by Andrew Malcolm, and updated
The presidential campaign of Barack Obama is gearing up for the big official opening of its Los Angeles campaign headquarters Sunday on Wilshire Boulevard.
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., the campaign is planning a block party with music, food, games for all ages and speakers. It's another effort to expand its base of campaign supporters, of course, maybe raise a little money, get some media attention.
It's just that the e-mail announcing the big do had some unfortunate wording for smoky Southern California these days: "We're getting 'Fired up, ready to go' for the 100-day countdown to election day" (the state's Feb. 5 primary).
Debbie Mesloh, spokesperson for Obama's California campaign, contacted us with word that the e-mail was composed before the catastrophic wildfires started.
Once it was clear a disaster was unfolding, the wording was changed and the block party plans dropped, she says. Instead, those attending the office opening are being asked to bring clothing and non-perishable food to donate to fire victims.
The same request has been made to those attending house parties elsewhere in the state marking the 100-day countdown to the primary
Andrew Malcolm writes for Top of the Ticket, the L.A. Times political blog.
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Comments
Speaking of "fired up", here's Fox "News" telling everyone that Al-Qaeda might have started the California fires on purpose:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Px_mEucuaw
24% of the country is stuck on stupid.
Posted by: Bill-O is fighting to save Christmas so you don't have to | October 25, 2007 6:22 PM
Is the word "fire" supposed to be extinguished from everyone's vocabulary as soon as they step foot in California now?
Come on...
Posted by: Jeff C. | October 25, 2007 6:56 PM
Ok, I've finally concede: Barack has not surrounded himself with the brightest (no pun intended) people. "Clueless", "tin ear", take your pick. They're pathetic.
Posted by: Biggdawg | October 25, 2007 7:09 PM
The lefty looney who came up with that tasteless PR comment should be fired.
Posted by: Smirky McFlightsuit | October 25, 2007 7:51 PM
Instead of debating the semantics of Obama's comments, why not bring up the human rights abuses of the Cheney and monkey boy admin? Weak, Whiney, Cowards..... The entire Repuke party. Now I understand why McFake is a repuke.... you guys will believe anything.
Posted by: Mrs. Jesus | October 26, 2007 12:24 AM
Soooo,if Barack 'not that Hussein' Obama goes to New Orleans, he can't say---Let it rain,on Hillary's campaign---?
Oh,too all you lefties out there...
See what happens when you have 3 days notice that a natural disaster is heading your way...The people in California do...they L-E-A-V-E!
...It's very simple,unless you have an incompetant democRATic Mayor and Governor.
Thanks Arnold for doing it the [RIGHT] way!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | October 26, 2007 12:26 AM
The phrase come from Obama's standard stump speech. Its a reference to a particular small town political leader he met on the campaign trail.
Hear the story from Obama here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=A4GQ5rGsk1A
Posted by: James Guzzi | October 26, 2007 2:56 AM
The slogan "Fired Up, Ready to Go" has been a part of the Obama campaign since the very beginning, as it stems from a story he tells in his stump speech. It has nothing to do with the southern California fires.
Posted by: Trish | October 26, 2007 4:56 AM
Wild fires have been on the horizon for months. Apparently no one at the Obama camp is familiar with that part of the country.
I said it early and often, the Obama campaign will self-destruct. I hear a wild cheer a-comin'.
Posted by: Bud McFarlin | October 26, 2007 7:21 AM