Sign up for a shift?

Friend -- This weekend is our last chance to get out the vote for the Virginia elections on Tuesday. The only way we'll win elections like these is by making sure people in our communities get to the polls. That's what we're doing every day from now until Tuesday -- getting the word out about these elections on the phones and by reaching out in our neighborhoods. If you can pitch in just a couple of hours, think of how many people you could reach who might not otherwise vote. That could make the difference in an election like this. Can you sign up for a shift this weekend? Here's the event that is closest to you: What: Get out the vote in Newport News Where: 14375 Warwick Boulevard Newport News, VA 23602 When: Saturday, November 5th 11:00 am This week, just one year out from Election Day 2012, thousands are committing to help build this campaign in their communities. It's not just about winning elections on Tuesday. The work we're doing is building the neighborhood teams that form the foundation of how we organize, from now through next year. People like you are the ones who create and carry out the strategies that grow this campaign. Can you take your commitment to the next level by helping to shape the outcome on Tuesday? RSVP here: http://my.barackobama.com/2011-Get-Out-the-Vote Thanks, Jeremy Jeremy Bird National Field Director Obama for America

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Commit to volunteer

Friend -- A little more than one year from now, we'll all be doing one of two things. We'll be celebrating the President's re-election, and our renewed opportunity to keep moving this country forward. Or we'll be wondering whether we could have done more -- reached out and talked to more people, helped register more voters -- when we still had time. I plan on waking up on the morning of November 7th, 2012, knowing that President Obama was re-elected and I did everything I could to make sure of it. We have a lot of ground to cover between now and Election Day -- and we can't wait until next year to get started. That's why this week -- one year out -- we're ramping up the volunteer push that's going to get this president re-elected. Today, say you're ready to be a part of it -- whether that means you make phone calls next week, go canvassing early next year, or take on a leadership role in your neighborhood team in the months to come. Commit to volunteer for 2012 today. Thousands of supporters are already at work on the ground, talking to their neighbors, pitching in however they can. But none of us can sit back on the sidelines and hope that work alone will be enough. It won't. There isn't going to be another November between now and the election: The twelve months we have left are all we're going to get. Right now, we all have the time, and the opportunity, to step up and make a commitment to be a part of the work that we know will be the difference between winning and losing next fall. The reality we'll all face when the dust settles after the 2012 elections is something we can affect with the actions we decide to take today. It's time: Say you'll help shape the outcome of 2012 by committing to volunteer: http://my.barackobama.com/Commit-To-Volunteer Let's get out there, Jeremy Jeremy Bird National Field Director Obama for America

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This Saturday: Mobilize voters in Newport News

Friend -- We have less than two weeks until November's local and state elections. That means we need to ramp up our work to organize our communities, block by block and neighborhood by neighborhood. These elections are critical to making progress locally, and the momentum we build now will also help us make progress nationally -- on creating jobs, getting the middle class back on its feet, and more. What we're setting out to do is ambitious, but we can do it if we keep working to inspire others to stand up and help shape their communities and our country. And that all plays out in the voting booth. That's why you should help get out the vote this Saturday. Volunteers will be making calls, knocking on doors, and reaching out to people locally to make sure they get to the polls. There's an event in Newport News -- can you make it? What: Get out the vote in Newport News Where: 14375 Warwick Boulevard Newport News, VA 23602 When: Saturday, October 29th 12:00 pm Getting out the vote is one of the most important things we do in this campaign. We've always grown this movement by inspiring people to get more engaged -- both in their communities and in the democratic process as a whole. Volunteering is easy and fun -- and when you show up for your shift, someone will be on hand to show you the ropes. Neighborhood teams are mobilizing over the next few weeks, so this is a great time to get involved. I hope you can show up at the event in Newport News this Saturday -- and bring a friend or two with you: http://my.barackobama.com/Get-Out-the-Vote-2011 Thanks, Jeremy Jeremy Bird National Field Director Obama for America

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Student loans can't wait

Friend -- President Obama just took two serious steps to make life a lot easier for folks with student loans -- and there's a good chance you or someone you know will benefit from these changes very soon. Here's how:     -- Effective this January, if you're someone who has different kinds of loans -- guaranteed and direct -- you'll be able to roll them both into one direct loan and bring down your interest rate. You'll only have to write one check a month, and you'll see a discount. This switch adds no cost to taxpayers across the board.     -- You might remember that, as part of last year's student loan reform, borrowers' loan payments could be no higher than 10 percent of their disposable income. This is a big deal -- but it wasn't going to help anyone enrolling before 2014. Today, the President announced that he's speeding up this program so it will affect students next year -- helping over 1 million students. This will have huge consequences for people struggling to make their student loan payments. Sometimes, it can be hard to see how policy changes will actually affect your day-to-day life. Not the case with this one. These changes will make a real difference in helping millions of Americans get by month to month. We put together a video explaining how these changes will help Americans. Watch it to learn a little more about what today's steps would do, and then make sure everyone you know who should hear about it does. President Obama isn't waiting on Congress to take action. He's doing everything in his power, right now, to help bolster our economy and get folks back on their feet. On Monday, he laid out new rules on federal mortgages to help make sure more families don't lose their homes to foreclosure. On Tuesday, the administration announced two new initiatives to help veterans find work. Today, it means making changes that make student loans a lot easier to manage. These are actions that can't wait on the next vote or the next election. So long as people are struggling, this President and this administration will do everything in their power to help them when and where they can. It's just that simple. Now, let's make sure that the millions of people who stand to benefit from today's steps know about it. Watch the video to learn more about today's student loan changes -- and then help get the word out: http://my.barackobama.com/Student-Loan-Reforms Thanks, James James Kvaal Policy Director Obama for America

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We can't wait

Friend -- Now that each and every Senate Republican has vowed to block measures that would create jobs, President Obama is not going to wait for them to rebuild the economy and bring financial security back to the middle class. Today, he announced new rules on federal mortgages to prevent more families from losing their homes to foreclosure. And that's just the beginning -- the President said he would continue to make the changes he can by executive action, while continuing to urge Congress to act on legislation to strengthen the economy and create jobs. If Congress doesn't act, he will -- because millions of Americans can't just wait for Congress to do their jobs. That's why thousands of you have been calling and tweeting your representatives over the past month, joining the President in sending a message to lawmakers in Washington that they need to act now. We're not just going to continue to wait -- and we'll be keeping up the pressure by making sure they're hearing from folks across the country every day about why they need to act. Will you share your story -- and join President Obama in telling Congress that we can't and won't wait? Republicans in Congress have repeatedly filibustered the President's ideas to create jobs now -- ideas that until recently were supported by Republicans. The President's action today also stands in stark contrast to the positions of the Republicans running for president. Mitt Romney even told a newspaper last week that we actually shouldn't act; we should let the housing crisis "run its course" and "hit the bottom" so that "investors" can come in and buy up these homes at cheap prices. He's saying to homeowners that they are on their own, forcing thousands of families to explain to their kids why they have to give up their homes. Doing nothing while families struggle: that's the opposite of what this president and this campaign stand for. President Obama isn't going to let Congress' inaction stop him from doing what he can right now. So here's what the President's announcement means:     -- More families whose homes are under water will get help and save money on their monthly mortgage payment through the Home Affordable Refinance Programs.     -- If the value of your mortgage is $100,000 and your house is valued at $75,000, you previously weren't able to refinance to save your home -- forcing many families to pay higher interest rates. As a result of today's announcement, many more responsible homeowners will be able to lower their rates and pay their debts.     -- And this is just one of the incremental changes to come. Next, the President will announce new steps to help young people manage their federal student loan debt while they look for a job and get on their feet. He'll also take action to help small businesses and entrepreneurs, spur the engines of job growth, create new jobs, and assist veterans in finding them. These measures alone are not a comprehensive solution to the economic challenges we face. That needs to come out of Congress -- and if they're going to finally put party aside, they're going to need to keep hearing from us. President Obama is stepping up the pressure, and he's counting on us to keep going, too. Get the President's back and keep the heat on Congress -- tell your story of why we can't wait any longer: http://my.barackobama.com/We-Cant-Wait Thanks, James James Kvaal Policy Director Obama for America

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The end of the war in Iraq

Friend -- I'm James Kvaal, the new policy director for President Obama's 2012 campaign. You'll be hearing from me occasionally about the President's policies and those of our opponents, and how we can all help bring about change for our country. Yesterday, we accomplished one major change when President Obama announced that all American troops in Iraq will be home before the holidays. With that action, the Iraq war will end. And one of the President's central promises will have been kept. Both as Americans and as supporters of President Obama, this is something for us to reflect on, and be proud of. Watch the video of the President's announcement -- then please pass this on: http://my.barackobama.com/Iraq-Announcement The war in Iraq was a divisive, defining issue in our country for nearly nine years, and was the catalyst for many Americans to get involved in politics for the first time. Now, thanks to the actions of this President, we can say that conflict is coming to a close. The end of this war reflects a larger transition in our foreign policy as, in the President's words, "the tide of war is receding." The drawdown in Iraq has allowed us to refocus on the fight against al Qaeda, even as we begin to bring troops home from Afghanistan. And of course, this week also marked the definitive end of the Qaddafi regime in Libya. These outcomes are an example of what happens when a leader sets a plan and sees it through. In the last campaign, the President committed to getting American troops home while leaving behind a stable and secure Iraq. You rallied around that vision, and now that promise has been fulfilled. On behalf of this campaign and supporters of the President across the country, I want to thank the more than 1 million Americans who have served in Iraq, and all those who worked to make this possible. Thanks, James James Kvaal Policy Director Obama for America

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It doesn't need to be this way

Friend -- Last night, Democrats in the Senate tried to pass a simple piece of President Obama's jobs plan that shouldn't be controversial: provide money to prevent further layoffs of teachers, cops, and firefighters at the local level, and pay for it by taxing the income of millionaires an extra 0.5%. This morning a lot of media outlets reported that the Senate "rejected" or "voted down" this proposal. But that's not what happened. The measure didn't come to an actual vote. That's because every single Republican senator filibustered the bill -- meaning they wouldn't even let an up-or-down vote happen. Republicans have unilaterally decided not to allow even that simple majority vote on anything that might help the economy before the next election. To be clear: This bill would have created jobs, and both parties have supported similar measures in the past. But, sadly, some in the Congress do not feel any responsibility to act. As someone who has spent a lot of time working in and with the Senate, I can tell you that it's a particularly low moment for the legislative branch of our government. It doesn't need to be this way. That's why the President and our campaign are focused on fixing what's broken in Washington. Right now, that means we're going to keep the pressure on Congress to act, until every single piece of the President's jobs plan -- the parts to help veterans find jobs and get small businesses hiring more people -- gets a vote. So please, reach out and keep reaching out to Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, and ask him to give each piece of the American Jobs Act a fair vote. You can reach his office at (202) 224-2541. Call now -- then let us know how it went. If you're on Twitter, be sure to tweet at your Republicans in Congress as well. We'll have more on this soon. Messina Jim Messina Campaign Manager Obama for America

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