I recently tweeted about my time working in Obama’s mail room while in college. How he received a tremendous amount of hate mail, a disproportionate amount being racist (sometimes graphically). But the letters of hate aren’t what I remember most clearly.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
Instead, what haunts me are the letters and stories of every day struggling Americans. Too often politics becomes about gamesmanship and strategy and people forget that politics has real world consequences. It can literally kill.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
So as we near one of the most important midterms of (maybe) our lives, I want to highlight some of the stories I remember best. Stories that might be about your neighbor, your colleague, or your own family. Remember these stories. These are the people we fight for when we vote.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The single mom with three boys. She was worried about gangs so she put her kids in sports, hoping that would keep them safe from after school violence. Her middle son was gunned down walking home from practice. She just wanted to save enough money to move to a safer neighborhood.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
The dad who promised his daughter that he would pay for her to go to the best college she got in to. She got into her dream school, Duke. But he got laid off during the recession and he didn’t know how to tell her he could no longer afford her dream that she worked so hard for.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The parents of a child with severe developmental disabilities. They were getting old and they were worried about who would take care of him after they were gone.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
The couple who endured the pain and loss that comes with having 7 miscarriages. All they wanted was a family. They couldn’t afford expensive IVF treatment. They wanted to adopt but felt the agency didn’t like them – they were a mixed race couple living in the deep south.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The mom who knew her son was being bullied at school because he didn’t speak English very well. They had just moved here. She would stay up until the early morning to teach herself English, hoping she could then help him.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
The single mom who admitted she sometimes went days without eating so her kids could have 3 full meals. She worked 3 jobs but was still struggling to make ends meet. She didn’t want them going to school hungry, she knew education was the only thing that would save them.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The parents struggling with a daughter who was an addict. They were wealthy so they could afford to get her treatment. But they had met lots of families in group therapy that couldn’t afford it. They wanted to make drug treatment facilities more affordable for everyone.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
The father with terminal cancer who confided that he thought about ending his life early, just to spare his family the costs of sustained medical treatment. He didn’t want to leave his wife and 2 young kids with a mountain of debt.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The gay couple who had been together for 50+ years. But they were still afraid to hold hands in public for fear that they would be physically attacked.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
The young schoolteacher who worked at a Title I (low income) school. Many kids didn’t get outside for recess during the winter because their parents couldn’t afford to buy them winter coats. She raised money, including her own, to buy them herself.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The newly single father who was terrified he was going to ruin his kids after their mother passed away from breast cancer. He cried in the aisle at Dick’s Sporting Goods because he didn’t know what size shoe his son was. His wife used to buy the kids cleats for baseball season.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
The father who was dealing with depression, but was too afraid to tell anyone. Men weren’t supposed to be weak. He loved his wife and new baby daughter. He didn’t understand why sometimes he felt like everyone would be better off without him.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The parents who dreaded Friday evening. Their son was a freshman at an Ivy League School, but he was having trouble fitting in. Other students suggested the only reason he was there was affirmative action. He spent Friday nights in his dorm alone, talking to his parents.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
The wife who married young. Too young she would say. Her husband was physically abusive, but now they had 2 kids and she couldn’t leave and financially support 2 kids on her own. She hoped she could save up enough money to get out before he killed her.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The mother who knew her son was gay, but knew he would have to hide it until he left the house. She knew her husband would hurt him if he found out.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
The parents of a girl who had to get 3 heart surgeries before she was 3. They were terrified she wouldn’t make it to be a teenager. And even if she did, it still meant lots of additional and expensive surgeries. They knew another surgery would push them over the financial edge.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
The young veteran who struggled with PTSD and nightmares. He was afraid he was going to hurt his wife while they slept. He hated his new job at a manufacturing plant, but he felt he couldn’t complain because at least he came home alive.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
****
These are the types of stories people wrote to our President about. Not because they were looking for handouts, but because they were hoping something could be done to make their lives just a little easier. Life a little more affordable. Opportunities a little more reachable.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
These are the people we fight for when we vote. So please, show up on Nov 6th and make your voice heard. People’s lives depend on it.
— A. Sharon (@ASharon004) October 29, 2018
End.
The Obama Diary 
Am trying to stay focused, really I am. I have to confess though that I’m starting to get a bit nervous as we enter the final week to elections.
This thread, though sad, is great! I’m reminded of how seriously Pres O, took his job as leader, responding to several correspondents personally each night, as well as (along with his teamS) responding to the others by trying to craft policies that would help. We’ve stepped backwards more than a couple of steps with the WH Idiot, but I’m praying and crossing fingers that with an overwhelming response on November 6 the US, and the sane world, will start to claw its way forward again.
Thanks for this dose of reality NW. We’re the same but unique. A better world is within our reach if everybody votes in every election.
And our First Couple didn’t go anywhere…love.
Thanks so much, NW. I saw this thread suggestion here earlier today. While I rested this afternoon, I found the thread on Twitter and read through it. Good for the soul………….:)
This!!!! Thank you Nerdy!
Oh, Nerdy. Could barely get through that, but I thank you so much for posting those … and for your big heart and the fact you know what’s important in life! Love you, darlin’.
The funniest thing w/ iQ45’s latest dogwhistle (executive order to get rid of 14th Amendment, which he can’t), he gets rid of himself & his ilk. He’d have to produce his long form birth certificate to stay in US. As would all his family. And all the dummies in his racist suitcase. Imagine how many don’t have US born parents! 😏👀😂 Am sure Native Americans are: Ahem, y’all! 👀😂
Powerful and still very true.
As my friend quotes from the dialog in some old TV show, “They hate us because they think we think they’re stupid. And we hate them because they’re stupid.”
Or:
This was an awesome thread. Thank yo Nerdy for highlighting it.
Morning everyone:) Such a good and important thread… we all know these people. They are our friends and family. Vote for them
Staying Focused…
👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
NAILED IT. Watch until the end!!
THIS is what this election all comes down to! He is a force! He deserves to win this. I hope that Texas listens to him with an open mind and an open heart. He is on the right side of history and truth.
The Other O is coming to Georgia! 😃
This should be good
😍😍😍
Love, love, love this!
historical perspective…
I still am not a fan of Meghan McCain.
Me neither
Never have been. She’s coarse and vulgar, and has no creds. And on the wrong side of the issues.
She’s why I don’t watch The View. Love Behar and Goldberg but cannot stomach Meghan.
VOTE Stay Focused
Georgia, Georgia, …. Georgia ……come through for Ms. Stacey Abrams, Georgia;
when Democrats come into public service, they send their best … as PBO and Ms. Winfrey (two of best Os) will come to testify for Ms. Abrams
When George Bush sent 6,000 National Guard troops to the border, it cost $12 billion. Costs of Hurricane damage?
There is No invasion and every parent has the right to protect their child. Trump’s fear of “big, strong” young men coming to the border is yet another lie: Central American folks aren’t big in stature. They’re not! And after everybody begged him to do the right thing and stay away, he ploughed into the grieving synagogue community in Pittsburgh taking resources from their security. Imagine the scene today if a Bomb had taken the lives of neighbors and crowds cordoned off while he did his lonely 13 minute photo op? So then after inciting the violence that caused the deaths, off he went back to the GOP strategy of stoking ignorance, hatred, greed and fear. Let the fkn hammer Vote come down this week.
Dicktraitor’s anti-constitutional PR about preventing U.S. born babies from obtaining citizenship – does that include the convoy of pregnant rich Russians reportedly (still) moving into his Towers? Last I looked he was giving Russian newborns rapid dual citizenships.
Sorry. 6,000 troops sent to the border didn’t cost $12 billion. It was $1.2 billion!
https://www.bustle.com/…/how-much-do-national-guard-troops-at-the-border-cost-tru…
https://mobile.twitter.com/IronStache/status/1057393783007072256/video/1
Legend of comedy Carl Reiner:
“I’m Carl Reiner. I’m ninety-six and half years old, and I’ve seen a lot of things in my lifetime. I lived through the Great Depression. I served in World War II in our fight to defeat fascism. I’ve seen the invention of television and performed on television even before my family owned one, but what I have never seen is the American people being lied to every single day about everything. Lies about climate change. Lies about protecting Social Security and Medicare lies about Russia attacking our elections, lies about protecting people with preexisting conditions.
In my ninety-six and a half years I’ve seen a lot of things, but the one thing that I cannot bear to see is America being destroyed by racism, fearmongering and lies. Fortunately, on November 6th, there’s something we can do about that. We can vote for elected officials who will hold this president accountable, and after we do that my personal goal is to stick around until 2020 and vote to make sure that we have a decent, moral, law-abiding citizen in Washington who will make us all proud again.” (politicus, Jason Easley)
– thank you Mr. Reiner.
We Will Not Let ANYONE be erased!!
Thank you! I agree!
LIVE NOW…
“The other side is simply lying about their commitment to pre-existing conditions…they’re either not telling the truth or they’re really stupid…there’s no way to cover pre-existing conditions without everyone being in on the deal.”
“Ideals…we don’t always live up to those standards but we’ve never walked away from those standards.”
“There is nothing beyond our capacity.”
“If we no longer deal in decency and honesty then that opens space for abuse of power”.
if they have not already done so, …… ,
…… I expect some in the hate-mongering party to start saying that the endorsements and campaign appearances of both PBO and Ms. Winfrey do not matter,
…. of course precisely because they are afraid of their effectiveness and the extent to which these two individuals are loved and admired by many millions of people around the world
So inspiring. What a great way for kids to learn about great sports figures.
Fabulous news. Giant congrats!!
FOCUSEDDDDDD!!!..Whooooooooooooo Hooooooooooo
Nice!!
Yes!
The Old Vote Switcheroo in Texas.
NAACP LDF and TX NAACP wrote to TX Sec of State Pablos to report problems with Hart eSlate Voting Machines:
https://www.naacpidf.org/wp-content/uploads/Letter-to-Tex.-SOS-re-Electronic-Voting-Machine-Irregularities-pdf
(Partisan vote machines. Dems to Republicans but not vice-versa. Same thing in GA.)
this works: https://www.naacpldf.org/wp-content/uploads/Letter-to-Tex.-SOS-re-Electronic-Voting-Machine-Irregularities.pdf
Scary costume, Sarah.
As if donald is “actually” doing his job on any level.
Exactly. He’s never had a “job” in his life.
And we taxpayers are paying for this orange lying racist bafoon to fly around the country campaigning.
Ugh!
Republicans passed tax cuts for their wealthy friends all by themselves. If they wanted to pass legislation on immigration, they could do so all by themselves. Sarah does nothing but lie.
Every minute. They all do!
Oh please let them help make the difference!
I’m with you. I’ll give a ton of credit to the Stoneman Douglas kids putting their voices out there. I know there are so many other young activists, but they might have helped start turning a tide.
I won’t forget Cameron Kasky admitting the other week that he was battling depression. They’re still recovering from their ordeal but stay fighting.
God bless them all. Luckily, they seem to have enough folks nearby to help them through the after-effects. I hope!
LIVE NOW: VP Biden campaigns for Democrats in Illinois – https://abcnews.go.com/live/video/special-live-06
Thank you Mr. Jordan!
We need whatever it takes this election, including star power if that’s what gets new voters’ attention: MBJ, Oprah, Will Ferrell, Jimmy Buffet, Willie Nelson, Taylor Swift. Thanks to all of them.
Hopeful…..
Well, this is what I’ve been thinking!
Keep pushing!
This needs that “shame, shame” vid from Game of Thrones:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-46047494
Found it!
LIVE NOW…
Also streaming here: https://abcnews.go.com/live/video/special-live-06
Right on VP Biden,…….Take IT Back.
WHOA, WHAT??!!
What does that mean?
I hear that this book is a must read.
It absolutely is, COS. It will be a relevant ‘civics book’ for Americans and any other society striving to create and sustain a democracy.
They may be going to turn it into a film or something. And reap the profits. Yay.
If there’s anything that could troll Trump unlike anything else and drive him battier than Mueller, this would be it. I can’t wait to see where this is going.
I’d want her in my corner every time
This Nancy tweet could use a push or two from those on twitter.
So we had a Mock Election in my school Tuesday and the results were: Governor: John Cox won over Gavin Newsom by 50 votes; Senate: Diane Feinstein; Member of the House: Ted Lieu (defeated a Republican by 39 votes). I’m in a very, very, VERY Republican school district, so these results were a real mixed bag.
I hardly see John Cox ads so these kids must be from Rubs homes. So sad that a bunch of young white boys are going to grow up idolizing that Orange Monster in the WH.
We do not need a Republican governor here in California.
Look who was watching RM tonight:)
Voter suppression engineered by Kris Kobach… the anti American running for governor of Kansas. This suppression of POC is what he does!! Good for Jeffrey Toobin
https://twitter.com/mehdirhasan/status/105782452184621056
Sorry. This
Glad to hear it!
As the title to this post states: stay focused & vote! But also enjoy all the crackles as they pretzel themselves. We’re going to be bombarded by all kinds of pretzels, on our teevees, webs, mail, etc. Ignore. Keep eyes on prize.
😂😂 OMG, just had best laugh today. Colbert in his intro just turned around iQ45 trying to use Pharell’s song @ his hate rallies. Then the monologue …. 😂
😍
When the Obamas were in the White House it was fun watching events they held. Love them
I love them, too. ALWAYS will.
Apologies. Typo earlier above. 6,000 troops sent to the border didn’t cost $12 billion. It was $1.2 billion!
“In what he dubbed “Operation Jump Start,” Bush authorized the deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops to California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. They stayed there for around two years, from June 2006 to July 2008. The cost was $1.2 billion, according to congressional testimony from Major General John Nichols, who’s in charge of the Texas National Guard. That comes out to roughly $100,000 per troop each year.”
https://www.bustle.com/…/how-much-do-national-guard-troops-at-the-border-cost-tru…
Goodnight, all. Happy November. Keep the faith!
Good Morning! ♥️
What a fabulous way to start the day! Many thanks, Dudette!
G’morning Lyn! Have a great day! 😘
Back at ya!
And glad to see you standing tall.
Thank you , Lynn. [Sorry for the typo earlier] 😊
For all the enjoyment you’ve shared with your comments over the years, you can spell my name any way you want.
Aw, you’re so sweet! 😘♥️
Adorable. Michelle Obama is such a great role model. My Forever First Lady.
My oldest brother is a very big baseball fan and the Giants always came first, especially Mays and McCovey. Rest in Peace, good man.
UGH.
Morning everyone. He probably thought no one would notice or care. Luckily, they did… on both counts. Keep pushing! Never stop
Cutenesses:)
Swalwell reminds me of the lovely straight talkers I grew up with. Fun to learn that his Dad was Chief of Police + from an Iowan family
of Republicans.
Ah thanks Dudette. Can we bring Sears backkkkkk? Sears was a wonder to everyone living in a little town. So happy about this video.
My god, my god what Black Africans have been through to appease dumb white people. When is it going to change.
Stacey, Killum and so many beautiful people running for office right now….come through!
Baby Ruth! 😆
They knew. Now maybe they will all go to jail.Thread
Perfection!
Sh!!!!! Don’t say S E X out loud… but it’s ok to grab women against their will, in private. I detest these idiots
Had to take Mom to doc apptmt, so I couldn’t go stand in line for tix to see PBO yesterday, Looks like I probably wouldn’t have made it early enough in the line anyway.
Rethugs are circulating posted some garbage one of them created on Craigslist trying to make it look people were being offered $15 to come see PBO. FOH, Like he needs help drawing an adoring crowd. FOH!
Welp he’s canceled in my book forever.
😆😆😆
♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
New post.
https://theobamadiary.com/2018/11/01/nailed-it/