Obama’s 7-Minute Walk Down Pennsylvania Ave

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In an (according to CNN) impromptu move, President Obama and First Lady Michelle got out of their limo and walked a 7-minute stretch in the middle of the inaugural parade about an hour ago, to the delight of a roaring crowd, and to the likely dismay of their secret service crew. (Apparently they were scheduled to walk the last bit near the White House, according to tradition, but not earlier sections.)

Commentating for CNN from the parade Rev. Jesse Jackson, after the Obama’s got back into their car, said he was nervous the whole time given our “history of violence in this country.” He warned that Obama “must risk on the side of caution.” CNN’s Soledad O’Brien came back with this instant classic:

“You can’t talk about hope and change and the promise of a nation, and not get out of the vehicle.”

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We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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