Supporters see ONE Vote ’08 as top issue

The a cappella group that opened Tuesday’s launch of the ONE Vote ’08 campaign sang, “Seems like the world is only moaning and groaning in misery and strife/ It’s the same old sad, sad song.”

But the five-member gospel group changed the lyrics of the Smokie Norful hit at the end: “Let’s change that sad song,” they sang.

The campaign, an offshoot of rock superstar Bono’s project to put African poverty atop the American political agenda, launched in Nevada with the goal of sending a bipartisan message to presidential candidates campaigning here.

As evidence of its across-the-aisle nature, the launch at the Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy featured Democratic Rep. Shelley Berkley and Republican Rep. Jon Porter. Agassi is also a supporter.

Speakers included a megachurch pastor and the director of a local AIDS nonprofit.

A video played at the start of the event summed up the campaign’s theme. Images of starving, disease-ridden African children alternated with statements from boldface names like actors Matt Damon and Don Cheadle, former senators (and former bitter enemies) Bill Frist and Tom Daschle, NFL quarterback Tom Brady and celebrity pastor Rick Warren.

That’s Bono’s mission: to bring the stories of the least fortunate to the attention of the most powerful.

ONE Vote national campaign manager Jessica Vanden Berg said Tuesday’s event was more than a feel-good project. “Not everybody agrees on this.”

Some might argue that it’s not America’s job to fix Africa’s problems, that foreign aid doesn’t work or that federal dollars need to be spent first on higher priorities either foreign or domestic. It’s the campaign’s task to convince politicians there is popular support for its cause, and that voters will respond to candidates who embrace it, Vanden Berg said.

“We’re not naive. We know that this is not priority number one; there’s a lot of huge issues out there. We want to make sure there is a focus on this issue, and that people see the interconnectedness of foreign policy issues.”

Fighting global poverty will make America safer, she said. “What’s happening in Africa can affect us.”

Porter also sounded that theme, saying, “If we do not step up to the plate and help these families, these children, it’s a breeding ground for extremist activity. If they don’t see firsthand who we are, there is an issue of national security. It’s a lack of hope that leads to instability and extremist activity.”

Vanden Berg said the campaign would ask more of the candidates than to just wear its white rubber bracelet or pose for a photo op.

The campaign will ask candidates to pledge an additional $30 billion in U.S. aid to Africa. It will call on candidates to endorse specific benchmarks in the areas of fighting AIDS and malaria, maternal health, education, sanitation and hunger. It will create a formal pledge and ask candidates to sign it.

“We have to hold the presidential candidates accountable and get them to actually agree to our issues, so that in 2009, whoever comes into office will be committed,” she said.

The campaign hopes to get those commitments with volunteers in the four early presidential contest states — Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina — where they will attend campaign events, in matching black-and-white T-shirts, and speak up. It also plans to buy advertising. Of the $30 million going into the effort, $22 million is from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

In addition to Berkley and Porter, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid supports ONE, whose president is his former chief of staff, Susan McCue. Staffers said they hope Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and Rep. Dean Heller, R-Nev., will sign on; they haven’t been approached yet.

Berkley said Nevada’s new presence in the early state mix presents a unique opportunity.

“The ONE Campaign … gives us issues that are worthy of our candidates to talk about,” she said. “We in Nevada can make a difference.”

On the eve of Independence Day, she urged people to participate politically.

“Waving the flag on the Fourth of July is nice, but that to me does not demonstrate patriotism,” she said. “If you want to be a good patriot, if you want to be a good American, you show up and vote.”

At the end of Tuesday’s news conference, the a cappella group got up to sing another song: “The place where mankind was born/ It’s so neglected and torn,” they sang.

By the end of the number, the crowd of about 50 people was on its feet, clapping in rhythm.

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