Monthly Archives: June 2008

(Community Matters) There are hundreds, if not thousands of jobs that will be filled for the campaign during the next two months. The campaign is seeking men, women and youth of all ages, nationalities, religions and sexual orientations for placement all around the country. Long hours, extraordinary passion required. To submit a resume, go here

(Community Matters) Hope the ban against federal lobbyist dollars to the Democratic National Committee imposed by Senator Obama just yesterday isn’t lost in all the news. This is huge. Of course there will always be a role for lobbyists. Availability of actionable, reliable information is critical to the men and women we’ve asked to vote on new laws. However, their over reliance on lobbyists for the hard dollars necessary to run campaigns has upset the balance of information, influence and constituent responsibility. The day after becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee and Barack Obama has already signaled a major change in how they’ll do business in Washington. Perhaps Senator McCain and the GOP will meet this challenge.

(Community Matters) Democrats are coming together. Outstanding progress among Clinton and Obama supporters coming together to ensure a D victory in November. Spent most of the drive back from Houston in conference calls, updates on the progress of Hispanic leadership coalescing and national fundraising. Henry Cisneros & Chelsea Clinton to address this weekend’s Texas Democratic Convention. Next week’s Obama fundraiser featuring chief strategist David Axelrod has nearly sold to capacity – we might relocate to accommodate more.

(Community Matters) Wonder what Devlin (Nathan’s bf) had to say 🙂

(Community Matters) Looks as if former Human Rights Campaign board colleague, Mark Leno, has just been elected to the CA Senate

Mark Leno just won the D primary in SF

Congrats Mark!

Now, let’s just hope (& help!) Oklahoma Corporate Commissioner Jim Roth also wins reelection.

(Community Matters) 63% of Americans now believe same-sex marriage is a private decision. Only 33% now believe the government has a right to prohibit marriage. here

(Community Matters) Michael, Robert and I are back in Houston, currently in a waiting room at MD Anderson, about to be given the results of last week’s tests.

(Community Matters) If Senator Obama is to consider Senator Clinton for the VP slot, I hope he’ll allow the vetting process to take place. The team needs to review the list of donors to Bill Clinton’s presidential library, the details of his business transactions since leaving office, the impact on the campaign of 42’s presidential pardons, test lines out of the White Water Report with voters, and scrutinize Bill’s & Hillary’s book deals. We’ve got to make sure a Clinton as VP won’t prove the Achilles heel.

(Community Matters) Just finished fluffing and otherwise prepping the guest house for Juan and Teresa’s visit this weekend as they attend the Democratic State Convention. Juan’s last name is Sepulveda, though we didn’t think we’re related (he’s from Kansas).

After John Phillip Santos’ wedding (lucky dog JP, blessed Frances! 🙂 ), JP suggested I meet Juan who he said was very involved in Senator Obama’s campaign.

I spoke with Juan, he was/is very involved in the Obama campaign and agreed to also join the National Leadership Council and the National Hispanic Finance Committee. Sneakily asking for a resume, I was blown away to learn that he’s a rock star – the founder of a national consulting practice that grew out of a Rockefeller Foundation initiative to make nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, communities and businesses interested in serving their communities more effective (hmm, another coach!); worked for Willie Velasquez and the Southwest Voter Registration Education Project and wrote a biography on Willie and the Southwest Voter Registration project; attended Harvard undergrad; third ever Hispanic Rhodes Scholar; Stanford law degree; co-hosts a tv show with Henry Cisneros; has guest lectured twice for VP Al Gore; and, was a senior adviser to Bill Bradley’s presidential campaign.

Teresa Nino worked under Donna Shalala in the Clinton White House and for Mayor Daley in Chicago. Umm, I didn’t return my own resume. I’ve decided these two are my very close cousins – seriously raising the academic credentials & bona fides in our family!

(Community Matters) I’ve slept on it and am no more comfortable with the prospect of Hillary Clinton as VP running mate than I was yesterday. In fact, I’m even more angry that she couldn’t graciously conceded last night.

Nevertheless, it’s Senator Obama’s & Michelle’s choice (so happy she’s in the deliberations).

Obviously, Senator Clinton and her supporters would bring much to the ticket. Though, I can’t forget Maureen Dowd’s column “Is She a Trojan Rabbit?“

Last night after watching Hillary, while watching Senator Obama & Michelle on stage in St. Paul, I was just imagining Barack, Michelle, Hillary and Bill in some campaign bus. Can’t you just feel the love? And, could the Clinton’s be dutifully subservient in their roles as #2’s? Or smug toward Michelle since it’d be two Senators and one former president? hmm?

I was wondering what Michelle might say in response to any rude condescension. “Hill, maybe when I’m your age . . . .”

(Community Matters) I’m there waiting at Starbucks as the doors unlock. Traci greets me, Jonathan is behind the counter and acting barista.

Jonathan: How’s the week?

Eugene (half asleep): Good, oh . . . well, okay. I’m headed to Houston today

Jonathan: Really, me too, on Friday. Then back on Saturday.

Eugene (still half asleep): That’s nice. What for?

Jonathan: We’re doing a drag show.

Eugene (still half asleep): That’s nice

Eugene (waking up): Huh, you’re doing a what?

Jonathan: A drag show. We’re performing at Numbers

now, I’ve known Jonathan for nearly a year – the time he’s worked at our Starbucks – and know he has a wife and two cats

Eugene (shaking head, trying to be very woken up): umh, so tell me more . . . .

(Community Matters) Like Sitting Bull across the Black Hills.