Please Support American Promise

I saw this Kickstarter appeal at Kenneth Walsh's Kenneth in the 212 blog. It's a film by parents of two Black boys who have been following them around with cameras for the last twelve years to document the experience of Idris and Seun as they try to overcome the pressures and barriers which cause just 1 out of 4 African-American boys to graduate from high school.

These are topics near and dear to my heart so I encourage you to watch the video pitch above and then support the filmmakers so they can finish the film.

Hat/tip to Kenneth in the 212.

WI-SEN: Baldwin Leads Money Race

Tammy Baldwin is running for the United States Senate from Wisconsin as an openly lesbian, Democratic politician. She is doing quite well, and is expected to easily win the Democratic nomination. This week came news that Baldwin raised over 1 million dollars in the last quarter of 2011 and now leads all her potential rivals in fundraising.

Baldwin announced the news on her Facebook page:

Tammy is thrilled by the enormous outpouring of support for her campaign to fight for WI's middle class. Thanks to you, we raised over $1.1 mil last quarter. Tammy now has $1.8+ mil cash-on-hand to share her message. This shows our strength, and these resources will be critical in responding to the false, negative right-wing attacks sure to come our way. Thank you to our more than 16,000 individual donors!

This is great news. Having an openly gay member of the United States Senate would be an amazing landmark in gay history.

Hat/tip to Metro Weekly's PoliGlot.

Obama Campaign Raises $222 Million in 2011

President Barack Obama's re-election campaign announced that it raised $68 million in the 4th quarter of 2011, bringing its total for the year to around $222 million dollars. The $68 million includes $42 million for Obama-Biden 2012 and another $24 million for the Democratic National Committee.

Obama’s campaign collected $750 million in 2008, prompting speculation that it could top $1 billion this time. [Obama-Biden 202 campaign manager Jim] Messina said the lofty figures have created “a challenge that keeps coming up. Too many Obama supporters think we don’t need their money or they don’t need to give now.’’

However, Messina said, “The billion-dollar number is completely untrue.’’

Obama, facing no primary opponent, has stockpiled a large campaign bank account, but Democrats expect parity with Republicans once the party chooses a nominee.

Note that last phrase: "Democrats expect parity with Republicans once the party chooses a nominee."  With Super PACS and the Supreme Court's recent Citizens United decision do you really think the 1% are going to allow the 99% to out-raise them in the battle for the highest executive office in the land? Come no, now!

It is interesting that Messina also said that the average donation to the Obama campaign was $55 (98% below $250) and that in 2011 they received donations from 200,000 people who had never given to Obama before.





In 2007, Hillary Clinton raised $118 million to Obama's $104 million. In 2011, Mitt Romney raised a total of $56 million.

Obama Well Ahead Of Rivals In 2012 Money Race

It should also be noted that these amounts shown here raised by the 2012 presidential candidates do not include the nearly $28 million more President Obama raised that went directly to the Democratic National Committee. None of the money raised by the Republican candidates is going to the Republican National Committee. In the previous quarter, President Obama raised a record $86 million ($47 for his own campaign and $38 million for the DNC).

Joe.My.God posted the numbers shown above before the Bachmann and Gingrich campaigns had filed their reports.

MadProfessah Attending D.C. ImmigrationEquality Fundraiser

As close readers of the blog may realize, MadProfessah is now bi-coastal: spending time in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. With that in mind, it means that I can attend events which occur in either city. Tomorrow, I will be attending the 3rd Annual Capital Fundraiser for Immigration Equality:

3rd Annual Capital Reception & Fundraiser

Oct 4, 2011 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM

Description:
Featuring Debbie Wasserman Schultz, U.S. Representative from Florida’s 20th District and Chair of the Democratic National Committee.

Honorary Hosts: 
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20)
Congressman Chris Van Hollen (MD-8)
Congressman Joseph Crowley (NY-7)

After a summer of sharing their story in major news outlets like CNN, MSNBC, Countdown with Keith Olbermann and in front page news stories across the country, Bradford Wells and Anthony Makk will be joining Immigration Equality in Washington. They will be meeting with key Congressional leaders ... and they’d like to meet you, too.

Please join them — and the Immigration Equality team — on Tuesday, October 4th, for our Third Annual Capital Reception & Fundraiser, hosted by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. We’ll have important updates on our work to help families like Bradford & Anthony ... celebrate the successes of the past year ... and build the support we need to continue our critical work on Capitol Hill.

The event is free, however your support is welcome, and critical to our success. We hope that if you're moved by our work, you'll help us reach our goal of $15,000 for our on-going work on behalf of LGBT immigrant families. Donations can be made online at ImEqActionFund.org/DCevent

Location:

Mitchell Gold+ Bob Williams 

1526 14th Street, NW (between P & Q Streets, Logan Circle)
Washington, DC

Contact:

Please RSVP by September 30th to Maria or on Facebook here.

If you're in the Washington, D.C. area, hopefully you can check out the event!