Franklin, Gov. Patrick Campaigning for Obama in NH

Franklin, Gov. Patrick Campaigning for Obama in NH

Congoboston.com--Nashua, New Hamphire.

Last November 10^th, 2007, three school buses loaded with Obama supporters left a parking lot at the 99 Restaurant, across from Bunker Hill Community College in Charlestown, Mass to the primary voter’s state of New Hampshire. In response to a call from Gov. Deval Patrick, the “historically” first African American Governor of the state of Massachusetts, more than a hundred of supporters signed up and showed up, while enduring some 25 degrees morning weather for a bus field trip to three New Hampshire’s towns.

Among many supporters were former Deval’s campaign staff during his 2006 bid for the Beacon Hill, a few Obama-leaning political activists; also came along the “Obama-MA-2-NH” Campaign staff led by Nicole Derse. In total, 500 Obama Canvassers all teamed up for this Rendez-vous in knocking on voters’ doors in NH’s neighborhoods. In facts, last October 22^nd at the Boston Common Rally for Obama, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick publicly endorsed Sen. Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the race to the White House;.

Our own, Franklin Katunda, Congoboston.com’s chief-editor participated in both the Boston Rally and the Electoral Canvassing as the editor of the most active Boston’s Community News Network for Congolese-Americans and Residents. He was also a Campaign Worker who registered with “Obama For America 08” to support the candidacy of the Illinois Senator to the White House. Using the very same Congoboston’s expertise he has developed as Community Organizer (with the use of an affordable yet popular technology) - the Internet, Franklin Katunda launched (February 2007) an online network for Obama. He courted supporters for Barack Obama… At this time it counts about 106 members nationwide. The group is called “Africans & Americans for Obama.”

 Franklin wants to gather what he called the “New Majority” Vote around the candidacy of the Illinois Senator for the Oval Office. On its web-blog’s main page, one can read this: “We are a Nationwide Network with a mission to gather and to inform the American electorate in its "New Majority" that includes many unspotted new voters, such as US-naturalized Africans ... All awakened and determined to "Make History", and to electing Senator Barack OBAMA as President of the United States of America in 2008”

'The hope generated in me during the Senator’s Springfield Illinois Presidential Bid and the dynamics for change that America needs after decades of failed policies and mismanaged governances, led me to align head on with the Obama campaign:, he said. Despite the pundits, biased national polls and favors from the media to the established candidate, Hillary Clinton, Franklin, just alike Barack Obama, he believes against all odds in the audacity that an “improbable quest” can bear over a status quo political force in the elections.

“Senator Obama (who wasn’t running for president at that time) inspired me, not only after I heard his DNC speech in 04’, but more he made me adopt him as my role model among African-American political figures at my graduation ceremony in Boston. This is a while back in June 2006… Amazingly, I was lucky to have him as keynote speaker during my graduation at the University of Massachusetts-Boston” Commented Mr. Katunda.

His network for Obama extends from Boston to Washington DC-Virginia-Maryland area where he enrolled in a public affairs/media internship to Dallas Texas. In the longhorn state, e hosted at a friend’s house, a little earlier in the race… back in April 07, a House Barbecue for Obama. About thirty people, Texans from all backgrounds and racial groups showed up for that social gathering at Kale's house.

As part of the Boston’s Chapter of the group “Umass-Boston for Obama”, he enrolled along with Brad Stoler (a former Umass-Boston Alumnus and friend) in the Manchester NH campaign office, providing field organizing support with phone banking (to update voters from the headquarters, through local phone calls) and participating in the most New England weather-challenged door-to-door canvassing in the NH neighborhoods.

“Time is now for American voters and especially new voters: US-naturalized Africans and 19 and + first time voters to get involved and to be part of the history in the making” said, Mr. Katunda. He also inspired many voters, such as Andy Ribaudo of Plano,Texas area to start his own high school online group at the latest barbecue called "Barack Obama, The Lone Star".  “I don’t think there is any thing to loose supporting Obama at this point and time, and history will only reward audacious citizens for trying.” conferred to us the editor of Congoboston.com.

In closing, we reproduce here an extract from the bus chatting between Mr Katunda and Gov. patrick, as recorded by the editor and campaign worker: Franklin: “Governor, Sen. Obama inspired me when he gave a speech at my graduation (June 2^nd 2006) at Umass-Boston; before heading to your fundraiser to support your bid for Governor of Massachusetts; and this happened on the same day afternoon at the Hines Convention Center, if I’m not mistaking… Today, I find myself priviledged to be onboard this bus with you and shake your hand. ( Now, a Citizen of Massachusetts and his Governor), both heading up to NH to support him for the Oval office… Isn’t it amazing?” 

Gov Patrick: "Yeah, that's amazing? How are you today? Well, nice to meet you Franklin. You sure you don't wanna run for office. I see you are a well suited person to get in politics?"  Franklin: " I will consider running. It's amazing i hear everywhere i go, and thank you for saying that. Nice to meet you Governor". Gov. patrick:  "Nice to meet you too!"

Dear readers ( US citizens or legal residents), to get involved in or support this movement for change as it goes beyond just the 2008 Elections, please send an email at Franklinkatunda@yahoo.com, and a reply will follow with an invitation to join the group. The main target will be to “get out” the African Vote in New Hampshire in the primaries (January 2008). Here below is the story about the field trip from the Boston Globe and a picture of Franklin Katunda posing with the Honorable Deval Patrick, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts onboard the bus that took them to Nashua NH (A picture courtesy of an Obama Supporter)

By the Congoboston Staff,

 © November, 2007

Patrick campaigns for Obama in NH

Boston Globe- Patrick told him that Obama is "not about a single issue." Valade nodded. But he said, "You have to understand that the Second Amendment is a single issue for a lot of people." New Hampshire voters can be a stubborn lot, as Patrick saw firsthand yesterday in his first trip to New Hampshire on Obama's behalf since endorsing the Illinois senator last month.

 After joining more than 100 Obama supporters on a bus trip from Boston to Nashua, he knocked on the doors of five houses, most chosen by the Obama campaign, and talked - sometimes at length - with the residents inside. Later, he gave a pep talk over lunch with a small group of volunteers considering taking on more responsibility in the campaign, and then traveled to a house party in Danville.

Patrick seemed to enjoy himself immensely, and his persuasive powers were on full display. Valade may have been his toughest customer, but it wasn't long before he was inviting Patrick inside for some homemade blueberry wine, which Patrick declared "delicious."

Endorsements don't always amount to much in politics, but the support of a popular neighboring Democratic governor could help Obama in New Hampshire, the campaign said, particularly along the state's southern tier, where many work over the border or have family connections, and where most are plugged into the Boston media market.

One of the houses Patrick visited yesterday belonged to Ken Tarbell, 77, a Democrat leaning toward Obama. Tarbell has lived in Nashua for 30 years but considers Fitchburg, where he was born and raised, his true home. He said he had followed Patrick's political career closely, and it made a "big difference" to him that Patrick had backed Obama - and that he'd showed up at his door. "I couldn't believe it was him!" he said.

Patrick's endorsement was coveted by both the Obama and the Hillary Clinton campaigns. Both campaigns, in fact, were there to greet Patrick when the buses pulled up at Obama's Nashua headquarters just before noon. The Clinton crowd waved signs and chanted "H-I-L-L-A-R-Y."

After shaking hands with the Obama crowd, Patrick walked over to the Clinton folks.
"I love Democrats!" he told them with a wide smile, shaking hands with each of them.
Three members of Team Clinton, a bit sheepishly, asked the governor to pose for a picture. He complied, though he first politely asked them to remove their Clinton campaign stickers.

Patrick indirectly acknowledged Obama's difficulty in the polls here when, at a rally in Charlestown, he compared his own upstart, come-from-behind campaign last year to the challenge now facing Obama. "There are a whole lot of people who said we couldn't do what we did," Patrick told the crowd, many of whom had worked for his campaign.

"And they say that about candidates who reflect our best values time and time and time again. They say we can't have what we want. This or that one is not electable.

"If you're content to sit around and wait for the pundits to tell us who's going to win and, therefore, for whom we're going to vote, then we will get the government we deserve," he said. "You and I believe that we deserve better, and we're willing to work for it."

In an interview on the bus, Patrick said he believes there is no simple secret recipe for Obama to pull ahead; he just has to keep on doing what he is doing. "It's a regular slog," he said.But while some pundits have opined Obama needs to become more aggressive in attacking Clinton, Patrick said, "Personally, I think that the other candidates are or ought to be irrelevant to Barack Obama's campaign," he said.

"It is not about them, it's not even about him, it's about our common vision for a stronger America."

The Boston Globe. November, 2007