DES MOINES - Today, OFA Iowa launched its African Americans for Obama Council, a new organizing operation that is comprised of members of the African American community from across the state. Over the past two decades, Iowa's African American population has increased by 100%. Iowa's 89,000 African Americans may make the difference in a close election
"The African Americans for Obama Council is comprised of leaders in their communities who are role models for all Iowans. They will play a crucial role in engaging and involving African Americans from Waterloo to Davenport to Council Bluffs in the election," said Iowa State Director Brad Anderson. "We believe every community is important and believe the African American community in Iowa is crucial to our reelection efforts."
President Obama and Mitt Romney offer African Americans and all Americans two fundamentally different visions of how to run the country. Mitt Romney embraces the same failed economic policies that led to the economic crisis that disproportionately hurt the middle class. President Obama is focused on creating jobs and restoring economic security. He understands that too many Iowans have been hurt by a decade of declining wages and unemployment and he's fought for policies that give everyone a fair shot and the opportunity to succeed.
"President Obama's Affordable Care Act reduced health disparities for 41 million African Americans and his Recovery Act law kept over one million African Americans out of poverty in 2010," said Tiffany Johnson, President of the Iowa Democratic African American Caucus. "Under Romney's plan, 2.2 million African American families will see their taxes go up, and every millionaire in America would receive a $250,000 tax cut. Mitt Romney embraces the same failed economic policies that led to the economic crisis that disproportionately hurt the middle class and African Americans."
In November, Americans, will be focused on the clear economic choice between the President's vision for moving our country forward - ensuring an economy built to last and economic security for the middle class- and Mitt Romney's vision, which would take us back to the same failed economic policies that brought on the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
African Americans for Obama is the latest group of Iowans committed to moving our country forward by reelecting President Obama in November. The campaign has already released Latino, Rural, Veterans and Women for Obama committees.
The members of the newly formed Iowa African Americans for Obama Council include :
- Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, State House Representative, Des Moines
- Austin Bailey, Firefighter, Council Bluffs
- Rep. Debra Berry, State House Representative, Waterloo
- Marscine Brown, President of NAACP Burlington
- Alderwoman Sheila Burrarge, Alderwoman, Davenport
- Wayne Clinton, Story County Supervisor, Ames
- Brenda Drew-Peeples, Attorney, Davenport
- Jacquie Easley, Diversity Director at Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines
- Rev. Abraham Funchess, Waterloo Commission on Human Rights Director, Waterloo
- Willie Glanton, Community Activist, Des Moines
- Lt. Mayor Quentin Hart, Lt. Mayor of Waterloo
- Tiffany Johnson, Iowa Democratic African American Caucus President, Des Moines
- Rev. Rogers Kirk, Community Organizer, Bettendorf
- Rep. Helen Miller, State House Representative, Fort Dodge
- Rev. Steve Perkins, Community Organizer, Waterloo
- Dolph Pulliam, Director of Community Outreach at Drake University, Des Moines
- Faye Scott, Community Organizer, Waterloo
- Rev. Henry Thomas, Community Organizer, Des Moines
- Don Wilder, Community Organizer, Marshalltown
- Twyla Woods, Community Education, Des Moines Public School, Des Moines
- Shekinah Young, Public Information, City of Des Moines, Des Moines
- Treyla Lee, Consultant at Lee & Associates LLC, Sioux City
- Bobbretta Brewton, Community Organizer, Des Moines
- Tyla Cole, Community Organizer, Davenport
- Rev. Michael Coleman, Community Organizer, Waterloo
- Rev. Cymaron Dawson, Community Organizer, Cedar Rapids
- Rev. Damian Epps, Community Organizer, Cedar Rapids
- Robert Johnson, Organizing for America Volunteer, Des Moines
- Shontavia Johnson, Professor at Drake Law School, Des Moines
- Khara Washington, Attorney at Lane & Watterman LLP, Davenport
- Jamie Woods, Organizing for America Volunteer, Davenport
- Lori Young, Organizing for America Volunteer, Des Moines
- Paulette Wiley, Community Organizer, Des Moines
###
