Respect, Empower, Include.

[kpete]

Respect, Empower, Include.

Those aren't just words on a poster at the Oakland office, those are three words that, as Esperanza told us, express the core internal values of the Obama campaign. Sure, Senator Obama is running to win. You don't outraise your opponent by millions of dollars with the help of hundreds of thousands of small online donors if you aren't serious about winning an election.

But he's also running to prove that you can win big by winning the right way, by bringing out the best in people, by showing respect, by empowering, by including.

I'm not going to sugar coat it. I've walked precincts before. It's hard work. It's a far cry from a touchy feely experience embodied by touchy feely words. My knuckles hurt from rapping on doorjambs. I've been on my knees all day shoving lit under doors, I've been stuck outside security trellises squinting into homes at faces I can't see.

But there's 77 people in Oakland who are counting on me; I've walked and called and persuaded today. I'm their guy. I told everyone, "Hey, I'm around, I'm right here till this election is over. I'm here for you."

As Esperanza said. "Nobody's done ground like this in a California Presidential primary since Bobby Kennedy. You're part of that."

And we are. We're a team.

And from my point of view, that motto, those core values about how to treat people, how to talk to people, how to communicate absolutely shine through.

Respect. Empower. Include.

I'd be lying if I didn't have a question to ask of you. If you support Senator Obama would you like to join us this last 24 hours?

LINKS AND CALLS FOR HELP AT:
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/2/4/20835/87521/677/449856

[msongs]

1. wow, he borrowed that from howard dean nt

[DJ13]

2. "he borrowed that from howard dean"

Probably with Dean's blessing after the Hillary camp tried to institute a coup against him a year back.