New Day for PDA

President Barack Obama was sworn into office on Tuesday January 20^th and Dan O’Neal couldn’t be happier.

“He’s a rockstar. He’s a great speaker. He’s smart. He’s intelligent. He’s surrounded himself with good people,” said O’Neal.

The resident of Gilbert, Ariz. flew to Washington D.C. with the Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) to take part of the historic inauguration of the 44^th president. O’Neal works for the PDA as the Arizona State Coordinator where he “oversees the chapters and the point people and the legislative stuff.”

The grassroots organization founded in 2004 aims to revitalize the Democratic Party by seeing to it that the government is “controlled by citizens, not corporate elites -- with policies that serve the broad public interest, not just private interests,” PDA’s website explains.

O’Neal came with the PDA for a national leadership conference involving congressmen and other political action committees such as Code Pink.

“It’s been an amazing turn out of democrats and progressives,” said O’Neal. “We brought together congressmen and activists and we solidified our support with the progressive caucus in congress.”

The PDA’s campaign slogan “Healthcare Not Warfare,” says it best. O’Neal and the PDA hope to see the change President Obama promised by pulling U.S. military troops out of Iraq and to “redirect the resources toward human needs including a new national healthcare plan,” explains O’Neal.

“We can take the billions of dollars we’re spending in Iraq and move it into social needs,” said O’Neal. “We can turn this country around.”

The 60 year-old knows the newly elected president has a lot of work to do. “I don’t envy him because it’s a big task especially with the economy the way it is, the worst since the depression, so he’s got a lot on his plate,” said O’Neal, “but I think its going to be an opportunity where we can start again.”

Holding a sign that read “Arrest Bush,” O’Neal walked the streets near the White House with a big grin on his face. The democratic activist is excited for a regime change and for former President Bush to leave office.

“The fact that a half hour ago George Bush left and Barack Obama is in, that makes it real special for me,” said O’Neal. “We’re having a great time. It’s a new day.”