understanding that we Floridians have been known to botch an election or two. I am innocent I tell you but here I sit in the time-out beach chair just the same. Here's the thing; when you are in time-out, you have plenty of time to think. So, as I slather on my sunscreen, I am thinking about all the reasons to encourage you to vote for Senator Barack Obama.
I believe that Senator Barack Obama represents so many strands of who we are as a nation. I can feel the fierce urgency of now in the air. With Barack Obama's leadership, I believe that we can recover from 8 years of the current administration's dangerous and frightening lack of moral integrity. We have a good field of candidates but I can already see Obama inspiring unlikely volunteers to work together. I believe that Senator Obama is the one who can unite our country and turn us around. The fierce urgency is now. Now is our chance to stop them from driving us over the cliff. If the GOP maintains control of the White House in 2008, I don't think that our democracy can survive another term of attacks on the Constitution.
The Tampa Bay O-Train has been working to elect Senator Obama as the President of the United States, not the President of Florida, so even though our all-volunteer grassroots group continues to introduce Barack Obama's message to Florida, we also recognize the importance of what the four early primary states will be doing very soon. We have continued our fundraising efforts to help Obama win in your states.
We also created an all-volunteer Youtube music video. No, we are not professionals and probably shouldn't have tried this at home, but we have an abundance of audacity, so here it is in all its optimistic and amateurish glory. We hope that it inspires you as you suffer blustery conditions up north over the next month or two.
We shot our video at a few locations on both sides of Tampa Bay. We started in historic Ybor City, known as Tampa’s Latin Quarter. From its origins as a cigar manufacturing center, Ybor has become one of Florida's top-ranked nightspots. Ybor has a charm and beauty that is unique and is also one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida. The O-Train group meets regularly in Ybor City at the historic Marti-Maceo Club. The O - Train also organized a $25 fundraiser/rally last April at the Cuban Club in Ybor City where 3000 people welcomed Senator Obama to the Tampa Bay area.
We began our video shoot at King Corona Cigar Bar & Cafe where the owner, Don, welcomed us and you to come on over:
What is remarkable about Senator Obama is that he has attracted enthusiastic volunteers from all walks of life, all political parties, all ages, all races, religions and income levels. We discovered that our music video volunteers also represent that wide variety of people who would not normally be found working side by side. Obama's fresh unbeholden approach has brought us together. We are each trying to be part of the solution with newfound common ground and a strong sense of purpose.
Dr. Smith is feeling that sunshine!
Boofdah:
Sisters, sisters. There were never more devoted sisters:
Our next video shoot location was at Dr. Marty's home in the Clearwater area. Dr. Marty told us
"Just call me Marty because my mother didn't name me doctor."Marty was a wonderful host who treated each volunteer with warmth and enthusiasm.
Marty's beautiful home:
O-Train volunteers getting ready to go.
Yeah, we had choreography but no spirit fingers:
We took the time to listen to the wisdom of our elders,
O!
while our youth taught their elders a thing or two:
The peanut gallery was fired up and ready to go:
Bobnbob tried out Marty's hammock.
mommabobnbob and law ninja taking a break:
Barbara for Barack!
Our last location was on Bayshore Blvd not far from MacDill Air Force Base. We received quite a few thumbs up and honks from cars driving by as we shot this footage.
thefos, jjackso1, bobnbob, Rozrod, Georgia & Mizonglohong
Eric & Frank:
That's a wrap!
Please come on over and caucus for Senator Obama on January 3rd!
More O-Train pics here:http://www.flickr.com/groups/362034@N21/
A very special thank you to Eric Billington, Mo Eppley and all the volunteers who participated and made this such a fun adventure!
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