E-mail a friendAugust 25, 2004
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft explains why his state is critical to the presidential election. Singer-activist Michael Franti tells why he doesn't wear shoes and performs a song from his new solo CD, "Songs From the Front Porch."
Gov. Bob Taft
Gov. Bob Taft
In his second term as Ohio's governor, Bob Taft is a political 'legacy.' His father and grandfather both served in the U.S. Senate, and his great-grandfather, William H. Taft, served as the 27th U.S. president and chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Gov. Taft began his career in public service as a Peace Corps volunteer in East Africa. He's served as a member of the state House of Representatives, a County Commissioner and Secretary of State.
Michael Franti
Michael Franti
A singer and political activist, Michael Franti fronts the musical group Spearhead. He merges hip-hop stylings with socially conscious writings. He's inhaled tear gas on the front lines of anti-WTO rallies and lent his time and talent to support anti-death penalty legislation and conscientious objector groups. The new documentary, I Know I'm Not Alone, chronicles Franti's trip, two years ago, to Iraq, Israel and the Palestinian territories. He's also released "Yell Fire!," an album of politically charged music.