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PagcA8
March 26. 2008
Party Faithful Pledge Support
continued
from Front
ministration took on efforts in the 1940s to ban
discrimination, and Boyer now maintains in no
uncertain terms that "the Republican Party is
not the party of Lincoln.”
Democratic leaders cite the 1968 and 1972
presidential elections as additional turning
points in the partnership with African Ameri­
cans. Shortly after President Johnson signed
the Civil Rights Act. Democrats recognized a
need to encourage equitable representation in
race and gender at the meetings where deci­
sions are made about the direction of the party.
Out of the 65 delegates Oregon will send to
Denver, Democratic Party rules now require
that at least half will be women. The party also
strives to elect representation of various ethnic
Longtime political organizer Shirley Minor is working make sure the Democratic Party
Convention this summer reflects Multnomah County's diversity, especially with Sen.
Barack Obama as her pick for president.
backgrounds.
Sue H agm eier, p arty se cretary for
Multnomah County, said the goal is at least two
African Americans from the state's delegation,
three Asian Americans, seven Hispanic Ameri­
can, a Native American and five members of the
gay community.
African-American community leader Lew
Frederick is working toward a state Democratic
Party delegation that not only reflects the state
in numbers, but also contains members who,
regardless of background, prove their dedica­
tion to the political process by competing for
the national convention seats.
Some local activists launched theircampaigns
for a delegate position over a month ago, way
ahead of the May 22 filing deadline that comes
just two days after Oregon’s Primary.
Local activists could win a spot the conven­
tion during June meetings of local congres­
sional districts or from at-large positions dur­
ing a statewide meeting of Democrats.
Any registered Democrat can attend these
meetings and vote for delegates that are pledged
to presidential candidates in proportion to the
state primary election results.
Frederick and Hagmeier emphasize that
they’d like to see more young people get in­
volved. As excitement builds for a new type of
person in the White House, the leaders see
youth as vital to building a party platform.
photos by R aymond R endleman /T he P ortland O bserver
Former state Sen. Bob Boyer o f Portland is campaigning to
become a delegate pledged to Sen. Barack Obama at his party's
presidential nominating convention. Boyer says he's a proud
Democrat in a party that strives to help all people.
Rock Star Treatment for Obama
teacher in McMinnville. “He has an
uplifting message after a disheart­
ening eight years.”
can America.”
Making the racial line’s power a
Obama’s progressive and un­
relicofW.E.B. Dubois’century was compromising voice in an era of
a sentiment that carried to a wide politicians that tiptoe around is­
sues motivated Adrienne Wilson
constituency.
“He's one of the most charis­ to arrive early for the
matic speakers of our time,” says event. “Something in my
Mordechai Kotler, a high-school spirit is telling me that he’s
continued
from Front
genuine,” she says.
“We need someone who can
rally people and empower them,”
says local cookbook author Denise
Martin, who helped her4-year-old
son express hope for change on a
popular “Toddlers for Obama”
YouTube video.
Obama spoke to
the overwhelming
hype from all cor­
ners by saying,
“Change does not
He
energizes
the entire
electorate,
Adrienne
Wilson
We need someone who can rally people,
Denise Martin
photos by
R aymond R endi . eman /T he P ortland O bserver
Octavius
Miller
Its now possible to
have one America,
Teletha
Benjamin
happen from the top down, but
from the bottom up, because the
American people stand ready for
change,”
He promised to heed the nation's
wishes by ending the war before his
presidency’s first year would be up.
Citing the need to end dependency
on foreign oil, he would embrace
alternative energies and demand that
cars get 40 miles to the gallon.
Required changes for peace, like
closing the Guantanamo Bay mili­
tary prison, would not always be
easy or universally popular, Obama
conceded. “Part of my job as presi­
dent will be not to tell you what you
want to hear, but what you need to
hear,” he said.
Teletha Benjamin stood wearing
a shirt her daughter made of Obama
and King dreaming of similar trans­
formation. “Credit has to be given
for how he energizes the entire elec­
torate,” she says.
Lottery funds give 28 threatened
species a home on Zumwalt Prairie.
I t ’s been said th a t our society w ill be defined not only by w hat we create, but by
what we refuse to destroy. And there's a place in Northeast Oregon that embodies
the phrase That place is called 2umwalt Prairie — home to North America’s largest
native bunchgrass prairie and one of the nation’s highest concentrations of nesting
Tow nsend's
Big-eared Bat
fCorynorfiinus to
P reble’s Shrew
(Sorer p ch ifij
Inland Tailed Frog
(Ascopflus m ontanirt)
y
Columbian
Sharp-tailed Crouse
fivmDao-icftmpfKisimrell
W h ite-tailed
jackrabbit
(lepus townsendii)
M ountain Quail
(Oreortyt firrlu s)
birds of prey. This expansive paradise is more than just breathtaking It's a thriving
ecosystem. It's proof positive of the regenerative powers of Mother Nature I t ’s a
reminder for Oregonians to continue to be good stewards of the land And with help
from lo tte ry funds, it's preserved for generations to come — both theirs and ours
Ferruginous Hawk
(Butco regal is)
V
Bald Eagle
W illiam son ’s
Sapsucker
(Halidcetin feiicocephn/ut)
(Sphyrnpirus fhyl
Bighorn Sheep
l e w i s ’s
W oodpecker
(Ovis cunndvnsis)
(Meloncrpcr fewis)
F lam m ulated Owl
(Of usflnmmeohoi)
4
W estern
M eadowlark
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W estern
Burrowing Owl
(Athene cunicidur
G rasshopper
Sparrow
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