About 14 members of the Coweta - Fayette Chapter of Organizing for America gathered at the home of Fayetteville's Tish Naghise Wednesday night to watch President Barack Obama deliver his first state of the union address.
"Organizing for America has scheduled watching parties like this one all over the country," Naghise, a small business owner, explained.
"We promote positive leadership. Our main focus is to try to get people more involved."
Organizing for America is an offshoot of the original Obama presidential campaign. Those who gathered at the Naghise house Wednesday were by and large supporters of the president, although two Republicans did attend. Almost all of the activists had never met until the hour before the speech.
"You hear so much about the Tea Party movement and all the organizing going on with the far right, especially around here," Naghise stated.
"Coweta and Fayette are both very Republican counties, but there are those of us here who support our president and his policy goals. We're here and we're organizing too. We're just hoping the country and Congress can come together and rally around our president to affect real change."
The group sat attentively throughout the President's long speech, as well as Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell's Republican response.
After the speeches concluded, most in attendance spoke highly of the President's address.
"I really liked the way he called out both the Republicans and the Democrats in Congress," said Anthony Blood of Fayetteville.
"That line about 'just saying no to everything is short term politics; not leadership' -- that was good."
Anthony's wife, Tracy, echoed her husband's sentiment.
"With the Republicans in Congress, it's all about 'No.'" she said.
"It would be different if they said, 'I don't like blue, but I like red and let me tell you why.' Instead, they just say 'I don't like blue.'"
Camera shots of stone-faced Republicans in Congress drew sighs and groans from the Democrats watching at Nighise's viewing party. The Fayetteville group chuckled when the Republicans finally started clapping.
"You knew they would have to stand up and clap when [the president] started talking about jobs," Anthony Blood said.
Glen of Fairburn, one of two self-labeled Republicans in attendance, said he was pleased to hear the president support some "idealogically Conservative" causes, like tax cuts for small businesses, additional oil drilling, nuclear power, tough foreign policy, free trade and education reform.
"As a Republican, I don't see Obama as the Marxist or socialist some others paint him to be," Glen stated
"He seems to be more concerned with being a true leader than being a successful politician, which is a good thing."
Glen also said he would have liked to have heard the president focus more on civil rights and civil liberties.
Those interested in getting involved with Organizing for America's activities locally can find out more information by visiting the Web site www.barackobama.com. |
