If you're on Facebook and Twitter and not following actor and civil rights activist George Takei, you're missing out. Every day, he provides some of the best satire the web has to offer. Go check him out:
http://www.facebook.com/...
https://twitter.com/...
He's become an influential social commentator and judicious political contributor. So far during this election cycle, he's made substantial contributions to three federal candidates and one civil rights PAC. Please follow me below to get to know each of them and find out if you'd like to be like Takei.
Recipients of George Takei's political contributions for 2012 election cycle:
America's Opportunity Fund
http://americasopportunityfund.com/...
America's Opportunity Fund (AOF) is a 501 C (4) Political Action Committee. Founded in 2007 by then Governor Gary Locke and Secretary Norman Mineta, AOF’s mission is to support federal and statewide candidates and elected officials who represent the interests of communities of color, and who inspire participation in government for the benefit of all Americans.
The goals of AOF are to affect a marked increase in the number of elected officials who embrace and understand the needs of communities of color; generate significant funds to support its mission in targeted states throughout the country; and increase voter visibility and participation to support AOF endorsed candidates to achieve victory.
Congresswoman Judy Chu (candidate for reelection)
http://www.facebook.com/...
Congresswoman Judy Chu has dedicated her life to improving the quality of life in the San Gabriel Valley. For the past 23 years, Dr. Chu has represented San Gabriel Valley neighborhoods as a local School Board member, Mayor and City Council member, State Assembly Member, as a member of the California State Board of Equalization and currently, as the Representative for the 32nd U.S. Congressional District.
Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (candidate for U.S. Senate)
http://www.mazieforhawaii.com/...
At a time when too many people are struggling to make ends meet, hoping the American Dream is still alive -- one candidate for United States Senate knows firsthand what it means to struggle against the odds and build a life on the unique opportunities America has to offer.
Hawaii's own… Mazie Hirono.
Born in Japan, Mazie spent her early years on her grandparents' rice farm, sent there by her mother to escape a father whose chronic alcoholism and compulsive gambling left the family with few means and even less stability. When nearly eight years old, Mazie, her mother and her older brother fled Japan in search of a better life. Her mother had to make the wrenching decision to leave Mazie's baby brother with her grandparents.
With one suitcase with all their belongings, the three crossed the Pacific in steerage and arrived in Hawaii. Life was hard for many years. The family rented a single room in a boarding house in the early years, sharing the single bed by sleeping sideways.
Though no one could have predicted it, given where Mazie's journey began, she eventually put herself through the University of Hawaii at Manoa and law school at Georgetown University.
Now, Mazie's running for Senate because she loves Hawaii and wants to make sure our ohana has the same opportunities she's had.
Mark Takano (candidate for Congress)
http://www.marktakano.com/...
Every day, Mark Takano works to improve the lives of young people as a teacher at Rialto High School. Born and raised in Riverside, Mark's commitment to public service began at an early age.
Mark attended La Sierra High School in the Alvord Unified School District, where he played football and wrestled at the junior varsity level. In 1979, he graduated as the school's valedictorian. Mark attended Harvard College and received his bachelor's degree in Government in 1983. During his senior year, he organized and co-founded Ride for Life, a transcontinental bicycle ride to benefit the international development agency Oxfam America.
Upon graduation, Mark worked as a substitute teacher for various public school systems in the Boston area. He observed first-hand the disparity between well-funded and acclaimed suburban schools in Brookline and the beleaguered inner-city Boston schools.
Mark returned home to Riverside and obtained his secondary teaching credential in Language Arts and Social Studies at the University of California at Riverside. He began teaching in the Rialto Unified School District in 1988 in schools serving predominantly Latino and African American students. He has remained a classroom teacher since that time, confronting the challenges in our public education system daily.
Today, Mark Takano is running to represent Riverside County in the United States Congress. As the next Congressman from District 41, Mark will draw upon his experiences as a teacher and local leader to bring economic growth, new jobs, cleaner air and better educational opportunities home to Riverside County.
Want to be like Takei? Support AOF, Chu, Hirono, and Takano.
Thanks for reading. Oh my!