Grassroots Leaders Show Power at Heartland Presidential Forum |
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For more information, contact: For Immediate Release: Monday, December 3, 2007 Participants Push Presidential Candidates on Community Values, Put Community Values Voter on Political MapDES MOINES, IOWA --A month before the Iowa caucuses, more than 3,600 people braved an ice storm for the Heartland Presidential Forum on Saturday, December 1, in Des Moines, Iowa. The forum at HyVee Hall launched the national Campaign for Community Values and drew five Democratic presidential candidates’ participation. Featuring an unprecedented format that gave everyday people the rare spotlight at such events, community members spoke directly to the candidates about issues that matter to all Americans. Larry Ginter, a member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement from Rhodes, Iowa, spoke of an immigrant student who shared the stage with him and who asked Senator Clinton about her dream for a path to citizenship for all immigrants. He also told Clinton how factory farms are hurting both rural Iowans and family farmers in Mexico, forcing migration to the United States. “I’m a farmer from rural Iowa but I know that the issues of Latino immigrants are my issues too,” said Ginter. “Mayte’s dream is my dream.” The Heartland Presidential Forum put community values voters on the political map and made clear they are a decisive force in this election. The power was returned to the people, as the grassroots community ignited a new values debate in American politics. They made their case at the highest political level, sharing personal stories of injustice with the presidential candidates. “Saturday was a big deal to all of us who share in these important issues at stake in this election and who are tired of the status quo,” said Deepak Bhargava, executive director, Center for Community Change, which helped organize the event. “Too often, presidential politics have resorted to a divide-and-conquer strategy. But the people want hope and possibility, not fear and division.” During the forum, moderated by Cathy Hughes, founder and chairwoman of Radio One, Senator John Edwards, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Senator Hillary Clinton via phone, Senator Chris Dodd and Senator Barack Obama, respectively, were asked if they would embrace the concept of community values—the idea that together we can do so much and that government must play a role in solving social problems. They all agreed to support community values. The audience included more than 2000 undecided, likely caucus goers from Iowa and another 1,600 voters from 32 states, who organized community buses for the journey to Iowa. Of the 30 grassroots leaders on stage who shared their stories and questions with the candidates, the majority were from Iowa. “This was an important first step toward a vital, national conversation,” said Hugh Espey, executive director, Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. “Polls continue to show that many caucus goers are undecided. The Heartland Presidential Forum put aside political rhetoric to talk about what Iowans and Americans really value.” Sponsored by Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, the Center for Community Change and the Campaign for Community Values (a coalition of more than 300 grassroots organizations nationwide), the forum’s emotional questions and audience reactions to the candidates were captured live on movementvisionlab.org. During the Iowa caucuses and throughout the 2008 election, the Campaign for Community Values will mobilize community values voters as this election’s most prominent swing voter block. ### |
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