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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=tanstl@aol.com href="mailto:tanstl@aol.com">David Sladky</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=dlj725@hughes.net
href="mailto:dlj725@hughes.net">dlj725@hughes.net</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, February 28, 2012 12:06 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> Fwd: Obama is Coming to My Town</DIV></DIV>
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<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>This guy doesn't even touch on Honduras, Lybia, Syria, torture,
assinations, drones, the mil. Authorization act, BP spill, Nuke power, coal
mining, off shore oil drilling, the attack on social sec., the undermining of
the “global warming” conferences, the massive attack of whistle blowers and
wilileaks</FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Weekend Edition February 24-26, 2012 </FONT></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2><STRONG>Reasons to Protest </STRONG></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV
style="PAGE-BREAK-AFTER: avoid; MARGIN-TOP: 0.07in; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0.07in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT size=6><B>Obama is Coming to My
Town</B></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>by RON JACOBS </FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in" align=center><FONT
face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT size=2>Barack Obama is coming to the town
where I live. Like most other towns he will visit this election year, the state
this town is in voted for Mr. Obama in 2008. It is a state full of Democrats and
liberals. Many of those Democrats and liberals also have lots of money that they
will give to Mr. Obama. Some of them expect something in return for their
donation, while others are just happy to see a Democrat in the White
House.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>There are some of us in town that plan to protest when Mr. Obama hits
town. We aren’t birthers and we aren’t Tea Partiers. Some of us even voted for
Mr. Obama. All of us are pissed off. Having a Democrat in the White House has
not made much of a difference, even for those that thought it would. Obama has
not fulfilled hardly any of the promises he made to his progressive supporters.
There are multiple reasons to protest.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the reason for his visit is to raise cash for a politics that
leaves most people out.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Guantanamo Bay prison is not closed.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because 91,000 US troops and even more US mercenaries are still killing
and dying in Afghanistan.<BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the US is still spending $3 billion a year in
Iraq.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Bradley Manniing is in jail for exposing the truth about the wars
in Iraq and Afghanistan while the liars who started the wars walk
free.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because thousands of Iraq and Afghan War vets are without
work.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because thousands of those vets suffer from PTSD and other combat-related
illnesses.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because millions of people are homeless, including thousands of veterans,
women and children.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because millions of houses sit empty after banks foreclosed on them and
kicked out the residents.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the banks that engaged in illegal foreclosure actions are not
being prosecuted.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Washington continues to support Israel’s expansionist policies in
the Middle East and against the Palestinian people.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Washington seems more willing to go to war against Iran instead
of agreeing to unconditional negotiations.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because sanctions are an act of war that harms
civilians.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the Defense budget (not including VA) is over a trillion
dollars</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Washington has military bases in 450
countries.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the Pentagon wants to send Special Forces death squads anywhere
at any time to kill whomever they want.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Empire is unsustainable, unwanted and wrong.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Barack Obama refuses to stand up to the right wing women haters
in the Congress.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the homophobic Defense of Marriage Act is still on the
books.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Barack Obama bailed out the banks instead of the
workers.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Barack Obama pays lip service to workers’ right to unionize while
his policies do nothing to help workers to unionize.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because student debt should be forgiven.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the post office is being destroyed and sold
off.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because schools and libraries are being closed.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because 44 million Americans don’t have health care and many of those
won’t be able to afford that offered via Obama’s “health care”
plan.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because immigrant families are being shattered by
ICE.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the <EM>underemployment</EM> rate stands at around 16%, with more
than half of that number being people with no job at all. The unemployment rate
for black Americans is even higher. This is also the case for
youth.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because the DEA continues to arrest medicinal marijuana
providers.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because CEOs average paycheck increased 24% since 2008 despite a failing
economy.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because business as usual is the business of
exploitation.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Obama represents business as usual.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Because Obama talks some of the talk of the 99%, but his actions benefit
the one percent 99% of the time.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>There are many more reasons, some that go beyond Mr. Obama and get closer
to the heart of the problem in the United States—the fact that it is ruled by
the corporate and financial elite. However, Mr. Obama’s staunch defense of that
elite and his continued acceptance of their millions only underlines his
complicity. To those who agree that Barack Obama has audaciously failed to not
only deliver on most of his promises, but has failed to generate much hope at
all, yet want to give him another chance, let me say this:</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2>Democracy is not merely at the ballot box. When the choice is between two
people whose means are well beyond most of those voting, then how representative
of your needs and desires can the winner be? Democracy does not end the day
after elections. That’s when it begins. The corporations and the banks don’t
stop pressuring and sending money to politicians once they get elected. Indeed,
they step up the pressure. It’s time the people do the same.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 0in"><FONT face="Times New Roman, serif"><FONT
size=2><STRONG><I><B>Ron Jacobs </B></I></STRONG><EM>is the author of
</EM><EM>and </EM><EM>. Jacobs’ essay on Big Bill Broonzy is featured in
CounterPunch’s collection on music, art and sex, </EM><EM>. His collection of
essays and other musings titled Tripping Through the American Night is now
available and his new novel is </EM><EM>. He is a contributor to </EM><EM>,
forthcoming from AK Press. He can be reached at: </EM>.</FONT></FONT></DIV>
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