Republicans for Obama is a grassroots organization of proud party members who all share one important trait— we are Americans first and Republicans second. (Even if it is a close second.) Founded in late 2006 as part of the nationwide effort to encourage then-Senator Obama to run for the Presidency, our volunteer-run, grassroots group now includes thousands of members from across the nation.  Together, we represent a cross-section of the millions of Republican and conservative independents who voted for President Obama in 2008.

Although we have campaigned, worked for, and voted Republican all our lives, we recognized that our country was ready for a new kind of leader. While there will always be important issues on which thoughtful Americans will disagree, there are others that cannot be debated: our economic prosperity and our standing in the world.

President Obama has rejected the politics of division and the win-at-all-costs attitude that has hurt our ability to move forward as a nation. While we as Republicans will not always see eye to eye with President Obama, we know that his politics of competency and unity will lead to a stronger America.

-Republicans for Obama

Our Team

Director

John Martin is the Co-founder and Director of Republicans for Obama. He lives in The Bronx, New York, where he is a law student and a United States Navy Reservist.  John served a tour of duty in Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom from 2007-2008.

John was active in his high school's Young Republicans Club and became a registered Republican shortly after his 18th birthday. After graduating with honors from Binghamton University, John interned and worked for Senator James Jeffords (R-I) of Vermont, and then received an MA in Political Science from Columbia University. He has worked on both local and national election campaigns.

For some of John's stuff from the 2008 campaign, look here and here.

Forums Moderator

Suzi LeVeaux - Born and raised in the deep south, Suzi LeVeaux, real name Jeanine, has voted Republican since casting her first presidential vote for Nixon.  Due to the primary structure in Louisiana at the time, she was a registered Democrat, but that did not stop her from supporting the GOP come general election time.  When she became sick of of being called a Reagan Democrat in the 1980's, she finally made the switch, and has been a Republican ever since.

Suzi is an Optician by trade and is now an office manager for a franchise company.  Widowed for several years, her family is the joy of her life.  Suzi has twin daughters and five perfect grandsons.

Press

Randall Leverette - As a student at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, Randall was active in Republican politics, where he was a member of the GWU College Republicans and the GWU Student Government Association. After graduation, he was a member of the National Black Republican Council and served as youth coordinator for the DC Chapter of the organization.

After graduation, he worked as a senior legislative specialist with a prominent DC legal practice covering energy and environmental matters, and working closely with congressional staff and various divisions within the Environmental Protection Agency. He later earned a Masters in Community Economic Development from the University of Southern New Hampshire School of Business where he was also a HUD Scholar.

Randall is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and currently lives in New York City and New Paltz, New York, where in his spare time he's an avid golfer.

Outreach Coordinator 

David Sayers

Web Master

Evan O'Donnell designed the Republicans for Obama site and is responsible for its day to day operation. Evan has been an independently-minded voter for as long as he's been voting. In light of the increasing amount of partisan bickering that has characterized American politics in recent years, Evan's encouraged by Senator Obama's political success and ability to unite.

If you have any technical questions or ideas on how to improve the R.F.O. site, Evan's the man to talk to.

For all press inquiries, contact Randall Leverette at press@republicansforobama.org

For other questions, comments and suggestions, please contact us at info@republicansforobama.org

Past R.F.O. Officers:

Barbara Gordon - whose real name is Lisa Kinzer - was involved with RFO since December of 2006. While John was stationed in Afghanistan she worked to establish and grow the RFO organization, and to start developing pro-Obama arguments using conservative principles. She now coordinates content for the site. You can see some of her favorite posts here and here and here.

She's been registered Republican since she turned 18, but has serious concerns about the current incarnation of the Republican Party. This brand of Republicanism has been advertised as the party of "compassionate conservatives," but Barbara feels it has failed at both compassion and true conservatism. Its platform of bellicentric foreign policy combined with deficit spending and divisive social rhetoric is not structurally sound. It's time for the party to find a new foundation.

As the parent of a profoundly handicapped child, she is also concerned about the state of healthcare in this country, and feels that Obama is committed to substantial reform. She is hopeful that in the next few years we will finally see healthcare access extended to all Americans.

When not avoiding housework by hanging out online, Barbara might be found gardening, jogging, or watching college football. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and their two sons, and a Golden Retriever cleverly named Goldie. 

Kenneth Wehking served as the Deputy Director of Republicans for Obama for the 2008 campaign. He lives in Highlands Ranch, Colorado and works for a large healthcare company in software quality assurance. Being raised in Colorado, he enjoys hiking with his Great Dane, climbing the 14ers of Colorado, marathon running, cycling and dog parks. Educated at the University of Miami, he met people from around the world and has seen first hand that we can celebrate our diversity and cultures, while still sharing common ground.

A lifelong Republican, Ken feels that many politicians have forgotten about the people they were elected to represent. In the spirit of Teddy Roosevelt, America needs a statesman that can set a new course and change this culture of division to one of cooperation and solutions to our most pressing problems, including: budget deficits, healthcare reform, energy independence, social security/medicaid reform and protecting our natural resources, among a few. 

Erik Paterson has been a conservative Republican all his life, is an NRA Life Member, and has always voted the Republican party line, that is until he actually started listening to what Senator Obama had to say. Erik first heard Obama speak during his senatorial debate with Alan Keyes, and then during his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic convention. The more he listened, the more sense Senator Obama made. After reading his books, Erik was sold on the idea that Barack Obama is what this country needs in the White House.

Erik is 53 years old, and was born in Berkeley California. He is a United States Marine Corps Veteran, currently working as a Public Transportation Professional. He has been married for 36 years to the same wonderful woman, who is an Army Veteran, and a Health Care Professional. Together they have three fantastic sons, all USAF veterans who brought them three wonderful daughters.