International
Patrick Gaspard, Obama's "Go To" Man in 2012
- Saturday, June 18, 2011 6:32 PM
CHICAGO, USA - Patrick Gaspard was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo to Haitian parents before moving to the United States at the age of 3.
Like Barack Obama, Patrick Gaspard has roots in Africa. He got his start in politics in the mid-1980s, organizing demonstrations in New York City for social justice in Haiti, which helped lead to the end of the dictatorship of Jean-Claude Duvalier. Gaspard's first campaign work came in the 1988 U.S. presidential campaign of Jesse Jackson, who had his headquarters in Obama's base city of Chicago.
Gaspard was instrumental in 2008 as he mobilized the largest service workers union in the country, SEIU, into a powerful voting block for the freshman senator, Barack Obama, who would become the President of the United States. Upon becoming president, Barack Obama, on November 2008, made Gaspard the Head of Political Affairs for the White House.
After the earthquake of 2010 in Haiti, Mr Gaspard participated in the conference calls with community members in Haiti and the non-governmental organization. "As a Haitian American who is himself struggling to contact friends and loved ones, I can well appreciate the profound sadness we're all feeling at the this horrific moment," Gaspard said during one of those calls, serving as a grief counselor at the White House.
But 2012 is nearing, an election year in which President Barack Obama will seek reelection. On January 2011, the incumbent president launched his campaign sending Gaspard to Chicago to be the Democratic National Committee's Executive Director.
It could be imagined that the coming months will be much more difficult than those of 2007 and 08. The battle is going to be for the grassroots and in this cycle the Republicans are coming with their Tea Party movement. Also in this cycle Gaspard now represents the incumbent party.
The DNC Executive believes the Haitian community will play a critical role in the state of Florida. Florida remains a critical state on the very critical electoral map. We will keep you connect.
Related 06.07.2011: United Nations Head Ban Ki-moon for Second Term with Obama Support
Related 05.15.2011: Obama Recognizes Haitian-American Community Remarking on Immigration
Related 05.10.2011: Democrats, Republicans Call Obama for an Accounting of Haiti
Related 02.20.2011: Haitian Tea Party Leader has Message for "All Colors"
Source: Washington Post
, Jean Max Dorsinville
