Obama Outdoes FEMA on Disaster Relief

[Joanne98]

This is something I've never come across in a campaign. If you go to Obama's website, this is the first thing that pops up on his splash page:



The link takes you first to a sub-page of Obama's site, asking everyone to find out how they can help, and then takes you to the Red Cross website. According to this DKos diary, the Obama campaign has sent out e-mails requesting that people help by donating to the Red Cross. One of the TPM Cafe readers posted the following message that he received from the campaign:

We need your help right now.

In Quincy, Illinois and surrounding areas, the river is expected to crest on Monday or Tuesday.

There are emergency sandbagging operations going on right now and public officials have put out a call for all available volunteers. Your help is desperately needed.

The widespread flooding in the Midwest has affected millions of people. We have an opportunity to use our grassroots movement to make a real impact at a time of urgent need.

If you can assist, please travel to one of these areas this weekend:

QUINCY, IL

Oakley-Lindsey Civic Center
South 3rd St. and Kentucky St.
Quincy, IL 62301
Map and Directions

Saturday and Sunday, June
14th - 15th
6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Volunteers are asked to come through the north doors of the Oakley-Lindsey Center. Everyone will be asked to sign a registration sheet as they enter and leave so the city can keep track of the volunteer service.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring shovels, gloves and sturdy shoes.

NIOTA, IL

If you'd like to help sandbag in Niota you can call Hancock County emergency services at 217-357-6004 for more information.

URSA, IL

Volunteers are still needed in Ursa. The operation is underway at Shaffer Farm, along the Ursa blacktop road, 1/8 mile west of the North Bottoms Road.

Volunteers are also requesting cold bottled water for those who are working.

More information on volunteering in this area:

http://my.barackobama.com/floodvolunteer

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who have been affected by the recent flooding through the Midwest.

If you are not able to make it to Quincy but would like to help, visit the American Red Cross to donate to their relief efforts or find out how to get involved.

Thanks,

Obama for America

I'm on Obama's mailing list, and usually get several messages a day from them. I've not gotten this one. Based on the comments from burnedoutdem, it appears that the campaign is cross-referencing their e-mail database by address and sending specific messages to people in specific areas. That's...bloody brilliant. Simple enough when you think of it, but a whole helluva lot more useful than, say, the general approach taken by Fuck Everybody Mercilessly Always. Or is that Fire Every Motherfucking Asshole? Anyway, you know the agency I mean, They Who Shall Not Be Effective.


Obama's not even President, and already he's thinking quick and smart in the middle of a major disaster, and actually doing some good. Which is a huge improvement on sending ice shipments meant for New Orleans to Maine instead, or turning away doctors who want to provide aid in the disaster zone.

Damn, I guess I'm still "bitter", three years later...

Incidentally, if you go to McCain's website, the splash page links you to the following Statement By John McCain on the Midwest Floods:


ARLINGTON, VA -- U.S. Senator John McCain today issued the following statement
on the flooding in the Midwest:

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to all those impacted by the flooding throughout the Midwest. Cindy and I would like to extend our sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones, and stand ready to help those in the Midwest to recover and rebuild."

I'm not knocking McCain's sincerity here. But I can't help notice that between the two candidates, one of them is offering condolences, and the other is coordinating and soliciting actual help.
http://halfricanrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/06/obama-outdoes-fema-on-disaster-relief.html

[babylonsister]

1. Amazing difference, isn't there. I'm thrilled he's trying to help. nt

[Joanne98]

2. Me too!

O8)

[sudopod]

3. When you have a hammer, all of your problems look like nails.

In Obama's case, however, it's a magic internet hammer that can multiply itself by 1,500,000, so that's OK. :)

[madrchsod]

13. would that be a Estwing hammer made in Rockford, Illinois

and Maze nails made in Rock Falls, Illinois ?

http://www.estwing.com/
Estwing

http://www.mazenails.com/
Maze Nails | Maze Nail Group:

rebuild america with america products and labor!

[Reterr]

4. k&r-wow the difference he could make.eom

[Triana]

5. VERY impressive - gotta LOVE that "community organizer" ...

... he friggin rocks the world.

[SpiralHawk]

6. "We are, um, doing our best, too." - Commander AWOL & McSame

[barbtries]

7. "Obama's not even President,

and already he's thinking quick and smart in the middle of a major disaster"
1st thought: good politics
2nd thought: someone's got to do it and heaven knows the president won't

[dragonlady]

8. The second person you mention

Garrison Keillor calls him the "Current Occupant" and that pretty well describes what he is.

[barbtries]

9. there ya go

i call him a fucking murderous bastard, but what's in a name? :shrug:

[2Design]

10. someone needs to tell him red cross does not help - this is a big

fund raiser for them and very little gets to those who really need the help - if nothing else - katrina showed the people did not get the funds from red cross - other helping hands got the help there

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. Well, I donated to Red Cross just the same. Those of us who donate

can hold their feet to the fire to ensure that they do the right thing. I'm not sure why you would try to diss this effort, but Katrina aside for the moment, the Red Cross does good work around the world.

[2Design]

15. when a tornado went through raleigh many years ago - i saw first hand what heppened

I saw it happen again in katrina - they got so much money from katrina they were going to upgrade their computers
In raleigh people who were out of their homes were not given anything or any help because they had insurance - no one cared that they would not get a check or even an assessment long after the fact - this was a co-worker - those of us who had donated - wished we instead had given directly -

Celine dion gave 1 million dollars to red cross but we keep seeing pictures of people in the street without water and dying - she was not the only celebrity to give so much - ask the red cross how much they took in during that time and an accounting of what it was spent on

sorry - I wish there was something better - they have a great marketing campaign - Elizabeth Dole made $500,000 a year as head of Red Cross - Small church groups seem to be the only resource to actually get the momey directly into people's hands - habitat is another - american harvest is another - wish we had organization who actually went in and helped people no matter their income who were devastated

[madrchsod]

12. he`s over in england bitching to brown about iraq

actually he can stay over there cause we midwesterners can handle it better with out him....

[wildflowergardener]

14. email

I got the email and I'm in St. Louis, so I suspect you are right. It's still about three hours away but they are probably sending them to everyone in the vicinity.

Meg