Our work on the Local Voices project is featured on the front page of the Joplin Globe online right now & is on the front page of the Sunday print edition as well!
This is grassroots in action! Here's the link to the whole story on their site where you can comment as well. See snips & the videos below:
Joplin resident Dana Snodgrass has found himself thrust into a political experiment of sorts.
And it has made him a star.
"I’m like a celebrity ... I feel like Joe the Plumber," Snodgrass said with a chuckle.
As part of the Local Voices for Obama project, three professional film teams spread out to key swing states: Nevada, Ohio and Missouri.
"I thought it would be a local deal but come to find out these guys are big-time players," said Snodgrass, who is 51. "I thought it was a Podunk thing ... He’s the real deal."
"He" is Lee Hirsch, an Emmy-winning director who also has taken a couple of awards at the Sundance Film Festival, and who led the Missouri film crew.
The advertising campaign is unlike others that have been tried in past elections, according to Hirsch and Eugene Hedlund. He founded truthandhope.org in 2004 to air independent television and radio spots for Howard Dean’s presidential bid, and he is supporting Obama’s bid this time.
Hedlund, a former mortgage banker and advertising executive, said the purpose is different than the political ads made by Hollywood and Madison Avenue types, which he likened to "messages from on high."
"Why are we not talking to the people? They’re there," Hedlund said. "Let’s have voices from the community.
"I don’t do the politics real well," said Snodgrass. "I am a student of politics, I just don’t get involved with it."
He admits that making an ad supporting a Democrat in a Republican stronghold could bring on some heat, and he’s taking a ribbing — some of it serious — from people who feel differently. But so far it hasn’t been too bad.
Asked if the Republicans have similar plans with less than two weeks to go before the election, Tina Hervey, communication director for the Missouri Republican Party, said that’s not possible locally.
"We don’t have the money or capacity to do what he’s doing. We just don’t have the money to hire an Emmy-award winning or non-Emmy Award winning director to film videos for YouTube."
But Hirsch and Hedlund said they aren’t receiving any campaign funds to film and air their ads. They are raising the money for that themselves.
He and Hedlund connected and raised a few thousand dollars for plane tickets, with most of the support coming from small donations to Hedlund’s Web site. Many members of his crew and the other two film crews paid their own way and donated their time as volunteers.
"I am not working for the campaign," Hirsch said, adding there is no reason Republican supporters could not do what he and the other teams have done.
"This has nothing to do with money," he said. "It has to do with passion and conviction."
Here's Dana's video which is on the air now in Missouri:
UPDATE: Ever since this story came out, Dana has been receiving hate mail, plus there are even more hateful comments on the Joplin Globe's page & it's affecting his business. Let's send messages of support & maybe there are people here or people you know in his area that can support his business, since he has to live with the fallout from taking a stand for Obama in a heavily GOP area of Missouri. We need to support those who show the courage to stand with us! Here are some examples (and this is just what is posted on line):
I care about the middle class. I am neither bitter or clinging to my guns and religion. Its about the Second Amendment and going to church on Sunday. My ten dollars an hour may not go far but it still speaks volumes. I'll be taking my car else where for repairs. And Dana, your not fooling this Joe Momma with that farm. Read my lips: Farm Tax Credits!!!!
Why would a business owner go public with politics? Not a good business decision. Dimwit money spends too. Ask the Oilabank party.
bo stinks writes:
I say we all vote for Barack Hussein Obama. Then if the country goes to h**, then we can all blame each other including Mr. Snodgrass.
Keith Spencer writes:
Obama is a fool . Anybody that believes what this guy says are as foolish as he is. He abandons his church, his preacher and has associated with Louis Farrkhan . But when he gets the scent of the White house in his nose he betrays his friends, church and all others that he thinks will hurt his bid for the white house. Osama Obama will destroy our nation and us with it. Mark my words. He is NOT what our country needs . To me Barack Hussein Obama equals Arabic which equals Muslim which equals Barack "Hussein" Obama. What's wrong with you people. Cantyou see that he is not what he claims to be. A Atheist Mother ( I have better words for her but it would not get printed) and a Muslim Father (him too) . What a perfect set up for a perlude to the Anti-Christ.
Buhmiester writes:
Now that I know about Dana's "secret"... I guess I'll take my car to Steve's Frame & Body next time.
UPDATE II: A local radio station KZRG has set up a hate blog to attack Dana.
More ads are in my my diary from Friday.
And a couple more new ones:
This is the Best Of:
Joan McKinney of Columbus, OH:
I posted this video on Friday: Sandy Austin is a Native American woman living with her son on the Paiute-Shoshone Reservation outside Fallon Nevada. Her health is the most important thing in life since her kidney failure. She goes regularly for dialysis and is on the waiting list for a kidney and a pancreas. She uses her tribal skills to make beaded bracelets and handbags emblazoned with 'Obama':
Many people have asked how they could purchase one of her bracelets. Email me at eugene at truthandhope dot org and I will send you her contact information. For now, here is a message she sent all of us:
Hi Everyone and thanks so much for your interest in my Native American Bead work. I've received many positive comments from all over the world thanks to this commercial. I've gotten hundreds of beautiful cards and letters from people suffering thru my same disease-Renal Failure. We're all in this together and we understand the need to support one another. I don't feel so alone now that I know so many people really do care. Barack Obama is "The One" for me.
Please DIGG this post from Friday night so we can front page it!
AND DIGG the news article itself! We need to get this story picked up nationally!
Time is running out. We need your help. Our cable buys must close out on Monday (network at the end of the week, but the spots are a higher cost). The average per spot cost for these ads is $44 per airing. These citizens & the others in the Local Voices series have shown great courage to take a public stand for Obama, while living in small heavily Republican towns. Let us honor their courage by sharing their message with other community members so they, like Sandy, will know that they are not alone.
Please help us get these on the air by contributing what you can. You can view all of our projects on our website and learn more about the local voices project, watch more videos & read about the amazing directors donating their time to this effort at our dedicated Local Voices for Obama site.
Share these videos with any friends & supporters of Obama you know! I know people have given so much financially to the campaign, to us, to other Orgs, but there is more which can be done than just giving money. Share this with everyone on your email list. Promote it within the Orgs you're a part of. Together we can make sure these voices are heard & that we turn Ohio, Missouri & Nevada blue!
Thank you for all that you do,
Eugene Hedlund
Founder/Chair
TruthandHope.Org PAC