A public event you don't want to miss!
Sunday, Sep 7 in Sunnyvale, CA:
ELECTION 2008
TIME FOR A CHANGE?
Click here for details
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Steve Westly Speaks to
Iranian-Americans about Barack Obama
PRESS RELEASE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – August 18, 2008 – Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats (BAIAD) announced today that it will be hosting Steve Westly, California Co-Chair of Senator Obama’s presidential campaign, at its public event on Sunday, September 7th at Faz restaurant in Sunnyvale, California beginning at 4:30 PM.
“Iranian-Americans will be an important voting bloc in November and are a key component of Senator Obama’s coalition of support,” said Westly. “I look forward to a lively discussion about why Senator Obama is the best person to lead our country.”
“Our members voted to endorse Obama back in January when he was significantly behind Senator Clinton in most polls,” said BAIAD president Mehrdad Moayedzadeh. He continued: “This is one of the most historic presidential elections of our lifetime with so much at stake. For the Iranian-American community, it would be our loss not to get involved in this election in a meaningful way. Then again, in a democracy it is always your loss when you fail to participate in the political process.” He added: “We are honored that Steve Westly has accepted our invitation to speak about this election to our community.”
Steve Westly is California Co-Chair of Obama for America, former California State Controller, and CEO of The Westly Group. Before serving as Controller, he worked as a senior vice president at eBay. Mr. Westly has also held a variety of other executive positions in Silicon Valley and was on the faculty of Stanford’s Graduate school of Business for five years.
The event will be held on Sunday, September 7th at Faz restaurant, located at 1108 N. Mathilda Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 from 4:30-7:00 PM. Doors will open at 4:00 PM. This event is open to public with free admission (a $10 per person donation to BAIAD is encouraged).
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BAIAD Endorses
Senator Barack Obama
PRESS RELEASE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – January 30, 2008 – Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats (BAIAD) announced today that its members have voted for the organization to endorse Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic presidential primary election.
“We are proud of the fact that, more than ever before, Iranian Americans are seeking to express their political views and to get their voices heard,” said BAIAD president Mehrdad Moayedzadeh. “We got a call from a 76-year-old Iranian American who speaks very little English, asking for help about how to cast his vote since he will be out of town on Election Day next week. It is nothing short of extraordinary the way this man takes his vote so seriously, as if the future of his 2 grandchildren depends on it. Because it does.”
Moayedzadeh added: “Democrat or not, pro-Obama or not, we strongly encourage all Iranian Americans to not only express their views, but to also get passionately and vigorously involved and participate in American politics. Having said that, the members of our organization have spoken and they have chosen for BAIAD to endorse Senator Barack Obama in next week’s election.”
He added: “Endorsements never imply 100% agreement with the candidate on all issues. But there is no doubt that, like millions of other Americans, many of our members are inspired by Senator Obama’s passion for change and feel that he is the best viable candidate to lead the country.”
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California Democratic Party passes BAIAD's resolution about US foreign policy toward Iran
7/27/07: The Democratic Party of the most populous state in the nation recently passed a strong resolution calling on US Congress to "oppose unprovoked military action against Iran" and to "support direct talks between the United States and Iran without preconditions".
BAIAD is proud to have authored this resolution and commends the California Democratic Party for taking such a strong position on a controversial issue.
Here is the full text of this resolution:
GENUINE DIPLOMACY WITH IRAN
WHEREAS, a democratic Iran is in the best interest of its people as well as a safer and more stable Middle East; and that the engine of the nascent Iranian democratic movement is its struggling middle class and the vast population of youth; and
WHEREAS, either comprehensive sanctions used as a tool of escalation or unprovoked military action against Iran would move it farther away from democracy, weaken its middle class and help the anti-democratic forces in Iran to maintain and solidify their grip on power; and
WHEREAS, absence of diplomacy and direct talks consistent with the recommendations of the Baker-Hamilton study group will likely lead to further escalation and instability in Iraq and in the region;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party calls on Congress to oppose unprovoked military action against Iran and the use of sanctions as a “tool of escalation” -- as opposed to “tool of genuine diplomacy” -- and instead support direct talks between the United States and Iran without preconditions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party supports the International Atomic Energy Agency’s efforts to enforce its inspection regime and perform its role in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons, as mandated by the United Nations.
Submitted by: Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats
Many thanks to those who supported this resolution and strengthened BAIAD's efforts, for example by passing this resolution within their own organizations:
- Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee
- Alameda County Democratic Central Committee
- Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club
- Iranian-American Democrats of Orange County
- Iranian-American Democratic Association (Sacramento)
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