“Fire it up! Ready to go!” was the chant heard throughout Recreation Park, the site of a Long Beach Democratic rally aimed at gaining support for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign Saturday afternoon.
Some of Long Beach’s city officials assembled at the Long Beach Democratic Club-sponsored event to rack up support for the Democratic presidential candidate and enlist local volunteers to participate in government affairs.
“We have an opportunity to make democratic history,” said James Johnson, president of the Democratic Club and rally event coordinator. “We need to work hard for the America we want.”
Although registered democrats outnumber Republicans in Long Beach, as the Long Beach Press-Telegram reported on Sept. 10, officials are still pushing for more registered voters and a large turnout for the Nov. 4 election.
“We are a working rally, we are here for change,” Johnson said. “No one else is going to do it. We have to do it here in Long Beach.”
Long Beach’s democratic political figures did not miss the opportunity to discuss significant components of the November election, such as the war on terrorism, global warming and health care.
“We are spending 10 billion dollars on a war we will not win, money we could be using for educations, jobs in Long Beach, and infrastructures,” said state Senate candidate Rod Wright. “We must put an end to this war.”
California Democratic Party Chairman Art Torres expressed his feelings about the Republican presidential nominee John McCain.
“This election is about work, and the irresponsible choices shows what McCain has, and he doesn’t have it,” Torres said. “It’s about understanding the issues that are important.”
State and local affairs were also discussed at the rally. Officials advocated passage of Measure I, proposed by Mayor Bob Foster, explained as a $571 million parcel tax intended to help rebuild public safety facilities, coastal water quality, park and recreation facilities, as well as library and health facilities.
Attendees also received information about, and encouragement to approve, Proposition 2, a measure that stops cruel and inhumane treatment of animals. Officials also advocated opposition to Proposition 8, a measure banning same-sex marriages in California.
Johnson and other affiliates concentrated on the relationship between government and the general public. The members of each club aimed to facilitate Long Beach residents’ awareness of the democratic clubs and get them actively involved.
“We have seven weeks to change the course of history. We need to be knocking on doors, making phone calls, getting the democratic voice out to the public,” Torres said.
“There are less than 60 days until we elect the president, and result that will effect how we feel for the next six to eight years. We need to be working day in and day out,” Johnson concluded at the end of the rally. “There are more of us [Democrats] than [Republicans]. We are a party of everyone.”
Other organizations, along with the Long Beach Democratic Club, attended the rally. Volunteers from the Midway Democratic Club, Long Beach Lambda, Long Beach Young Democrats, and the San Pedro Democratic Club all showed support for the local candidates and the Obama campaign.
The Long Beach Democratic Club is continuing their campaign efforts by sponsoring more rallies through out California, hoping to make the Democratic Party stronger for this fall’s campaign. They are going to continue their campaign trail in Nevada next month.
