YearlyKos Netroots Convention Welcomes Presidential Candidates Edwards, Obama, Richardson to Leaders

[Catchawave]

From: http://www.yearlykosconvention.org/

Posted on May 23, 2007 by Mary Rickles

We are pleased to announce that Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Barack Obama, and Gov. Bill Richardson confirmed their participation in a Presidential Leadership Forum to be held August 4 in Chicago. Confirmations from other candidates are forthcoming.

The event--the first ever collaborative presidential forum with both a respected blogger and a leading member of the traditional media as moderators--is an opportunity to use technology to empower citizens to engage and evaluate America's potential leaders, both face-to-face and online. Many political candidates, including Edwards and Obama, already frequently use sites like Daily Kos to dialogue with the public.

We'd like to remind organizations interested in sponsoring the YearlyKos Convention that a sponsorship opportunity is still available for this event. Please contact Linda Lee at [e-mail] if you are interested in learning more.

Registration prices are increasing June 1st and we have many more announcements in store, so we'd encourage you to register now.

You'll find the full press release below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Second annual convention invites candidates to answer questions from the
blogosphere and engage netroots participants in unscripted citizen dialogue
MAY 23, 2007--YearlyKos Convention organizers announced today that Sen. John Edwards, Sen. Barack Obama, and Gov. Bill Richardson confirmed their participation in a Presidential Leadership Forum to be held August 4 in Chicago. Confirmations from other candidates are forthcoming.

Organizers say the event--the first ever collaborative presidential forum with both a respected blogger and a leading member of the traditional media as moderators--is an opportunity to use technology to empower citizens to engage and evaluate America's potential leaders, both face-to-face and online. Many political candidates, including Edwards and Obama, already frequently use sites like Daily Kos to dialogue with the public.

Matt Bai, writer for The New York Times Magazine and author of a book on Democratic politics to be released in August, and Joan McCarter, contributing editor at Daily Kos, will moderate. Author and blogger Dr. Jeffrey Feldman will facilitate questions from convention attendees and those submitted in advance from tens of thousands of blog readers.

"This year we are honored to add the YearlyKos Presidential Leadership Forum to the slate of events scheduled at the YearlyKos Convention," said YearlyKos Convention Executive Director Gina Cooper. "The forum is an opportunity to have a discussion about the issues that matter and hear detailed responses to the questions America needs answered."

Organizers are asking candidates to spend time in intimate, unscripted citizen dialogues with attendees, encouraging substantive discussions that transcend the competitive nature of most joint appearances on the campaign trail.

"We live in an Internet age with an abundance of information, and while we can visit a website to read about a candidate's policies or hear the latest speech, there is still no substitute for real live answers to real life questions," said Cooper. "We are thrilled to be able to provide an opportunity for progressive bloggers and activists to participate in that experience."

YearlyKos Convention 2007 will take place August 2-5, 2007 at the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to the forum, the conference will include panels and caucuses led by national and international experts; prominent nationally recognized political, issue and policy-oriented speakers; a progressive film screening series; and the most concentrated gathering of high-profile progressive bloggers to date.

The forum and convention are open to media coverage. For more information about the YearlyKos Convention or for credentials, visit http://www.yearlykosconvention.org/press.

ABOUT YEARLYKOS CONVENTION
The YearlyKos Convention is an annual convention gathering people from all walks of life who belong to the netroots community, the US-based (but globally focused and inclusive) non-partisan grassroots community that uses the internet and blogs as primary tools for expressing viewpoints; building consensus; acting to change the status quo; mobilizing huge numbers of people and informing each other and the world about current events, grassroots actions, networks, meetings, policy and more.

I'm signed up, are YOU? :party:

[prolesunited]

1. That's really nice

But at $225 per person, how many people can realistically afford to go?

We went to the Green Festival and it was only $15 for the weekend. I could probably go up to $50, but they've really priced many progressives out ot it.

[Catchawave]

2. I signed up last January, and caught the cheap seats :)

I think the next 'uppy' in price is June 1st. You have to weigh what the price of a ticket includes.

http://www.yearlykosconvention.org/about

I'm hoping to cop some Cubs tix too :D

[prolesunited]

3. Well, at $450 for two of us

It's definitely beyond our budget. We don't go to concerts either or out to eat that much for that matter, so it's not like I could cut those out to save.

Well, have fun.

[KharmaTrain]

4. Chicago Area DU Meet-Up

I'm definitely planning to attend some, if not all. Hopefully DU'ers will be attending and we can arrange a meet-up with the many Chicago area DU'ers.

Welcome to Chicago...the town where the only Repugnicans are on connecting flights at O'hare.

:toast: