The Substance Behind the ObamaLA Story
Updated: 12/2/07
In the past week or so there has been a bit of excitement in Ron Paul space about one of the original grassroots supporters of Barack Obama throwing his support to Congressman Paul. Several sites have linked to http://www.ObamaLA.com where in a rather sparse message from Marc Whittemore proclaims “I started the original grassroots group ObamaLA and carried it until it was 2,500 people strong. Having done substantially more homework now I am inclined to switch my vote.”
I’ll not quote the whole thing here. It is there for all to see.
The story made it to Digg, Ron Paul blogs and MeetUP sites.
There was some speculation that it was a hoax or the domain had been hijacked.
I was intrigued by the story, but also frustrated by the lack of information. Being the curious type I did a little research on google and found what I thought might be Mr. Whittemore’s website and e-mail address. I’m not publishing that here for reasons that should become apparent. If you really want to know you can use google just like I did.
At any rate, the following is the e-mail dialog that ensued. Except for removing the obvious identifying information, doing a bit of spellchecking and one slight change made at Mr. Whittemore’s request, it is unedited. My observations appear afterward.
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:43:20 -0500
From: Me
To: Marc Whittemore
Subject: Are you the one?Hello,
There has been a great deal of noise on the ronpaulintertubes lately
about some fellow named Marc Whittemore abandoning the Obama camp for
Ron Paul’s wacky, quixotic, dark horse “Restore the Republic” brew ha
ha. Are you the one? If not can you direct me to him/her/it?
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:45:41 -0800
From: Marc Whittemore
To: Me
Subject: Re: Are you the one?ha.
you found him…
I am he.
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:20:48 -0500
From: Me
To: Marc Whittemore
Subject: Re: Are you the one?Hello,
Pleased to meet you. Do you have any intention of being more forthcoming
about this? I ask because folks over on ronpaulforums.com are having
Rongasms about this. They would love to have you join the forum and say
hello. Be advised, the attempt to trumpet this from the mountain tops has
already started.http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=41240
http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Obama_Supporter_s_Change_of_Heart
http://www.ronpaulnation.com/?p=437
There is a slight tendency among Ron Paul supporters to go hyperactive,
especially in an information vacuum. If you have any desire to help shape
the outcome of this I suggest you join the fray, otherwise we may all end up
looking silly.Oh, and welcome to the revolution.
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:04:41 -0800
From: Marc Whittemore
To: MeThank you. I am flattered for all the attention albeit — I think,
undeserving. To be honest I have never been a politically involved person.
I only got involved in this election because at the time of my involvement
(and still for that matter) I was suffering from an acute, chronic and
ever-escalating case of seething resentment for what Bush (et. al) has done
to the country. Enter Obama. His oratory skills, coupled with the ample
energy of my resentment fueled something inside me to want to help change
things and make things right. With blinders on I went for it.Never having been involved politically I just happened to anticipate his
move of running for president and managed to start the first Obama for
President meetup.com site. By virtue of that excellent timing along with
my substantial internet and design (Art Director) experience I slaved away
as the Director for ObamaLA literally putting in 40 to 70 hours minimum for
months and months (on top of a full time job) to build the ObamaLA website
(old site: http://obamala.com/index_old.html ), fill it with content, all
the while brain-storming with other key people that came forth to volunteer
trying to come up with an infrastructure that worked and could support a
full scale grassroots campaign of several thousand volunteers. I designed
the coolest website.. unique t-shirts… ( http://www.cafepress.com/aworkofmarc )
gorgeous buttons — the whole branding, the entire look and feel —
ALL of it. It was truly a very professional looking grassroots campaign.Not being a public speaker, although very good in smallish groups, I
surrounded myself with people who could pick up the slack there and then
help from other people who had actual grassroots political experience. Then
found a couple guys to write some excellent Op-Ed pieces. We were steaming
forward…. FAST. Still it was utter all consuming chaos.Then egos got involved. We’re talking MAJOR EGOS. People wanting credit
and total control.. people seeing Obama and their association with him /
ObamaLA as super fast climb up the social ladder of prestige and
recognition. Sadly it became about many people losing sight of what we were
doing, making their own agenda more important. Being new to all of it
bleary-eyed and exhausted way-ay-ay over-worked and, after many run-ins and
playing babysitter, I short temperedly made the mistake, slip of the tongue
(email) of expressing an opinion about how obstinate, short sighted and
selfish some people were (and in not so nice words). Albeit true… it was
a bad move because the email was accidentally sent to THAT person.. who knew
enough other people to escalate it into a full blown mess…. Yuk.That precipitated a mutiny. Several people choose to magnify that incident
and use it as a wedge to totally undo ObamaLA in part because they also
wanted full control / prestige / recognition and in that process took many
of our key people creating the off shoot called http://www.lagrassroots4obama.com/
The timing was bad because I was too exhausted by then to rebuild and start over.
I gave them the meetup site ( http://barackobama.meetup.com/138/?gj=sj2 )
but I refused to help them out further by giving them the ObamaLA name
and branding after they literally stole my email list of 2,500. names. Looking back
maybe that was selfish but the hit I took after pouring my blood sweat and soul
into something was more than I could handle.In that process, and by refusing my many requests to work things out and let
egos calm down, they managed to horribly puncture any momentum we built. So
as it stands… their group falters now. The last meetups they had were
complete flops. Only 2 and 3 people attending. Sad. Very very sad because
where we were going with it — it could have been the most amazing
grassroots campaign EVER. We were getting requests from all over the
country — “how’d you do it” “tell us how we can do it” — so I had us
write a manual (see the attached).. we made this awesome document to send to
every group in the country that called us asking for information. HOT, for
a first draft Great information based on our collective knowledge and
experience. It all got flushed. An amazing amount of work… dreams
trashed because of egos. It’s taken me all this time to recover.Then… then I found Ron Paul. WOW. And Obama/Clinton just seemed to
become more about battling egos trying to win the grand prize.. Obama
beginning to sound like all the rest - talking shit all about who’s health
plan can beat up who’s health plan… suddenly gaining a full-on Southern
accent when campaigning in the South. Maybe in politics eventually the
contenders are just forced to be like all the rest… but Obama’s talk
seemed to peter out — sounding empty when compared to what Ron Paul was
talking about. The stuff about doing away with the thieving IRS and the
Federal Reserve - talking about our disappearing civil liberties and getting
them back… talking about what made this country GREAT — the REAL guts of
this country called the Constitution. NOT the constitution as he chooses to
interpet it (like the current [administration]*) but the REAL DEAL… and how to get
back to that!!! Don’t get me wrong. I still adore Obama and I think he’s
make an awesome President but ONLY IF Ron Paul does not get it.In my perfect world - we’d have Ron Paul president and Obama V.P.
Long sorted story, most of which you probably didn’t need to know… but I
probably needed to write this out (I have the time now for my company lost
funding and I just hit the lines of unemployment. Ooo-eee. A better job is
just around the corner!) and you needed to know that it’s probably not that
big a deal. Anyways… so still owning the name ObamaLA I choose to write
the piece you see there now. The website is just a small way now to voice
my opinion in the hope of helping Ron Paul.All the best.
Marc Whittemore
*Note: A slightly less flattering term was modified at Mr. Whittemore’s request.
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 14:46:12 -0500
From: Me
To: Marc Whittemore
Subject: Re: Are you the one?Marc,
Would you mind a great deal if I posted some or all of this e-mail on
ronpaulforums.com? I could understand perfectly well if you’d prefer I
didn’t, but there are at least a few excerpts that I think people should
hear. We have our own issues with egos and people who try to attach their
own agendas to Ron Paul’s campaign. Your story has inspirational elements
as well as cautionary tales.If you do decide to join the forum, please be advised it is a cross-section
of America in all it’s glory and squaller, not to mention the occasion weird
uncle who just won’t shut up.
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:57:45 -0800
From: Marc Whittemore
To: Me
Subject: Re: Are you the one?You may post any or all of it.. with the exception of replacing the word
[administration]*…And as long as I’m not touted as anything more than
just a humble guy trying to do the right thing — I’ve had enough of
anything like prestige either coming at me or with others seeking it.
However… I would like to see the part about “In my prefect world”…
because it’s so NOT about party lines. It’s about the best people for the
job and I still think Obama rocks. Just not as much as Ron Paul.
Whoa… the 2 of them would rocket our country into the very place we were
headed many years ago.As far as your forum being “cross-section of America in all it’s glory and
squaller”.. haha.. being a gay man I am certainly part of that.
Take care… Gotta run.
*Note: See previous note.
I have to admit I had a few reservations about publishing this. It is obvious that Mr. Whittemore did not arrive at his current position without a bit of a struggle and more than a small bit of anguish. There are many of us involved in this election cycle who are not cynical, hard-bitten political operatives. There are people who feel motivated by a sincere desire to make a difference. To come to the realization we are swimming in a cesspool infested with Machiavellian egos and sociopathic opportunists can be demoralizing. I have no desire to subject him to the potential circus this could become. I am quite certain some of his former associates regard him as a traitor. I’m equally certain there are Ron Paul supporters who will want to make him into a some sort of patriotic hero, which he may well be, but the potential to use him, while disregarding the potential consequences is very real.
On the other hand, his story is one that should be told. People believe Ron Paul supporters are rabid extremists. We have a few of those. All the candidates have their share, but we all see them in the other camps, not our own. What I see in Marc Whittemore is just one more of many who know something is wrong with the direction this country has taken. Some of see it as a consequence of the Bush presidency. Some of us think we slipped off the track in the 1960s. Others take it back to the 1930s, 1913, the Spanish America War, the Mexican American War, the Civil War or the Alien and Sedition Act. Some feel, I’m sure, that there has never been a time in our history when America has come close to realizing the potential of freedom and justice we’ve always proclaimed.
There is a very real sense among ordinary people that this is not the way it is supposed to be. With each election there are some very smooth operators who tap into the that discomfort and promise they have the solution. Time and again people cast their ballots thinking this time it will be different only to find that somehow nothing really changes, but there is a different voice now. We have a man who says “I don’t want to run your life, I don’t want run the economy, I don’t want to run the world. I wouldn’t know how, anyway.”
In Ron Paul’s words “Freedom Works.” In many ways, that is the point. Though freedom has an impeccable spokesman in Ron Paul, it is the message, not the man. Folks like Marc Whittemore and many other ordinary people, like you and I, are hearing that message and responding. That’s why we feel Hope for America.
Afterthought: I must say I disagree with Mr. Whittemore about Barack Obama, as I disagree with the people I hear entertaining the idea of a Ron Paul/Dennis Kucinich ticket, or even a Dennis Kucinich/Ron Paul ticket. I’m not going to address why I feel that way now, but I did feel I should mention it.
Update 12/2/07: It appears the ObamaLA site is down. For good. http://isilion.blogsome.com/2007/12/02/a-sad-post/
Whatchya say about me sonny?
Comment by Occasional Weird Uncle — November 28, 2007 @ 5:23 am EST
Any chance of posting his “how to” manual that was attached to his original e-mail?
Comment by jl — November 28, 2007 @ 7:03 pm EST
I’ve been looking for the background on this story. Great Post!
Comment by Randolphus Maximus — November 28, 2007 @ 7:23 pm EST
Actually, I’d say that (other than all the extensive effort he put into ObamaLA) he sounds like the *typical* Ron Paul supporter; slightly puzzled by the offbeat unpolished statements the man makes, but agreeing with a few things… then doing some ACTUAL research and reading up on Ron Paul’s positions AND his history, reputation for integrity, responsibility, etc. Then spending some time in contemplation & consideration — and seeing from the STARK contrast that the rest of the candidates are basically what did you call them “…a cesspool infested with Machiavellian egos and sociopathic opportunists…” yeah that pretty much sums them up.
Keep you sociopaths, instead, I’ll have a simple man of solid honesty, integrity, a BACKBONE, some guts, and a commitment to actually OBEY the original “contract” and “supreme law” that the federal government was created under; the man of this year and hopefully the next 8 or so, Ron Paul.
Comment by JKHutz — November 28, 2007 @ 7:29 pm EST
Enjoyed Marc’s comments. However, Ron Paul and Obama on the same ticket belies confusion. They are opposites; Paul speaks to historical verities while Obama talks the (empty) rheteoric of the 60’s. Would Hamilton and Jefferson have ever agreed to be on the same ticket?
To Ron Paul supporters who want real insight into his philosophies, read Henry Hazlitt’s ECONOMICS IN ONE LESSON.
And after reading it reflect that Mr Hazlitt was on the editorial board of the NY Times back in the 40’s. How things change.
Comment by steve — November 28, 2007 @ 7:48 pm EST
Dr. Paul and Obama are opposites. I found that out when answering questions that match answers with candidates. Well after answering the questions, (for me)Ron Paul turned out to be number one and obama was last. My fiance was upset because Romney matched up well with her. She doesn’t like him!
Comment by Robert Johnson — November 28, 2007 @ 9:32 pm EST
I know who Ron Paul should pick as a running mate. Lew Rockwell!
Comment by Aaron Kinney — November 28, 2007 @ 10:41 pm EST
“Any chance of posting his “how to” manual that was attached to his original e-mail?”
I’ve already discussed that with him. I need to a bit of editing because of possible privacy issues, but once that is done–I need to get some PDF editing software–I will try to make it available.
Comment by isilion — November 28, 2007 @ 11:03 pm EST
Wow, is this guy an African-American?
Think about that: an African-American gay dude converting to the gospel of Ron Paulism. Take that, people who associate us Ron Paul supporters with skin-heads, neo-nazis and conspiracy theorists.
I became a Ron Paul supporter way before I became a conspiracy theorist
In fact, I became one because I researched everything Ron Paul was talking about and found documentaries like “The Bush Family Values,” “America: Freedom to Fascism,” “Loose Change: Final Cut” and “Endgame.”
Technically, I went to the world premiere of Loose Change: Final Cut and asked a question about who the makers of the film endorse (he answered questions after the showing). Who did he support? Why, none other than Ron Paul, of course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVrfY_pZVoM
Comment by Vince Bullinger — November 28, 2007 @ 11:25 pm EST
I have tertiary syphilis.
Comment by Whitman — November 29, 2007 @ 1:39 am EST
Initially, very exciting news. Glad you took time to e-mail and get more details.
Something’s not making sense. On the one hand Marc says about Obama “…talking s*** all about who’s health
plan can beat up who’s health plan… suddenly gaining a full-on Southern accent when campaigning in the South. Maybe in politics eventually the contenders are just forced to be like all the rest… but Obama’s talk seemed to peter out — sounding empty when compared to what Ron Paul was talking about.”
Good so far. But then he says, “In my perfect world - we’d have Ron Paul president and Obama V.P.”
?
Paul - Tancredo are the American DREAM ticket. Watch *really* close: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kkw5bQt0YV0
Comment by L.A.mama — November 29, 2007 @ 1:50 am EST
I wish the president and vice president were still chosen as they were originally intended. the president was the candidate that won the most electoral college votes and the vp was the one that came in second. That should make a president honest to keep the vp from killin his ass!
Comment by DAvid Ward — November 29, 2007 @ 2:07 am EST
Rock on, Marc!
Comment by Dirk — November 29, 2007 @ 4:58 pm EST
Yes, I definitely want to see this manual that he discusses. It could be very helpful, and I don’t see any reason not to post it.
Comment by Nate — November 29, 2007 @ 10:28 pm EST
By the way, I’m looking forward to the Paul/Kucinich ticket myself. I adore Paul’s constitutional stance, but I am more than concerned about his economic policies (particularly abolishing the Department of Education, which is the only reason I made it to college and why my baby brother is able to go to college). I feel that he would be extremely well balanced by Kucinich–who is also a Constitutionalist–and having a bi-partisan running ticket would make history. They’re friends, they agree socially, they have a healthy disagreement economically, and they’re the only candidates with a prayer (sorry Gravel!) who will talk to us like people and not spout soundbites!
Comment by Nate — November 29, 2007 @ 10:36 pm EST
@Robert Johnson
Tell your GF not to worry about her matching with Romney, because depending on when they set up the match-matrix and who did it, it could have any set of stances for him, he changes his mind every few months!
(see the latest debate for details).
However, that may not happen anymore, because now he’s become an expert at avoiding answering questions, so he doesn’t stand for anything
Viva Las Vegas, Viva Ron Paul, Viva la Revolution!
Comment by Jim — November 29, 2007 @ 10:37 pm EST
I know Marc Whittemore. I was one of the founders of ObamaLA as well, and Whittemore is a drug addict and alcoholic. He was only behind Obama in hopes that he would become somebody important…and then he blasted one of the Senators most important advisors and field reps via email. That essentially black-listed the ObamaLA grassroots organization, so the rest of the founders left Marc and started a new organization which has since been folded into the Obama for America campaign. Marc Whittemore is a delusional, psychopath who threatens to sue people who he calls friends. Most of the original founders have filed restraining orders against him. Very sad because we all thought he was a friend. In the end it was about EGO - Marc’s ego. So now he found a new candidate to support…one with completely different values from Obama’s. I think having Whittemore in his camp only hurts Paul. I’d get rid of this whacko soon.
Comment by Keith — November 30, 2007 @ 9:10 pm EST
Figures you’d try and muddy the water with a slimey smear attack. Ha ha. I’ll be the first to admit I am an alcoholic / addict. HOWEVER — AS YOU WELL KNOW — tell people the entire 100% honesty — let the people know that I also have many many years sober and SOBER 100% using a program that’s based on honesty. Sorry about your selective memory recall disorder — and you’re a lawyer! Go figure.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — November 30, 2007 @ 9:31 pm EST
PS - And despite what your ego may telll you Keith.. YOUWERE NOT EVEN CLOSE to one of the founding members. What utter egotistical bullshit. You made it to ONE meeting…. you offered your office meeting room as a location and then *SURPRISE* you disappear, not returning phone calls, finally an email coping some lame ass excuse you’re too busy for ObamaLA. “Founding Member” my lily white gay ass! Furthermore — none of any member former ObamaLA members anywhere have filed anything like restraing orders against me. So — who’s the delusional one here? You poor pathetic thing. Hahaha. But enough — say whatever you want. You’re a boldfaced liar you you have to live with that.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — November 30, 2007 @ 9:39 pm EST
This reactionary response is a little troubling. Maybe there is more to this story then what Marc is telling. Entire groups of people do not mutiny for no good reason and quite frankly for someone who has no ego attached there sure is a whole lot me, me, me in your story, Marc. Smells very fishy to me.
Comment by joanie — November 30, 2007 @ 10:48 pm EST
Keith: “I think having Whittemore in his camp only hurts Paul. I’d get rid of this whacko soon.”
That’s funny. Considering the way this campaign has been ignored, marginalized and now vilified. If Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and the rest of the crew at Faux firing every barrel they’ve got haven’t been able to hurt Ron Paul, the fact that he has ordinary, flawed human beings supporting him hardly constitutes something that “hurts Paul.” He revels in the fact that people from all walks of life are waking up to the message of freedom. Those of us in this happy throng are glad to have Marc among us. You’d be welcomed with open arms as well.
joanie: “This reactionary response is a little troubling.”
One negative response is hardly a reason for my alarm bells to go off. I was actually expecting much more. This is politics we’re talking about here.
joanie: “Maybe there is more to this story then what Marc is telling.”
There is always more to the story. This surprises you?
Comment by isilion — November 30, 2007 @ 11:06 pm EST
I don’t know either of these two people and quite frankly don’t care about their drama, what I care about is how this kind of stuff fuels bad press for eveyone. I can’t be the only one taken aback by this response. What surpises me is that YOU are not asking… and accepting what this man says at face value.
Comment by joanie — November 30, 2007 @ 11:23 pm EST
Of course there’s more to the story. Jeeez… Working on the ObamaLA grassroots campaign for nearly 8 or 9 months.. 40 plus plus plus hours a week — all you got was an (accurate) synopsis — What it came down to was letting people know what happened in a few paragraphs. Typing out a blow by blow of every nasty detail, every personality clash, death threats against me for having disturbed members voted off the committee is far more than the scope of this blog.. and frankly more than I care to relive.
But I will say this — I do NOT lie. Not even to hide my own dirty laundry. Where it was appropriate I had gone WAY out of my way to make things right. At one point I even offered the party I offended (by sending that bad email) to hand over the reins of ObamaLA. She choose to ignore my offer. Where it was appropriate I had/have admitted my shortcomings and EVEN my character defects. Where it was appropriate I have apologized. Profusely — AND HEARTFELT.
But to have some delusional member come at me with SUCH a hostile pack of lies, half truth and complete misrepsentations — from someone who supposedly represents LAW — (yet as we WELL KNOW not all lawyers do) Well of course I am going to push back! If and any point anyone would like to hear more in depth then contact me directly. moviemaker.0000@gmail.com
All the best….
Comment by Marc Whittemore — November 30, 2007 @ 11:40 pm EST
I’m with joanie.
has anyone checked in with the people who left?
embracing this jump without checking the other side could be a press nightmare. nothing wrong with marc jumping in with us (and glad to have ya), but let’s check it out before everyone jumps on the band wagon. the last thing this campaign needs is weird press.
Any one want to take this on? Marc, do you have any people we could follow up with?
Comment by Mike — December 1, 2007 @ 12:02 am EST
Ya know.. this is getting soOOOooOOOooo beyond ridiculous. If you need to play in the mud I have given you ALL the links you need — do the follow up yourself. You have my blessing –go for it –have at it, but it will be amoungst yourselves because as far as anymore participation from me — well let me quote the very person who runs this blog, recently wrote me: “Gee, isn’t the Internet fun? As someone once said, arguing on the Internet is like competing in the Special Olympics: even if you win, you’re still retarded.”
And with that *poof* I am permanently, now and forever, outta here. Enjoy the fray.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 1, 2007 @ 12:39 am EST
And when asked about the ObamaLA website (I took it down) if it would go back up this is my reply:
Nope. I’m done with the horseshit of politics. Ron Paul, of course, still gets my vote and my support (albeit in the background but as a small cog in the big wheel). As far as having to defend my integrity on a blog because of a bunch of pathetic ex-ObamaLA members come forth to purposely smear and lie? Well life is just too short to continue spalshing mud about. So I removed the problem — which was myself / ObamaLA being in the limelight. And as far as people wanting to follow-up by going back to the people that mutinied in the first place?.. HA and actually EXPECTING to get a truthful answer? You have GOT to be kidding - like that would ever happen.
If they’re so slimey as to steal the email list of 2,500 — do you really think they’re not the type that wouldn’t love to wreck havoc and upsurp any positive effect ObamaLA or I could have for the Ron Paul campaign? NO. They will see it as what it is — an opportuity to futher debase my name and ObamaLA — nothing but more lies and negativity would come of it.
I was much to controversial apparently still am — partly for being gay (yes, some people actually had an issue with that!!!) partly because I had to make some drastic decisions insofar as removing people who had their own agendas (hence deaths threats!), partly because I DID make some dire mistakes, partly because I am NOT someone who even wants to be in the limelight (as seen as a weakness on a “Director” at least inpolitics apparently b/c I do NOT enjoy public speaking/attention). Enough. This is all past me now. Take care. All the best — May Ron Paul win by a landslide.
And NOW. I am of here. Take care folks. If you need any graphics for the campaign - holler it will be my small cog part.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 1, 2007 @ 2:00 am EST
Americans come around sooner or later the majority will behind Ron Paul.It takes Americans awhile because they have their heads burried in the sand most of the time
Hope that most Americans can get onboard before the elections or America will have to be put down by the world like we did to Hitler its as simple as that the world can no longer afford to have a nazi regime running rampant these days. America how low has thou sunk to the depths of dispair
no longer the country of my youth it has become a banana republic with world dominance on its mind fascist are now in control they have bankrupted America the common people have lost their pensions and are left in the rain holding the bag
as for Ron I wish him the best of luck as for Lew and the rest of you lugs good work
You will not be able to bring back the America of my youth but you can stop the rest of the world from having to squash America like a bug
Comment by david — December 1, 2007 @ 6:24 pm EST
Wow. That Marc Whittemore seems like a nut job. Is this the type of person that supports Ron Paul? Is he a nut job too?
Comment by Anonymous — December 3, 2007 @ 7:09 pm EST
I am also a founding member of ObamaLA and I left after Marc Whittemore threatened my husband. We DID file a restraining order against him. He is a crazy person. He constantly cursed and yelled at volunteers and talked down to anybody who wanted to have a bigger impact on the group. It was Marc’s way or the highway, and most people took the highway…actually everybody did. Marc was alone in ObamaLA as all his “loyal subjects” as he called them left to form other groups. Whittemore is personally responsible for hurting the Senator’s campaign in Los Angeles because somehow a crazy person became a leader in an influential grassroots group. Luckily everybody picked up the slack but it was far less organized because of his destructive nature. I wouldnt be surprised if it was planned from the beginning.
Comment by Leslie — December 3, 2007 @ 7:12 pm EST
Marc Whittemore is insain. He is a pathological liar and he also gave me herpes.
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2007 @ 1:58 am EST
Ron Paul a dark horse candidate? Maybe more like a trojan horse candidate. It seems this guy is gaining massive amounts of support from all sorts of creatures crawling out of the woodwork, from paranoid conspiracy theorists, to stubborn constitutionalists, to brothel owners, to anti- federal income tax libertarian-type loonies… it was even brought to my attention recently that there’s a website floating around claiming “Niggers for Ron Paul 2008.” Yes, that’s right, even niggers are now supporting Ron Paul. Is this really the candidate for you? A candidate for niggers? My fellow corporate media-minded citizens, I could only say, I would surely hope not.
Comment by Corporate Media — December 4, 2007 @ 12:09 pm EST
Amazing. Unbelievable. I’m glad I checked back. Leslie - I have police reports and tape recordings of you and your husband leaving me deaths threats. Does anyone want a copy of that? PLEASE!!! — I WILL BE DEEEEELIGHTED NOW to send a copy to ANYONE just ask!! moviemaker.000@gmail.com. I will next scan this police report and post the link to it!! Lets take this to the mat. Now — and for the person you said I have Herpes.. come forth.. lets go to the Doctors together.. I’ll be delighted to have tests done. I am HIV/Hereps STD free. So funny. This is amazing. I have never heard such a pack of liars come forth to debase another person — WHY? Because I switched votes. GROWUP! My God. you poor poor things.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 4, 2007 @ 7:34 pm EST
So. I have to laugh… Ironic in that the only url I had available to post the PROOF against Leslie’s BLANTANT LIES was http://randomactsofgoodwillandkindness.com/ Beyond posting it there I am considering sending that same link to everyone on the email list of 2,500 people for ObamaLA… I think the TRUTH needs to be exposed. Don’t you?
This should also sufficently prove the type of delusional people Alec, myself Laura and Patrick frequently had to deal with when I was director of ObamaLA. Also people (like lawyer Keith, above) — who stoops to trying to debase my character by LIES and airing highly personal information (alcoholic /addict - although now sober many years) that HE THOUGHT would hurt me. Who also LIES about the depth and length of their involvement with ObamaLA — Sorry it didn’t work Keith b/c I have no shame about my past — in fact it is my BEST experience.
People like the sad coward (above anonymous) posting LIES about my health status. People like Leslie — ONLY one of the people that had to be removed — in her case because of her LIES and hidden (yet obvious) agenda of climbing in social prestige and their opinion of her/him — by her association with Obama / ObamaLA.
I’m saddened that this is where we had to go with all this. Truly it’s a waste of everyone’s time. And to think it was simply motivated by my switch to (who I truly believe) a better candidate one that I pray can save this nation from the selfish SCAMMING CROOKS and LIARS in current administration — and of course, BEYOND.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 4, 2007 @ 9:17 pm EST
PS - Oh, and thanks somuch for giving me something I can refute — with PROOF. Marc
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 4, 2007 @ 9:25 pm EST
I think everyone needs to calm down.
I took Mike and Joanie up on the suggestion of asking around. I have friends who are Obama supporters who were part of the new group and the old. They received an email from Marc and were a bit pissed off, saying that if they were interested in supporting Ron Paul they would have signed up. This leads me to believe that you used the “list” to email out your new agenda, unasked and unwelcomed. That speaks to a lack of ethics.
The reality is Marc, people are responding to the holier then thou story you posted. There has been no press, just you posting on every single Ron Paul blog.
I even communicated with some of the leadership of the “new” group. The comment to me was: “We support Marc’s right to back any candidate he chooses. We wish him the best of luck”
It was inappropriate for you to have sent out an email to the “list” of OBAMA supporters whether you feel it was taken from you or not. They did not sign up to read about you or Ron Paul. They signed up to hear about Obama.
In your original post you claim that it was other people’s ego’s that lead to the group moving away from you. It is apparent that it is YOUR ego that people moved away from. Everyone involved in the group was about supporting Obama, not your “branding”. YOU trashed them but no one in the current leadership trashed you. You keep talking about honesty but you demonstate little.
Maybe an assessment of your REAL motives would serve you.
As to the other posts, let’s clean up this forum and leave the trash talk out. Marc’s personal struggles do have a place in this.
We need to continue to opeate from integrity, not self interests.
Comment by Jeffrey O. — December 4, 2007 @ 10:39 pm EST
I am one of the founding members of ObamaLA, and Marc Whittemore specifically targeted me with over 20 vindictive and personal attacks via email and telephone when I decided to leave with the rest of the leadership. Now he is using our names in post #33 as if we support him. I will tell you, I do not support Mr. Whittemore. He founded ObamaLA to enrich himself and to get himself limelight. The ENTIRE leadership of the group left after being constantly berated by this man on a nightly basis. We often had to talk him off the ledge, and it just became too much. I didnt help start ObamaLA so I could hang out with Marc Whittemore or his agenda - I joined because I thought it was a legitimate group of Obama supporters trying to help the Senator’s campaign. Marc turned it into something about him instead of what its primary focus was. Now he has turned his back on Obama, because he got his feelings hurt, and supports Ron Paul. If the Paul people get tired of him act, he’ll just move on to another candidate. Maybe he will move further to the fringe and endorse Mike Gravel.
Comment by Anonymous — December 4, 2007 @ 11:07 pm EST
I appreciate you taking the time to write your comments. However. You err on a couple of points Jeffery.
One: I did not trash all of “them”.. My trashing was toward the people (Leslie, Keith and others) that made the job exceedingly difficult or had their OWN lowball agenda or those people that directly were responsible of stealing the email list.
Stealing is STEALING. No matter how you slice it Mr. — IT’S WRONG. And the way it was done in this case — REALLY slimy. As far as “posting” on every blog? I’m afraid your facts are 100% wrong there. I have posted on NO blog, NO where… Read: None. I have only responded to this blog. Any “postings” were NOT done by me — anywhere. Plase get your facts correct before you, too, start lambasting and joing in all the negative fray.
As far as the the ObamaLA branding….? Yeah. that was important. As originally voiced (raved about) by every principle person who saw it. But I NEVER gave any indication that was more important than Obama. Com’on. That’s such a retarded perception that certainly did not come from me.
As far as inappropriate to send? I debate that. Totally. When I talked to others about the ethics of doing it I was told “that’s politics”… In addition to that — I get spam mail from every other candiate and I never signed up for any of them.
And Lastly — Speaking of what’s appropriate and what’s not Jeffery. I do not think it’s appropriate of you — someone who does not know me, them — someone who has only second hand knowledge (harvested from the very people I would expect to I’ll apprecaiite you keep your future judgments OUT of the picture.
Thanks. All the best.
Marc
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 4, 2007 @ 11:21 pm EST
Another anonymous comment — HOW SURPRISING - Again wrong and packed with lies. Listen people. If you have something to say then HAVE THE COURAGE to leave your name… AND THEN Be sepcific so I can refute your lies.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 4, 2007 @ 11:24 pm EST
Next? Please. Bring it on.
BUT. Have the balls to leave your name and specific incidents so I can refute them. Oh — and I have ALL the old emails — with dates and times stamps. So be careful BE VERY CAREFUL.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 4, 2007 @ 11:27 pm EST
Gawd. How retarded all this is???? Again I allow myself to be dragged into the swirling cesspool. I’ve no need to keep playing this game. I’ve said what I needed so at this point I’ll opt out again here.. take care and enjoy your mud slinging.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 4, 2007 @ 11:35 pm EST
I call it as I see it and every post starts with “my name is Marc…”
My mother once said, if there is more than one person making the same claim, you ought to take a look. Clearly this does not apply to you. Perhaps you should return to your original post and re-read.
Stealing is your perception Marc. It doesn’t appear to be any one elses. It does seem however that ANYONE who takes a different position than yours is subject to an onslaught.
As for campaign SPAM mail? Campaigns are bound by law. That’s just a plain lie. in 30 years i have never received a piece of mail that was not part of my party. if you got it, you signed up for it.
i am beginning to feel this outreach is a futile and worthless effort. good luck to you marc.
Comment by Jeffrey O. — December 4, 2007 @ 11:42 pm EST
What do you want from me Jeffery? What do ANY of you WANT? Tell me exactly what you want so i can give it to you and so we can end this slime slinging and get on WITH life. And for the last time Jeffery — I DO NOT LIE. I get campaign emails from Edwards campaign, I get stuff from Hillary I. NEVER. SIGNED. UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jesus FC.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 4, 2007 @ 11:58 pm EST
ok marc. whatever you say.
Maybe we can get back to Ron and the campaign instead of the marc whittemore show.
Comment by Jeffrey O. — December 5, 2007 @ 12:20 am EST
Wow, I have never read so much bickering and low-balling on any blog. The only reason I am coming forth now is that, from where I sit I am seeing a totally unfair smear campaign with a whole lot of people ganging up on one person. Plus it’s sure sounding to me like “Jeffery” is a ObamaLA plant because his perception / smoke screen / attacks are more than just a little off. (one eg: “every sentence starting with Marc”.. where Jeffery? I don’t read that!) Knowing Marc very well now for several years I can say, without reservation, he is a very good, honest, sober and decent person and he only wanted the best for ObamaLA and Obama when he was Director.
I also know a lot of what went on behind the scenes and those people responsible for stealing the email list and those people like Leslie and Keith (people with their own agenda) were indeed WRONG, and did not and do not play well. So before you continue to attack Marc for what’s appropriate, or not, keep that in mind that stealing the list was inappropriate. Keep in mind that the way ObamaLA was mutinied was very inappropriate. Keep in mind that he was working 40 hous plus a week on top of a full time job and all the time having to deal with many no so nice personalities within the group was not necessary or appropriate.
Marc has never been one to berate people. Quite the opposite, I know Marc for being a very positive, fun person, hard working, friendly, creative and easy going. So how about lets lighten up, get back to focusing on the positive and bringing out one another’s good qualities and quit ganging up like pack dogs against one person who is only trying to do right for Ron Paul.
Comment by Julie McCadden — December 5, 2007 @ 12:34 am EST
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I cant even read this crap anymore. This is all happening because Mark decided to email a list of people about Ron Paul when they just signed up to get updates about Obaam! It also has come about because this mad man has been posting HIS strange story and agenda all over the internet. It seems to be all about feeding this stranger’s ego and has really nothing to do with Obama or Paul.
Mark wanted to be in charge of something he had no experience doing, and then tanked it on purpose when the people who actually cared about it wanted to move on. Now he has stabbed his knife into Obama’s back, like it was Obama’s fault.
This guy is really coming off as strange. I like Ron Paul, but not enough to keep reading this drama about Mark Whittemore. Nobody cares about this guy.
Comment by C. Johnson — December 5, 2007 @ 12:39 am EST
I met Marc Whittemore. I worked with him on ObamaLA, until he started expecting me to work 40 hours a week on a grassroots project. I had serious reservations about working with Marc, especially when he was so adament about having autonomous control of ObamaLA. He refused to delegate and would not let anybody else’s name be associate with the group.
This is why I left the group so early on (far before the “mutiny”). All I know is that the rest of the leadership left out of discomfort. Marc constantly used foul language and yelled at us, and he was far more severe with the other leaders of the group.
Marc essentially let other people do all the work for him, except for the website which he never relinquished for a second. Then he wanted to take credit for it all, like he organized it. He just sat there and let us brainstorm and be the ideas behind the movement.
The LA Walk for Change was almost destroyed because of Marc Whittemore. He did far more to hurt Barack Obama than he ever did to help him. And his website wasn’t even that hot. Everybody “raved” about his branding as not to hurt his feelings. Really? Grass and Obama? Super original.
Comment by Lindsey — December 5, 2007 @ 12:45 am EST
Grass and Obama! hahahaha
Comment by Anonymous — December 5, 2007 @ 12:46 am EST
Julie -
i think all appreciate the loyalty to your friend, but really? Did you bother to read these posts. gentle is not a word i would use. I think some people said some mean things here fueled by anger which was wrong, but if you take all that away, there is still a pile of bull behind it. the ENTIRE leadership left???? no one supported marc thru all this? my question is WHY THE HECK NOT???
I know Jeffrey O and he is a long time RP supporter. People don’t have to be plants to have an opinion… or is this part of marcs conspiracy against him?
let obamala go marc. no one here cares, and it’s certainly no longer press worthy. put this drama to bed!
ALWAYS CHECK YOUR FACTS!
Comment by joanie — December 5, 2007 @ 12:49 am EST
Somebody just told me to visit this site. You are seeing the real Marc Whittemore at his best. I only interacted with Marc on a couple occasions, and each time he made some sort of inappropriate sexual reference toward the African American males associated with the group.
I was so happy when the rest of ObamaLA left and formed LA Grassroots 4 Obama. The same core group was in tact, but without its former inappropriate leader.
Now the campaign is going great. I am having a great time running one of the areas in Los Angeles. Thankfully the campaign realized that Marc was really in it for himself.
Comment by Jon — December 5, 2007 @ 12:49 am EST
Lindsey, I know better, I was there! Marc hunted down and arranged the Meetup locations, brought signs and equipment and most definately tried to delegate to other people, most of whom, with the exception of Laura and Patrick (and I forget their girl Friday’s name) were unavailable and unreponsive! Again, a smear campaign.
Comment by Julie McCadden — December 5, 2007 @ 12:52 am EST
So tell me Jon, have you never seen a pretty girl and made a comment? It’s okay for you to do it but because Marc is gay he can’t make a remark? Seems a little like reverse discrimination based on orientation. Again, a smear campaign.
Comment by Julie McCadden — December 5, 2007 @ 1:02 am EST
LA Walk for Change was not almost destroyed by Marc! Who are these people Marc? Man. It’s well known fact that LAgrassroots mutinied the staff and people of ObamaLA at least a month before that! Marc never yelled at anyone. I’ll agree with Julie: “Smear campaign.”
Comment by Joe J. — December 5, 2007 @ 1:42 am EST
And Joanie in regards comment #48. Please reread my post. I never used the word “gentle” in describing Marc. Selective hearing disorder? Um, Smear campaign.
Comment by Julie McCadden — December 5, 2007 @ 2:07 am EST
I managed the list for the LA Walk for change. There was no Joe C at the event. Nor was their a Julie McCadden.
I don’t know what the goal is here, but it certainly doesn’t seem to be to help ron paul or obama. the la grassroots leadership has only been nice about mark. what’s going on here? what smear campaign?
Comment by Eduardo — December 5, 2007 @ 7:37 am EST
can we please stop talking about this guy???? how many people have to chime in here???? one person after another says the same thing!!! just read the his posts for god’s sake.
i came on this forum to talk about ron paul not some guy who got booted out of his own group because people CLEARLY didn’t think he did right by them.
please take your drama elsewhere!
Comment by joanie — December 5, 2007 @ 7:44 am EST
Yes! Please, lets ALL end it here. My sincereest apologies to everyone for everything I’ve done or tried to do in relation to any candidate. I will take my worthless self and never rise my head into the pool of politics again. I wish each and everyone of you the very best. It was never my intent to harm anyone I only stupidly thought I could get past my apparent “ego” long enough to help. Take Care everyone Merry Christmas - Happy Holidays.
Comment by Marc whittemore — December 5, 2007 @ 5:30 pm EST
God. What a pack of bloodthirsty Jackals
Comment #54 Huh? Doh. That’s because I was NOT at the LA Walk for Change!!!?! Julie
Comment by Julie McCadden — December 5, 2007 @ 6:38 pm EST
Okay — the ObamaLA.com website is back up — with some edits.
Comment by Marc — December 6, 2007 @ 12:39 am EST
oh goodie. more attention for marc. all this is going to attract are people looking for obama… and drama. but i guess that’s what this about. marc, marc, marc.
I encourage all to move on to a spot that is actually interested in talking about and promoting ron. it’s clear why these obama people left. to get a way from you and your insane behavior. i don’t know they put up with you and julie so long. congrats to them for getting rid of you.
i’m done with this blog.
Comment by joanie — December 6, 2007 @ 1:04 am EST
As a final note: Funny how Marc was honest enough to use his real name in these posts yet both Laura Velkei and Patrick Furey of LAgrassroots4obama choose to try and cloak their identity (we all know better) using false names under their multiple SMEAR CAMPAIGN postings. Julie.
Comment by Julie McCadden — December 6, 2007 @ 5:01 pm EST
Julie, please. I appreciate the gesture but posting names when you have no way of knowing for sure, is not appropriate.
Comment by Marc Whittemore — December 6, 2007 @ 7:13 pm EST
ObamaLA is back up? Up down up down up down. That was the story of Marc and the ObamaLA organization. Manic. Its all about Marc and nothing to do with anything else. Look at how he has hijacked this blog.
Comment by Shane — December 6, 2007 @ 8:50 pm EST
“Look at how he has hijacked this blog.”
Hardly. I’m enjoying the little spurt in traffic. Maybe someone will look at my pictures and get bemused or something.
Comment by isilion — December 7, 2007 @ 5:07 am EST
How about this feller getting another 2,500 grassroots activists to join the Ron Paul bandwagon?
Comment by Ben Parkinson — December 10, 2007 @ 11:44 pm EST
Interesting controversy about the switch to Ron Paul. I’m not concerned about that. I was wondering if Marc still has any of those ObamaLA buttons
Comment by Marc Sigoloff — February 1, 2008 @ 3:43 pm EST
In which country do you live?
Comment by mozilla firefox — March 21, 2008 @ 4:14 pm EST
I live in the US
Comment by isilion — March 21, 2008 @ 8:07 pm EST
I Live too in the US
Comment by hoodia cactus — March 23, 2008 @ 10:19 am EST