Democratic Blogs

Chairman Tim Kaine’s Statement Commemorating the Fifth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

News from the DNC blog - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 17:53

This weekend marks the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation of the Gulf Coast. In commemoration of that anniversary, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:

“This weekend we have cause to remember all that was lost when Hurricane Katrina battered the shores of four states and wreaked havoc on the Gulf Coast. More than a thousand lives were lost in the storm, more than a million people were displaced, and American towns were left in ruins. The images from that time—of homes under water, families stranded on rooftops, and displaced people seeking shelter in stadiums—remain a sober reminder of nature’s strength and its potential for devastation.

“Now, five years after Hurricane Katrina, it is important not only to pay our respects to those who died or were displaced and to their families, but it is also important to renew our commitment to ensuring that our government never again fails its people in the wake of such a disaster. To that end, President Obama has made it easier for residents of the Gulf Coast to get the support they need to recover from Hurricane Katrina, and he has worked to improve America’s disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, so that our country will be better able to handle future disasters on the Gulf Coast or wherever they occur. But our work is not yet finished. It will not be finished until communities damaged by Hurricane Katrina are restored and those who wish to return to their communities are able to do so. Even then, we must continue to honor the lives lost and survivors harmed—by better preparing ourselves and responding more effectively to those in need as future emergencies occur.

“So on this anniversary, as America commemorates a tragedy that changed the face of a region and tested the resolve of its citizens, I offer my support to President Obama for his efforts to ensure that our country is adequately prepared for any disaster that may reach our shores and as he strives to build a safer, stronger, and more prosperous America.”

Categories: Democratic Blogs

DCCC: IRS Should Investigate Americans for Prosperity Foundation

DCCC Blog - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 17:39

The DCCC today requested an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) investigation into Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s tax exempt status.  The Americans for Prosperity Foundation’s attack ads are being run in coordination with the attack ads from Americans for Prosperity, which has made Americans for Prosperity Foundation a de facto political "action group," violating its tax exempt status.

"The DCCC is asking the IRS to hold the Americans for Prosperity Foundation accountable for its illegal election ads that are being used to mislead voters," said DCCC spokesperson Jennifer Crider.  "Americans for Prosperity Foundation is trying to avoid paying taxes by claiming to be tax exempt, while running campaign ads that benefit a Republican candidate and the NRCC."

Americans for Prosperity is funded by Charles and David Koch.  Charles Lewis, the founder of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonpartisan watchdog group, said of the Kochs, "They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, and obfuscation. I’ve been in Washington since Watergate, and I’ve never seen anything like it."  [New Yorker, 08/30/10]

Categories: Democratic Blogs

GOP Tea Party: These People Could Be in Charge

News from the DNC blog - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 12:38

Today the Democratic National Committee launched a new web video, “GOP Tea Party: These People Could Be in Charge” as part of a coordinated effort across Democratic campaigns and committees to highlight the corrosive trend developing within the Republican-Tea Party.

The new web video highlights radicalized candidates, whose extreme agenda would not just take America back to the days of failed Bush policies, but rewind the clock to the days before Social Security, Medicare, civil rights, voting rights, women’s rights, and before social safety nets like unemployment insurance were in place. As the Tea Party takes over the Republican Party, they are purging anyone who would dissent from their extreme agenda and pushing once-reasonable Republicans to fall in line to survive.

DNC Communications Director Brad Woodhouse said:

“After Tuesday's primary results, the trend could not be clearer. It’s not just that the Tea Party has devoured the Republican Party and that Republicans want to take us back to the Bush era. The new Republican-Tea Party has offered a slate of candidates across the country who would fight to bring America back to the days before women had equal rights and before Americans could rely on programs such as Social Security and Medicare. The choice before the American people was made clearer with the nomination of extreme candidates like Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, Sharron Angle, Daniel Webster, Rand Paul, Ken Buck, Linda McMahon and Joe Miller. Do we want to go forward with our common values and continue to get the economy back on track or do we want to put the Republican-Tea Party with their extreme agenda in charge and take the country backward, not just years, but decades? The prospect that these people could be in charge is a scary one indeed.”

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Chairman Kaine: "Our country will continue to move forward toward becoming a more perfect union for all"

News from the DNC blog - Fri, 08/27/2010 - 12:15

This Saturday, August 28, is the 47th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, which drew more than a quarter million people to the capital in advance of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. In recognition of that anniversary, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:

“Forty-seven years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr. laid out his dream for America: that our nation would one day recognize true equality for all Americans, that our country would guarantee justice and opportunity for all Americans, and that all Americans would one day come together – regardless of each other’s race or background – in common spirit and kinship. The quarter million people who had gathered on the National Mall in Washington, DC to hear Dr. King speak shared in that dream – as did millions more who heard him on television or read of his speech in the papers the next day.

“In the almost fifty years since that day, our nation has made tremendous progress toward realizing Dr. King’s dream – and the dream of all those hopeful Americans who marched and demonstrated in common cause with him. Our country has done away with the most grievous remnants of the legacy of slavery, including segregation, and we have passed laws protecting civil rights and stating that Americans of all races and backgrounds are equal in the eyes of the law. The American people have made progress not only toward removing racial biases in our laws, but also toward removing their own racial blinders – toward a world in which, in the words of Dr. King, we are able ‘to stand up for freedom together.’ Let us continue to work together to meet Dr. King’s goal of making ‘justice a reality for all of God’s children.’

“As a long-time civil rights attorney, I know that inequality and injustice persist, but I take heart in how far our country has come and I have faith that, under the leadership of President Obama, our country will continue to move forward toward becoming a more perfect union for all.”

Categories: Democratic Blogs

"Every door counts"

News from the DNC blog - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 19:59

From DNC Executive Director Jen O'Malley Dillon:

If there's one thing that we learned from 2008, it's that hard-fought elections are won on the ground. On the doorsteps and the phone lines. In face-to-face conversations with friends and neighbors. At house events, where people gather to support a common cause.

That's how we were able to get 15 million people out to vote for the first time in 2008 -- helping us achieve a victory for the President and win majorities in Congress.

And this is just what volunteers will be working to do this weekend in competitive districts across the country: They'll be mobilizing on the ground for our party-wide "Moving America Forward" Day of Action on August 28th -- securing commitments to vote and discussing what's at stake this November.

Our goal is to knock on 200,000 doors in 48 hours -- and we need your help to get it done.

Can you join us? Click here to find an event near you.

It's an ambitious target -- but the doors we'll knock on this weekend aren't simply tally marks. Those doors open into the homes of Americans whose lives will be affected by the outcome of this fall's elections.

Each door presents us with the opportunity to secure these folks' commitment to vote -- and to illustrate how that vote will affect the direction the country takes.

"Moving America Forward" isn't just a catchy name. It's also our larger message heading into the fall, and for good reason.

Democrats aren't just fighting to protect the historic progress we've achieved together -- from health insurance reform to the strongest consumer protections ever put in place -- we're fighting for the opportunity to continue moving forward with reforms that go to work for the American people.

Given the opportunity, Republicans would repeal our historic reforms, taking us backward to Bush-era policies that work only for special interests and the privileged few. We simply can't let that happen.

This is our chance to make sure it doesn't.

Weekends like this one help us to lay the foundation for victory this fall -- but we can't get folks to show up at the polls unless we first show up on the ground.

I hope you can make it out. Sign up to RSVP for an event today:

http://my.democrats.org/MAFevents

Thanks,

Jen

Jen O'Malley Dillon
Executive Director
Democratic National Committee

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Republicans’ Far-Right Fielders

News from the DNC blog - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 15:09

This year, we’ve seen Republican primary voters nominate a bumper crop of far-right Republican candidates – from Sharron Angle in Nevada to Rand Paul in Kentucky – and as the primary season has continued, the list of extreme conservatives on the ballot this fall has only gotten longer.

Now, with the fall elections just around the corner, the Republicans have recruited an incredible number of far-right fielders– but unfortunately, that’s just not a winning team. These candidates might be the Tea Parties ideal leaders, but they aren’t the sort of leaders mainstream Americans will support. Let’s take a look at Republicans’ roster:

Alaska Senate Candidate Joe Miller

A Palin-endorsed, Tea Party-backed candidate, Joe Miller has said that unemployment benefits are “not constitutionally authorized.” If elected, he’d vote to leave millions of Americans – who lost their jobs through no fault of their own – high and dry with no support whatsoever to get their families through these difficult times.

In addition, Joe Miller has called for “phasing out” Medicare and Social Security. In so doing, he would strip seniors of a vital safety net, leaving millions of retired Americans without any source of reliable income or health care.

Colorado Senate Candidate Ken Buck

Ken Buck has called Social Security – a lifeline for American seniors – “horrible, bad policy;” he has called for the elimination of the Department of Energy; and he has called the Department of Education “unnecessary.”

Florida Senate Candidate Marco Rubio

Marco Rubio has demonstrated his extreme conservative bonafides by offering his support for Paul Ryan’s plan to end Social Security as we know it – raising the retirement age and reducing benefits for seniors. For the one in two working Americans who lack access to an employer-provided retirement plan, that’s very bad news.

Kentucky Senate Candidate Rand Paul

Rand Paul’s many extreme positions have been documented extensively – from his desire to shut down the Department of Education, to his opposition for federal funding for education, to his denunciation of Social Security as a “ponzi scheme,” to his criticism of support for American farmers, among other things.

Nevada Senate Candidate Sharron Angle

Sharron Angle is so far to the right that she’s been caught running away from press to avoid answering questions about her extreme positions, which include advocating the privatization of Social Security and Medicare, encouraging Americans to pursue their “Second Amendment” options for making their opinions known to government, calling out-of-work Nevadans who depend on unemployment “spoiled” and saying that when a young girl is raped she should turn “a lemon situation into lemonade.”

Wisconsin Senate Candidate Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson has called Social Security a “giant ponzi scheme” and has advocated privatization of this critical program.

Colorado Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Maes

While most candidates this year are talking about saving and creating jobs, Dan Maes has gone in the other direction – he’s said that he would lay off 2,000 critical government workers “just like that.”

Florida Gubernatorial Candidate Rick Scott

Rick Scott, the long shot Republican gubernatorial pick in Florida will be an even longer shot this fall. He carries with him into the general election questions regarding the $1.7 billion his health insurance company was forced to pay to settle a federal criminal investigation alleging fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid billing practices.

Arizona Congressional Candidate Jesse Kelly

A number of extreme conservative Republican nominees have said this year that they would work to end Social Security as we know it, but few have gone as far as Jesse Kelly, who has said that ending Social Security and taking away seniors’ retirement security is something he “would love” to do.

Arizona Congressional Candidate Ben Quayle

Although Ben Quayle would certainly fit in with the extreme Republican conservatives on the ballot across the country, his unelectability stems more from his personal quirks. Although Ben Quayle comes from a political family, his own professional history has one notation not found in most candidates’ biographies – he contributed to a risqué website under the pseudonym ‘Brock Landers,’ the name of a porn star character in the movie “Boogie Nights.”

Florida Congressional Candidate Daniel Webster

If elected, Daniel Webster would join the cadre of Republicans dedicated to taking America backwards. He has said that one of his first priorities in Congress – rather that working to rebuild the American economy or move our country forward – would be to cut programs like Social Security.

Florida Congressional Candidate David Rivera

It’s hard to know what far-right priorities David Rivera would embrace in Congress. In fact, it’s hard to get a straight answer out of David Rivera on just about anything – he’s lied about domestic violence allegations against him, lied about driving a vehicle carrying a rival campaign’s literature off the road, and lied about foreclosure proceedings on a home he co-owns with Marco Rubio, among other things.

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Chairman Kaine on Women’s Equality Day

News from the DNC blog - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 15:07

Today is Women’s Equality Day. In recognition of that occasion, DNC Chairman Tim Kaine issued the following statement:

“Today marks the anniversary of the day, ninety years ago, when the U.S. Secretary of State certified the 19th Amendment guaranteeing women the right to vote. In the nine decades since – and even in the four decades since Women’s Equality Day was officially declared – women have made tremendous progress. They have used their votes and their voices to press for equality not only in the voting booth but in every facet of American life – from the workplace to the sports field and everywhere in between.

“On this day, we celebrate that incredible progress and the ability of all American women to participate freely in public life on an equal basis with American men. But we must also acknowledge that the fight for full equality has not ended – the wage gap between women and men persists, the Glass Ceiling persists, and other challenges persist. President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress are working hard to help women overcome those challenges and to tear down the remaining barriers to equality. Through laws such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first act signed by President Obama after he took office, and historic steps such as the nomination and confirmation of two incredibly qualified women to the Supreme Court – as many women as had previously served in the entire history of our country – we are making progress, but there is still much to be done.

“So this Women’s Equality Day, I join women and men across America in reaffirming the fundamental truth that a group of forward-looking women’s activists asserted more than 150 years ago: that all men and women are created equal, and recommitting to supporting our leaders as they work to ensure that our country recognizes and fosters that equality in every aspect of American life.”

Categories: Democratic Blogs

"Boehner's millions"

News from the DNC blog - Thu, 08/26/2010 - 12:31

Chairman Tim Kaine sent the following message to supporters:

On Monday, Republican John Boehner escalated his campaign to become the next Speaker of the House. He gave a "major speech" in Cleveland -- much-hyped by his staffers, who told reporters that this, finally, was the moment when the GOP would introduce its economic agenda.

After all the build-up, all we heard was another list of what Republicans are against.

Every supposedly new idea was more of the same. He wants to extend the Bush tax cuts for the rich. He wants to repeal health insurance reform. He opposes clean-energy legislation.

Nothing he offered would move America forward.

The only thing Boehner seems serious about is raising campaign cash. After the speech, he told reporters that he's prepared to help Republicans spend $50 million to win back Congress.

We can already guess what he'll do: tap the special interests. He'll work the phones and call in every favor. He'll lean on the big-dollar donors and the corporate lobbyists.

Democrats have a different plan. We're asking supporters like you to make a contribution to the By the People Fund. If we can collect 3 million grassroots donations, we can compete with the Republicans in every race. And so far, that's exactly what we're doing.

Can you chip in $3 or more to help keep up the pace?

On Tuesday, Boehner said his party deserves to win because it's time to "put the grown-ups in charge." What a bunch of nonsense.

The last time he and Republicans were in charge, they took a $237 billion budget surplus and transformed it into a $1.3 trillion deficit. They doubled the national debt and drove the economy into a ditch.

Under Boehner, this country would go right back to the failed Republican policies that cost us 8 million jobs, left the middle class in economic peril, and shifted our tax burden to the middle class by giving $100,000+ tax breaks to the wealthy.

To make sure that doesn't happen, we're planning to outwork the GOP in every district with a competitive race. We will knock on doors, make calls, and build the case for Democrats across the country.

But we're talking about the most aggressive voter turnout campaign for a midterm election in history. We need your help to get it done.

Please donate $3 or more today:

http://my.democrats.org/BeatBoehner

Thanks,

Governor Tim Kaine
Chairman

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Chairman Kaine Congratulates Kendrick Meek and Alex Sink on Primary Victories

News from the DNC blog - Wed, 08/25/2010 - 11:53

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine released the following statement congratulating Kendrick Meek and Alex Sink on winning their primary elections in Florida last night:

“On behalf of the Democratic National Committee, I want to congratulate Kendrick Meek for winning the primary election for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate. Kendrick waged a fierce campaign on behalf of all Floridians, and Floridians responded. I want to congratulate him on this win and look forward to working with him and the other Democratic candidates to win in November.

“Kendrick Meek is the best choice to represent Floridians in the U.S. Senate. Kendrick is the first candidate in Florida history to qualify for the ballot by submitting more than 140,000 petitions from Floridians across the state. He has a strong law enforcement background. He also has a long record of standing up for the middle class, working to protect Social Security and fighting for middle-class tax cuts. Kendrick Meek is the candidate Floridians need to help turn around the economy and put Floridians back to work.

“I also want to congratulate Alex Sink for officially becoming the Democratic nominee for governor. Alex is well-positioned as we head towards November, and I have full confidence she will make an excellent governor for the State of Florida. The Sunshine State needs a Governor with real-world experience who can get the state’s economy back on track and Alex Sink is that leader.

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Jesse Kelly: Out Of Touch With Reality, Southern Arizona

DCCC Blog - Wed, 08/25/2010 - 10:37

Jesse Kelly may have scored a come-from-behind victory in the Republican primary, but a closer look at his record shows just how out-of-touch Kelly is with the needs of southern Arizonans.

Kelly has called for “eliminate[ing] Social Security” which he also calls “the biggest pyramid scheme in history” and advocates privatizing Medicare – tearing the safety net out from underneath southern Arizonans.

Kelly wants to hike taxes by 23 percent on food, gas and clothes for middle class Arizonans, while reducing to zero taxes on corporations.  He even called for reducing and eventually doing away with the minimum wage.

"There’s no question, Jesse Kelly’s views are not only out of the mainstream but dangerous for southern Arizonans," said Andy Stone, Western Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  "Kelly may be good for a sound bite, but he’s wrong for Arizona."

Background

• In an interview with Tucson Weekly, Kelly said he “would love” to eliminate Social Security. [Tucson Weekly, 12/02/09]

• In an editorial board interview with the Arizona Daily Star, Kelly called Social Security the “biggest pyramid scheme” in history. [Arizona Daily Star, 8/03/10]

• In an interview with Tucson Weekly, Kelly said he would get seniors off the “public dole” by privatizing Medicare. [Tucson Weekly, 12/02/09]

• At the SaddleBrooke Candidate Forum, Kelly said he the country must take steps to “lower and eventually eliminate” the minimum wage. [YouTube, SaddleBrooke Candidate Forum, 1/06/10]

• In 2010, Kelly said he would vote to implement the Fair Tax, a 23 percent national sales tax. [YouTube, accessed 8/24/10]

• At the SaddleBrooke Candidate Forum, Kelly said that the corporate tax rate “should be zero.” [YouTube, SaddleBrooke Candidate Forum, 1/06/10]

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Make No Mistake

DCCC Blog - Wed, 08/25/2010 - 09:40

President Obama just sent this message to DCCC supporters:

Friend --

When I took office, we had a big choice to make. We could do what was easy to get through the next election or we could do what was hard - and right - to help the next generation.

Our extraordinary House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and my Democratic partners in the House chose to lead. They chose to do the real heavy lifting to get our economy back on track and to restore the American dream for every American.

Make no mistake about it. Democrats will retain the House of Representatives this year, as long as you continue working to help them win.

Tuesday marks a critical FEC reporting deadline for my friends at the DCCC, the only Democratic political committee solely dedicated to protecting the House. I'm asking for your help to make their $1 Million grassroots goal before midnight Tuesday to continue the work we've only just begun.

Contribute before midnight August 31st to make sure that I keep my great Democratic Partners in the House. Your gift today will be matched by a group of generous Democrats.

The steady progress we are seeing toward America's recovery is no accident. It's happened because I've had Democratic partners in the House and Senate who have chosen to tackle problems that Washington talked about for decades but always just kicked down the road. Not anymore.

From the Recovery Act, to health insurance reform, to landmark clean energy legislation, to Wall Street reform, Speaker Pelosi and Democrats in Congress have passed the bills because they put the American peoples' interests before the special interests. Now they need your help.

I know what a difference grassroots support can make in a tough fight. In the same way that you helped me defy the pundits and stand strong against the attacks from those who wish to protect the status quo, I need your help to make a difference right now to retain a Democratic House.

Contribute before midnight August 31st to make sure that I keep my great Democratic Partners in the House. Your gift today will be matched by a group of generous Democrats.

There is so much more work to get done. Now is not the time to turn back.

Now is the time to remind ourselves what we can achieve together with Speaker Pelosi leading a Democratic House for another two years.

This is our moment to retain a Democratic House and continue America's progress.

Thank you,

Barack Obama

P.S. Contributing to my friends at the DCCC is a wise investment. They have a proven track record of success and every dollar in the door means another race that will have the resources it needs to fight back. Contribute to have your gift matched today.

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Florida’s 25th District Republicans Nominate Scandal Plagued David Rivera

DCCC Blog - Tue, 08/24/2010 - 22:06

Despite the fact that he has come under fire for domestic violence allegations and a traffic accident where he drove a truck off the road because it was carrying negative mail pieces from a rival campaign, this evening 25th District Republicans nominated scandal plagued State Representative David Rivera.  Rivera’s responses to the allegations, exposed in investigative reports by the local media, have already been discredited and his dishonesty has quickly proven that he is unfit to represent South Florida.

"David Rivera is not qualified to represent South Florida," said Shripal Shah, Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  "David Rivera’s discredited stories surrounding domestic violence allegations and his role in driving a truck off the road because it was carrying negative mail pieces from a rival campaign prove that he simply can’t be trusted.  David Rivera should fully expect for his scandal plagued past to be rejected by South Floridians this November."

BACKGROUND:

• In an investigative report, the Miami Herald discredited Rivera story surrounding past domestic violence allegations.  The paper discovered that David Rivera did in fact had ties the victim in question despite his denials. [Miami Herald, 8/19/10]

• CBS 4 Miami discredited David Rivera’s account of what took place in a traffic accident where a truck carrying literature from a rival campaign was driven off the road.  The station reported that police reports contradicted Rivera’s story about his role in the 2002 accident.  In the incident, a truck carrying flyers from a rival campaign, detailing the alleged domestic violence charges, en route to a post office was driven off the road by David Rivera.   [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]

• Lying is par for the course for David Rivera.  Previously, he lied about foreclosure proceedings on a home he co-owns with Marco Rubio.  Rivera “denied that a bank began foreclosure proceedings on a house he owned with former House Speaker Marco Rubio even though property and foreclosure records clearly showed he did co-own the home.” [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]

• Rivera also lied about his personal ties to a local businessman.  As CBS 4 Miami reported, Rivera “denied to the Miami Herald being friends with a principal of a group that advises companies on how to trade with Cuba despite several prominent witnesses who said the two men were close.” [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Florida’s 8th District Republican Nominee Daniel Webster Wants to Cut Social Security

DCCC Blog - Tue, 08/24/2010 - 20:54

Newly minted 8th district Republican nominee Daniel Webster’s pledge to cut Social Security shows how wrong he is for Central Florida's seniors.  If Webster had his way, Seniors who are already struggling to get by on a fixed income would be dealt drastic cuts to their Social Security payments and the result would be devastating. 

"Daniel Webster’s pledge to cut Social Security payments would be devastating for Central Florida’s seniors who are already struggling to get by on a fixed income," said Shripal Shah, Regional Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Central Florida’s seniors simply can’t afford Daniel Webster’s reckless agenda."

BACKGROUND:

• Daniel Webster said one of his first priorities in Congress would be to cut entitlement programs like Social Security.  At a forum on August 12th, 2010, Webster said “My number one priority would be to cut spending, turn off the spigot. We can do that, and the way we would do that is to roll back the budget to 2007. Just three years ago, if we would take that budget and pass it today just as it was, does it roll back some salary increases? Yes. Does it get rid of TARP and health care and all of the other things, including the stimulus package? Yes, it does that. Does it take back some of the COLAs for the entitlement programs? Yes, it does that, too. But it's only three years ago. If we took that budget and passed it, it would self-balance in two more years.” [Orlando Sentinel, 8/12/10]

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Vote 2010 to Support the President

News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/24/2010 - 16:52

African Americans came out to the polls in record numbers to support President Barack Obama’s campaign and ultimately Democratic candidates across the spectrum in 2008. The upcoming midterm election is an opportunity for the community to again voice the needs of the collective electorate by bringing those same numbers to the polls in November. An active electorate will solidify African American support for the President and guarantee that he will have the support to continue passing the reforms benefitting Americans throughout the country. One effort towards that goal is the Barber Shop and Beauty Salon program-- which is a means to reach out to those voters; garner interest; register voters and solicit new volunteers to support the President.

Today we highlight a local effort in Alabama. OFA Alabama is pounding the pavement, reaching out to folks in beauty salons and barbershops around the state to GOTV for November 2010 and let communities know what important races are happening. Here’s what OFA-AL State Director Leanne Townsend had to say:

“In pouring rain, we reached out to over 16 places in only a couple of hours!”

Through a targeted campaign, OFA Alabama has identified over 40 beauty salons and barbershops in an effort to capture the enthusiasm of the many first time and disenfranchised voters who came out in droves to support the election of President Barack Obama.

Throughout the country the community is committing to vote in Florida:

Young and old are committing to Vote 2010-- will you take that pledge?

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Nostalgic for the “Good Old Days”?

News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/24/2010 - 15:05

This morning, House Minority Leader John Boehner delivered an address at the City Club of Cleveland, ostensibly to lay out the Republican Party’s economic agenda. Unfortunately, rather than providing a real forward-looking agenda, Republicans are offering the same failed Bush-era policies that sent the nation into recession and cost eight million Americans their jobs. Minority Leader Boehner and other Republican leaders haven’t indicated that they would do anything differently than they did when they were in charge before – when they turned record surpluses into record deficits and the American economy collapsed. And we’re not the only ones who have noticed.

As The Hill reported today:

“Speaking at a stimulus act event at the White House, Vice President Biden ripped Boehner's call to fire top Obama administration economic aides and rebutted his points…

‘Before we arrived in the West Wing, Mr. Boehner and the Republican Party ran the economy literally into the ground,’ he said.

‘They think that the policies they had in place for eight years during the Bush administration were the right ones,’ he added…

‘Mr. Boehner is nostalgic for those good old days, but the American people are not...They want to move forward.’”

To see more about how John Boehner would really lead, please check out our new web ad, below.

Categories: Democratic Blogs

FACT CHECK: Leader John Boehner Outlines Republican’s Disastrous Economic Priorities

DCCC Blog - Tue, 08/24/2010 - 13:29

The priorities House Republican Leader John Boehner outlined in his "major economic speech" today were predictable: more unpaid for tax cuts for the wealthy, privatization of Social Security and Medicare, and tax breaks for companies outsourcing American jobs.

Boehner's top priority is passing unpaid for tax cuts for the wealthy that will add nearly $700 billion to the deficit.  He said that failure to pass debt-financed tax cuts for the wealthy would be a "recipe for disaster." Despite Boehner’s tough rhetoric on fiscal responsibility, the Republican agenda is to continue debt-financed tax cuts for the wealthy and tax breaks for companies who ship American jobs overseas.

Boehner also reaffirmed his support for the budget proposal written by the top Republican on the Budget Committee, Representative Paul Ryan. The Boehner-Ryan plan would privatize Social Security and dismantle Medicare, turning the program into a voucher program that forces seniors to buy coverage on their own from private insurance companies.

Fact Check on Republican Leader John Boehner "Major Economic Speech"

Boehner Spin:  "So let me be clear: raising taxes on families and small businesses during a recession is a recipe for disaster -- both for our economy and for the deficit."

FACT:  Democrats are proposing middle class and small business tax cuts.  The Republican Plan for Debt-Financed Tax Breaks for the Wealthy is a Recipe for Disaster for the Deficit. The Republican plan to provide unpaid for tax breaks to the wealthy would add $680 billion to the deficit. According to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, “Extending the high-income tax cuts would increase deficits by even larger amounts in subsequent decades. Thus, if Congress extends these tax cuts, the nation’s fiscal trajectory will be even worse, and the risks to future economic growth consequently will increase.” [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 4/1/10, 8/3/10]

FACT: Greenspan: Extending Tax Cuts Without Paying for Them Would Be 'Disastrous.'  Former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said on Meet the Press that extending the Bush tax cuts without offsetting the costs elsewhere could end up being "disastrous" for the economy. "I'm very much in favor of tax cuts but not with borrowed money and the problem that we have gotten into in recent years is spending programs with borrowed money, tax cuts with borrowed money." [Meet the Press, 8/1/10]

Boehner Spin:  “We need to take a long and hard look at the undergrowth of deductions, credits, and special carveouts that our tax code has become.” 

FACT: Boehner Has Led The Fight to Protect Tax Breaks for Companies Who Ship American Jobs Overseas. Boehner led near unanimous Republican opposition to legislation that paid for protecting the jobs of police, firefighters, and teachers through closing tax loopholes that encourage companies to move American jobs overseas. [HR 1586, #518, 8/10/10]

FACT: Boehner and Republicans Opposed Legislation to End Tax Breaks for Companies Who Ship American Jobs Overseas. In May, Republicans opposed The American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act, legislation that would prevent corporations from using current U.S. foreign tax credit rules to subsidize their foreign activities. [HR 4213, #324, 5/28/10].

FACT: Boehner and Republicans Opposed Small Business Relief Paid For By Closing Outsourcing Tax Breaks. In July, Republicans opposed legislation that would have reduced paperwork and reporting requirements for small businesses and been paid for by ending tax breaks that encourage companies to move American jobs overseas. [HR 5982, #514, 7/30/10; The Hill, 7/30/10]

Boehner Spin: "Republicans on the House Budget Committee, led by Congressman Paul Ryan, have already identified $1.3 trillion in specific spending cuts that could be implemented immediately."

FACT:  Boehner-Ryan Plan Would Privatize Social Security and Dismantle Medicare. Under the Republican "Roadmap for America’s Future" that Boehner praises, "Medicare is privatized. Seniors get a voucher to buy private insurance, and the voucher's growth is far slower than the expected growth of health-care costs. Medicaid is also privatized… And beyond health care, Social Security gets guaranteed, private accounts that CBO says will actually cost more than the present arrangement" [Washington Post’s Ezra Klein, 2/1/10]

FACT:  Boehner-Ryan Plan Cuts Medicare by 76%, Forces Seniors to Buy Coverage From Private Insurance. Under the Republican plan for Medicare, “By 2080, Medicare would be cut 76 percent below its projected size under current policies, according to CBO. In other words, by 2080, the vouchers that would replace Medicare would receive one-quarter of the resources that Medicare would otherwise use.” [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, 7/7/10]

FACT:  Boehner Consistently Supports Social Security Privatization and Voted to Dismantle Medicare Into Vouchers.  Boehner has been a longtime supporter of privatizing Social Security. He even said in 2006 about privatization, "If I'm around in a leadership role come January, we're going to get serious about it."  [Washington Times, 7/31/06; US Federal News, Boehner Answers Community's Questions, 4/29/05; Letter to The Social Security Reform Commission, 5/24/01]

In 2009, Boehner led 137 House Republicans who voted for a plan “that would eventually end the Medicare program as it is presently known,” according to the Associated Press. The Republican plan would dismantle Medicare, turning it into a voucher program and forcing seniors to buy insurance on their own from private insurance companies. [Roll Call Vote #191, 4/2/09; Associated Press, 4/2/09]

Boehner Spin: "It’s time to put grown-ups in charge.  It’s time for people willing to accept responsibility.  It’s time to do what we say we’re going to do."

FACT: Under Republican Control, Deficits Skyrocketed and Debt Increased by $3 Trillion.  Under the failed economic policies of President George W. Bush and Congressional Republicans, the national debt increased by $3 trillion. [TreasuryDirect Daily History of Debt]

Boehner Spin: "I’ve said that if I were fortunate enough to be Speaker of the House, I would run the House differently.   And I don’t just mean differently than the way Democrats are running it now.  I mean differently than it’s been run in the past under Democrats OR Republicans…Look at spending.  We don’t just need to stop spending so much, we need to stop spending so irrationally."

FACT: Republican Whip Eric Cantor Said Republicans Will Allow Their Earmark Ban to Expire After the Election, Despite Top Budget Committee Republican Saying Earmarks Increase Taxes. According to a report in Politico yesterday, "Cantor also signaled that earmarks may come back, after a one-year hiatus in which House Republicans set a moratorium on all earmark requests." The top Republican on the Budget Committee, Rep. Paul Ryan has criticized earmarks, saying they eventually increase the burden on taxpayers. [Politico, 8/23/10; Paul Ryan Op-Ed, 3/3/09]

Categories: Democratic Blogs

How New Credit Card Rules Help You

News from the DNC blog - Tue, 08/24/2010 - 12:51

For too long, credit card companies have taken advantage of customers with unfair fees, rate hikes, and a lack of clear information. But over the weekend we saw an end to some of the worst credit card practices, thanks to new legislation signed by the President that went into effect on Sunday.

President Obama signed the CARD Act last year, which puts a stop to deceptive practices and makes sure credit card companies are accountable to their consumers.

Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, highlighted the key new rules that will help you:

Limits on the size of late fees: Credit card issuers will no longer be allowed to charge you a late payment fee that is larger than your minimum payment. Banks also cannot charge a late fee higher than $25 unless one of your last six payments has been late or if the bank can show that the costs associated with the late payment justify a higher fee.

Ban on multiple penalty fees for single violations: You cannot be charged more than one penalty fee for a single violation of your credit card agreement. For example, you cannot be charged both a late fee and a returned payment fee based on a single botched payment.

Ban on inactivity fees: Card issuers will no longer be allowed to charge you a fee for failing to use your account enough or for terminating your account. Your account can still be closed for inactivity by your card issuer.

More information about why your rate is going up: Since August 2009, card issuers have been required to give 45 days notice before raising your interest rate on future purchases. Now they must notify you of the reason they are imposing a rate hike, such as market conditions or a reduced credit score.

Read the full article here.

Categories: Democratic Blogs

The NRCC Knowingly Endorsed David Rivera’s Scandal Plagued Past?!

DCCC Blog - Mon, 08/23/2010 - 16:22

The fact that national Republicans knew about David Rivera’s (FL-25) scandal plagued past and still endorsed his candidacy paints a disgraceful and shocking picture of their priorities.  It’s now clearer than ever that the kind of leadership Republicans are offering this November is simply disturbing and wrong.

Last week it was reported that the NRCC knew all along about David Rivera’s scandal plagued past which includes an alleged history of domestic violence and running a delivery truck off the road to prevent a rival candidate’s campaign literature from being mailed.  Despite this knowledge, Republican leaders John Boehner, Pete Sessions, and Eric Cantor all endorsed and touted NRCC Young Gun David Rivera.  Since the allegations surfaced, Republican leadership has remained silent on the issue.

"David Rivera’s scandal plagued past is disturbing enough to show that he isn’t fit to represent South Florida in any capacity.  But the decision by Republican Leader John Boehner and NRCC Chairman Pete Session’s to promote the candidacy and character of David Rivera, even after knowing about his scandal plagued past, makes this reflection of Republicans’ priorities that much more appalling," said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Ryan Rudominer. "Despite their silence since these allegations surfaced last week, Republican Leader John Boehner, Whip Eric Cantor, and NRCC Chairmen Pete Sessions are sending a clear message: dangerous, scandal plagued candidates like David Rivera represent the kind of disgraceful leadership Republicans are offering voters this November."

BACKGROUND:

• The NRCC knew about David Rivera’s scandal plagued past and still endorsed his candidacy. [Politico, 8/20/10]

• In an investigative report, the Miami Herald discredited Rivera story surrounding past domestic violence allegations.  The paper discovered that David Rivera did in fact had ties the victim in question despite his denials. [Miami Herald, 8/19/10]

• CBS 4 Miami discredited David Rivera’s account of what took place in a traffic accident where a truck carrying literature from a rival campaign was driven off the road.  The station reported that police reports contradicted Rivera’s story about his role in the 2002 accident.  In the incident, a truck carrying flyers from a rival campaign, detailing the alleged domestic violence charges, en route to a post office was driven off the road by David Rivera.   [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]

• Rivera previously lied about foreclosure proceedings on a home he co-owns with Marco Rubio.  Rivera “denied that a bank began foreclosure proceedings on a house he owned with former House Speaker Marco Rubio even though property and foreclosure records clearly showed he did co-own the home.” [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]

• Throughout the course of his campaign, Republican leaders in Washington have gone out of their way to tout Rivera’s candidacy.  Not only is Rivera a member of the NRCC’s “Young Guns” program, but NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions went out of his way to highlight Rivera’s candidacy on NBC’s Meet the Press just one month ago. Both Republican Minority Leader John Boehner and Republican Whip Eric Cantor have supported Rivera’s campaign with fundraisers. In total the three have given $25,000 to Rivera’s campaign. [Meet the Press, 7/18/10; NRCC Press Releases, 4/6/10 and 4/13/10; St. Petersburg Times, 4/27/10;  Miami Herald, 4/14/10; FEC.gov, accessed 8/20/10]

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Eric Cantor Stands Behind Candidate with Alleged History of Domestic Violence and Reckless Behavior

DCCC Blog - Mon, 08/23/2010 - 16:22

A shocking investigation by the Miami Herald and CBS 4 Miami alleged that highly touted Republican candidate, David Rivera, has a history of domestic violence and even ran a delivery truck off the road to prevent a rival candidate’s campaign literature from being mailed about the situation. House Republican Whip and Young Guns Program founder, Representative Eric Cantor, has touted and supported Rivera’s campaign, including naming him to the top NRCC Young Guns program, contributing to his campaign and campaigning with him in Florida.

"One day Republican leaders like Eric Cantor promote the candidacy and character of David Rivera and the next these explosive revelations come to light," said spokesperson Jennifer Crider for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Domestic violence and running trucks off the road aren’t new allegations, but that hasn’t stopped David Rivera from lying about them and Eric Cantor from ignoring them in hopes of winning an election. Eric Cantor is sending a clear message to women: dangerous, scandal plagued candidates like David Rivera represent the kind of leadership Republicans are offering voters this November."

Eric Cantor Campaigning with Disgraced Candidate David Rivera

BACKGROUND:

• In an investigative report, the Miami Herald discredited Rivera story surrounding past domestic violence allegations.  The paper discovered that David Rivera did in fact had ties the victim in question despite his denials. [Miami Herald, 8/19/10]

• CBS 4 Miami discredited David Rivera’s account of what took place in a traffic accident where a truck carrying literature from a rival campaign was driven off the road.  The station reported that police reports contradicted Rivera’s story about his role in the 2002 accident.  In the incident, a truck carrying flyers from a rival campaign, detailing the alleged domestic violence charges, en route to a post office was driven off the road by David Rivera.   [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]

• Rivera also lied about his personal ties to a controversial businessman.  As CBS 4 Miami reported, Rivera “denied to the Miami Herald being friends with a principal of a group that advises companies on how to trade with Cuba despite several prominent witnesses who said the two men were close.” [CBS 4 Miami, 8/17/10]

• Throughout the course of his campaign, Republican leaders in Washington have gone out of their way to tout Rivera’s candidacy.  Not only is Rivera a member of the NRCC’s “Young Guns” program, but NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions went out of his way to highlight Rivera’s candidacy on NBC’s Meet the Press just one month ago. Both Republican Minority Leader John Boehner and Republican Whip Eric Cantor have supported Rivera’s campaign with fundraisers. In total the three have given $25,000 to Rivera’s campaign. [Meet the Press, 7/18/10; NRCC Press Releases, 4/6/10 and 4/13/10; St. Petersburg Times, 4/27/10;  Miami Herald, 4/14/10; FEC.gov, accessed 8/20/10]

Categories: Democratic Blogs

Leader John Boehner to Reaffirm Republicans’ Disastrous Economic Agenda

DCCC Blog - Mon, 08/23/2010 - 16:11

House Republican Leader John Boehner is set to give a “major economic speech” on Tuesday, but the Republican economic agenda is already crystal clear: what is good for Wall Street comes before what is good for folks on Main Street. 

Boehner’s speech will likely reaffirm House Republican support for returning to the exact same failed economic policies that increased the federal debt by nearly $3 trillion under President George W. Bush and Congressional Republicans.  What Americans may not hear from Republican Leader Boehner is his and House Republicans’ commitment to:

• Unpaid for tax breaks for the wealthiest that add billions to the deficit;
• Protecting tax breaks for big companies that ship American jobs overseas; and,
• Privatizing Social Security and ending Medicare.

"Republican Leader Boehner’s agenda is clear: exploding the debt with unpaid for tax breaks for the very wealthy, taxpayer funded breaks for Big Oil, and gambling seniors hard-earned retirement," said Ryan Rudominer, National Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.  "Americans simply can’t afford a return to these exact same Republican policies that drove the American economy into a ditch that we’re just beginning to dig out of."

BACKGROUND

• Boehner led near unanimous Republican opposition to legislation that paid for protecting the jobs of police, firefighters, and teachers through closing tax loopholes that encourage companies to move American jobs overseas. [HR 1586, #518, 8/10/10]   

• In 2009, Boehner led 137 House Republicans who voted for a plan “that would eventually end the Medicare program as it is presently known,” according to the Associated Press. The Republican plan would dismantle Medicare, turning it into a voucher program and forcing seniors to buy insurance on their own from private insurance companies. [Roll Call Vote #191, 4/2/09; Associated Press, 4/2/09]

• Boehner has been a longtime supporter of privatizing Social Security. He even said in 2006 about privatization, "If I'm around in a leadership role come January, we're going to get serious about it."  [Washington Times, 7/31/06; US Federal News, Boehner Answers Community's Questions, 4/29/05; Letter to The Social Security Reform Commission, 5/24/01]

• Boehner criticized the Wall Street reform bill as an overreaction to the financial crisis that triggered the recession…"This is killing an ant with a nuclear weapon," Boehner said. [Pittsburgh Tribune Review, 6/29/10]

Categories: Democratic Blogs