In response to the NRA’s continued attempts to influence Republicans, our communications director, Brad Woodhouse, fired off this email to supporters. Friend — New polls show that the approval ratings for Republicans who blocked a vote on background checks for gun sales have taken a huge dive. And now, after spending millions of dollars to get Republicans to vote against background checks, the NRA is bankrolling radio ads to help boost their dwindling poll numbers. The NRA’s lobbyists think if they throw enough money around, they can get Republicans to vote however they want them to and protect them afterward — it makes me mad as hell. But they’re forgetting that we’ve got 90 percent of Americans on our side — and we’re not backing down. Show Congress that 90 percent of Americans matter more than the gun lobby: Help us collect 200,000 signatures in support of common-sense gun safety measures like background checks. The NRA may have deep-pocketed donors, but — as history has shown — nothing can stand in the way of the American people calling for change. We’re close to our goal of 200,000 signatures demanding change to our gun laws. Help us reach our goal. Add your name to the petition now: http://my.democrats.org/The-90-Percent Your voice can make a difference. Thanks, Brad Brad Woodhouse Communications Director Democratic National Committee
Posts Tagged ‘#Elections’
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Congratulates Rep. Ed Markey for His Victory in Massachusetts
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement on the Massachusetts Senate primary tonight: “On behalf of Democrats across the country, I want to congratulate Ed Markey for his victory tonight and send him our best wishes as we now turn to a victory in June. I also want to thank my friend, Stephen Lynch for his dedication to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and to working families in our country. These campaigns and the grassroots energy behind them truly exemplified the tough and hardworking spirit of Massachusetts. “Now, we must unite behind Congressman Ed Markey and set our sights on keeping this seat blue on June 25th. Unlike Gabriel Gomez, who is vastly out of touch with the priorities of middle class families, Congressman Markey knows what is important to the people of Massachusetts– creating jobs, strengthening the economy, improving education and investing in infrastructure to move our country forward. “As Democrats we must now work together to send another strong advocate for the people of Massachusetts to join Elizabeth Warren in the United States Senate to work with President Obama and Democrats in Congress to keep moving our country forward. I am confident Congressman Markey will continue Senator Kerry’s leadership in bringing jobs to the Commonwealth and fiercely advocating for Massachusetts families.”
Thanks, Ms. Botton
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week. As Democrats, we know that our most important investments are the ones we make in our kids. That’s why, for years, we’ve been on the cutting edge of education reform. From FDR signing the G.I. Bill to President Obama overhauling student loans, Democrats have consistently invested to provide our kids with a first-rate education and the tools necessary to drive our economy forward with more job creation and opportunity. We also recognize that funding and programs alone won’t solve all of our problems. Democrats understand that in order to create world-class institutions of learning, we have to reward, retain, and attract world-class teachers — teachers like my favorite teach growing up, Francine Botton. Ms. Botton was my fifth and sixth grade teacher at Magnolia Open Elementary School in Long Beach, New York, and like so many teachers across our country, she inspired me and all of my classmates to study hard and dream big. She was part mom, part educator, helping her students realize that anything was possible for us. She picked us up when we were down and pushed us when she knew we could do better. Sadly, rather than reward these devoted professionals, Republican politicians continue to vilify our teachers. They use them as scapegoats for tough budgetary challenges and claim that they are part of the problem with our education system. As Democrats, we know that teachers like Ms. Botton are part of the solution — that effective, quality teachers are how we’ll be able to provide every child in America with a world-class education. President Obama understands this and has led the way with education reforms. Through the RESPECT project, the President has proposed a $5 billion grant to support states and districts in working with educators to develop innovative solutions that improve the teaching profession at every level. He launched the STEM Master Teacher Corps, an effort to recruit and reward 10,000 teachers in the critical fields of science, technology, engineering and math. He’s also invested $800 million in scaling up innovative education reforms proven to help improve student achievement, and increase high school graduation and college completion rates. These initiatives are in addition to the more than $4 billion our schools have received through Race to the Top, and they complement the President’s plan to reform “No Child Left Behind,” so that it works for States, not against them. As we celebrate “Teacher Appreciation Week” and thank teachers like Ms. Botton, who helped me believe in myself during a time when most kids are unsure of themselves, let’s recommit ourselves to supporting the professionals whose job is critical to developing the next generation of leaders, job creators and innovators. If you’re on Twitter, tweet #ThankATeacher this week.
Sound Policies for a Sustainable Future
One of the greatest challenges we face is how to repair, rebuild and revitalize our environment. For decades, we’ve neglected our planet, relying on fossil fuels imported from foreign countries, developing land at a rapid rate, and destroying our ecosystems with pollutants and unsustainable practices. But under President Obama’s leadership, we’re making progress. Instead of ignoring our problems, this administration has tackled environmental issues with comprehensive, meaningful reforms — the likes of which we haven’t seen in decades. In honor of Earth Day, we wanted to share a few of the many ways President Obama is working to create a cleaner, greener, more sustainable future for our kids. Established the first-ever national limits for mercury and other toxic pollutants from power plants. Invested in clean, homegrown energy production. In fact, with President Obama’s proposed clean energy standards, by 2035, 80% of the electricity we use will come from clean energy. Upgraded fuel economy energy standards for the first time in nearly three decades — nearly doubling the fuel efficiency of cars. This change will save consumers an average of $8,200 on the life of a vehicle. Partnered with states to restore ecosystems across our country. From the Chesapeake Bay to the Everglades, President Obama’s administration has been working to restore these critical resources — resources that create jobs and strengthen local economies. Preserved more than 2 million acres of federal land and protected over 1,000 miles of rivers. While the challenges are great, thanks to President Obama’s strong leadership, we’re moving forward. To learn more about President Obama’s environmental policies, click here. Happy Earth Day!
DNC Chair Wasserman Schultz on Vote in Senate: This is Shameful, But It’s Not the End
Washington, D.C. – DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement after Senate Republicans successfully blocked the Manchin-Toomey legislation to expand gun background checks: ”The failed vote today was inexcusable and Washington at its worst. Though 90 percent of the American people support expanding background checks for gun purchases, the U.S. Senate, led by the feckless Republican leadership, chose to ignore the will of the American people – blocking the common sense Manchin-Toomey legislation and not even affording the victims of gun violence and their families an up or down vote on the measure. Twenty children and six adults were killed in Newtown, Connecticut, and thousands more by gun violence since then, and the Republican approach to dealing with the issue is to do absolutely nothing. ”This is shameful. But it’s not the end. If Republicans believe they can slide this issue under the rug because they caved to the pressure from the gun lobby, they are sadly mistaken. This issue is not going away. The American people simply won’t allow it. President Obama has made it clear that after witnessing far too many tragedies, we have an obligation to try to do something. Republicans, however, seem to believe their only obligation is to obstruct the will of the American people and stand up for a small portion of the country. That’s not what the American people want – and Republicans will have to confront this issue again and again. And if they continue to stand in the way of these common sense reforms, they’ll pay the price with voters”
Speaker Boehner on Margaret Thatcher
WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) issued the following statement on the passing of former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher: “The greatest peacetime prime minister in British history is dead. Margaret Thatcher, a grocer’s daughter, stared down elites, union bosses, and communists to win three consecutive elections, establish conservative principles in Western Europe, and bring down the Iron Curtain. There was no secret to her values – hard work and personal responsibility – and no nonsense at all in her leadership. She once said, ‘Defeat? I do not recognize the meaning of the word.’ Now this lady who was never for turning goes to rest as grateful friends and allies around the world mourn her passing and pray for her loved ones. Americans will always keep Lady Thatcher in our hearts for her loyalty to Ronald Reagan and their friendship that we all admired. At this difficult hour, I send the condolences of the U.S. House of Representatives to Prime Minister Cameron and the British people.”
African American women paving the way
I am delighted to have this opportunity to recognize all the amazing women who have worked to make this world a better place. Far too often, the contributions of women go unnoticed, and I am thrilled that Congress has designated March Women’s History Month to celebrate the accomplishments of women. Despite incredible obstacles, African American women have been quietly changing history for hundreds of years. By simply refusing to get up, Rosa Parks helped launch the civil rights movement. Dr. Mae Jemison proved that with hard work you really can touch the stars. Women have been tearing down obstacles and paving the way for other women to realize their dreams since the beginning of time. Every time I cast my ballot, I think of the many women who fought so hard to give me a voice. We must use that voice to encourage the next generation of female warriors to enter the political arena where they can help preserve and expand the rights we’ve fought so hard to obtain. Women like Shirley Chisholm paved the way for a new generation of female leaders by becoming the first women to run for president, and Senator Carol Moseley Braun became this country’s first female African American senator. I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge C. Delores Tucker, the woman who opened the doors of opportunity to allow me to become the chair of the DNC Black Caucus. As the first chair of the DNC Black Caucus, Tucker taught us how to make sure that the voices of all African American women are heard. As the saying goes, we come a long way, baby, but we have a long way to go. Women still make 77 cents for every dollar paid to men, and Republicans continue to try to take away our right to choose. So we must keep fighting injustice and inequality. It is imperative that we defeat candidates who trivialize the impact of violence against women and put more people like Sonia Sotomayer on the Supreme Court to protect what we have accomplished. There are a plethora of opportunities waiting for us, if we continue to break down barriers and work toward realizing true equality in our lifetimes.
Stand with President Obama and Democrats
It’s clear that 2012 election didn’t usher in a less-extreme Republican Party. As the GOP prepares to vote on the Ryan budget, which gives the wealthiest Americans a massive tax cut at the expense of the middle class, it’s more important than ever that we stand with President Obama and Democrats to protect our progress and move forward. Check out this email our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, just sent to Democrats nationwide, then add your name to show your support . Friend — This week, my Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives will vote to give the wealthiest Americans a massive tax cut paid for by seniors, middle-class families, and students. This is a wake-up call. Last year’s election didn’t make the Republicans’ policies any less extreme, and it didn’t make them any less eager to enact them. I’m standing with President Obama and my Democratic colleagues to make good on the progress Americans voted for this past November, and I need you to stand with us. We’ve accomplished a tremendous amount together over the past four years, but it couldn’t be more clear that our opponents will roll all of that progress back if we give them a chance. Let’s not give them one. Let President Obama and other Democrats know that you’re with us: http://my.democrats.org/Stand-with-President-Obama Thanks, Debbie Debbie Wasserman Schultz Chair Democratic National Committee P.S. — Knowing who we can count on is important. If you’re one of those people, please let us know .
Sound familiar? The Ryan budget would lead to higher taxes for middle-class families
The House Republican budget claims to balance the budget in 10 years but the math just doesn’t add up. How does a plan that gives a new tax cut to the wealthiest Americans, without identifying a single tax loophole to close achieve any meaningful deficit reduction? The answer, while unfair, is not at all unfamiliar to GOP budgets—their plan requires a major tax increase on middle class families of more than $2000. The Ryan budget cuts taxes for the wealthy even more than Mitt Romney’s 2012 proposal, which could not have been paid for without raising taxes on the middle class. Paul Ryan is fond of saying his budget is all about tough choices. Again, Republicans and Paul Ryan has chosen to slash taxes for the wealthiest Americans and place the entire burden of deficit reduction on programs benefiting the middle class, seniors, and vulnerable Americans. THE RYAN BUDGET CUTS TAXES FOR THE WEALTHY THAT MUST BE PAID FOR WITH HIGHER MIDDLE CLASS TAXES, MORE DEBT, OR BOTH Michael Linden, Center for American Progress: The Ryan Budget “Has A Bigger Revenue Hole Than The Romney Budget Did, Meaning His Tax Increases on the Middle Would Have To Be Even Bigger.” “Last year the Tax Policy Center estimated that these provisions would generate revenue equaling just 15.8 percent of GDP in 2022. Extrapolating to 2023 suggests that Rep. Ryan is missing about $840 billion of revenue in 2023 alone, and approximately $7 trillion over the entire 10-year period from 2014 through 2023. After accounting for the added interest costs from all of these unpaid-for tax cuts, Ryan’s budget would still be about $1.2 trillion in the red in 2023. … If all of this sounds vaguely familiar, that’s because this is the same play that Rep. Ryan and his running mate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, ran in the 2012 election: promising enormous tax cuts with no way to pay for them except by raising taxes on the middle class. The only difference this time is that this version of Rep. Ryan’s budget has a bigger revenue hole than the Romney budget did, meaning his tax increases on the middle would have to be even bigger.” [Michael Linden, Center for American Progress, 3/12/13 ] Robert Greenstein, Center On Budget And Policy Priorities: The Ryan Budget Cuts Taxes For The Wealthy More Than Twice As Much As Romney Proposed And The Romney Proposal Could Not Have Been Paid For Without Raising Taxes On The Middle Class. “Governor Romney adopted a similar approach in his presidential campaign, arguing that he would use unspecified tax expenditure savings to offset the cost of cutting the top income tax rate from 35 percent to 28 percent, or by 7 percentage points. Analysis by the Tax Policy Center indicated that Romney could not do that without raising taxes on middle class and working poor Americans. Yet now, Ryan proposes to cut the top rate by as much as 14.6 percentage points, or more than twice as much as Romney proposed, while still claiming to finance it through tax expenditure reforms that policymakers would identify later.” [Statement by Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 3/12/13 ] The Atlantic: “As Written, [The Ryan Budget] Is Almost Certainly A Plan To Raise Taxes On The Same Lower-Middle Class Which Is Also Getting Hit With Massive Spending Cuts.” “The tax plan would cut the top rate to 25 percent — a 15-point reduction for income above $450,000 — but somehow it would also collect the same amount of revenue as the president’s current policy. Quick math: If you cut tax rates for the top 0.1 percent in half, the only way to make the same amount of money is (a) to practically wipe out all of their tax advantages or (b) to raise taxes disproportionately on the bottom 99.9 percent. To be clear: As written, this [the Ryan budget] is almost certainly a plan to raise taxes on the same lower-middle class which is also getting hit with massive spending cuts.” [Derek Thompson, TheAtlantic.com, 3/12/13 ] Robert Reich: “The Reality, Of Course, Is That The Only Possible Way Ryan Could Pay For His Proposed Tax Cuts For The Wealthy And Corporations Would Be To Raise Taxes On The Middle Class.” “Meanwhile, it redistributes upward, cutting the top tax rate for individuals down to 25 percent — a bigger tax cut for the top than even Mitt Romney proposed — and the corporate tax rate down to 25 percent, from 35 percent today. Ryan would pay for these tax cuts by ‘closing tax loopholes,’ but — where did we hear this before? — his budget doesn’t say which loopholes, or even hint at what it would do with rates on capital gains and dividends. Like Romney’s plan, it leaves all the heavy lifting to Congress. The reality, of course, is that the only possible way Ryan could pay for his proposed tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations would be to raise taxes on the middle class.” [Robert Reich, Huffington Post, 3/12/13 ] Ezra Klein: Paul Ryan’s Plan “Will Require Either Huge, Deficit-Busting Tax Cuts Or Increasing Taxes On Poor And Middle-Class Households.” “Here is Paul Ryan’s path to a balanced budget in three sentences: He cuts deep into spending on health care for the poor and some combination of education, infrastructure, research, public-safety, and low-income programs. The Affordable Care Act’s Medicare cuts remain, but the military is spared, as is Social Security. There’s a vague individual tax reform plan that leaves only two tax brackets — 10 percent and 25 percent — and will require either huge, deficit-busting tax cuts or increasing taxes on poor and middle-class households, as well as a vague corporate tax reform plan that lowers the rate from 35 percent to 25 percent.” [Ezra Klein, Washington Post, 3/12/13 ] FLASHBACK: ROMNEY PROPOSED $5 TRILLION IN NEW TAX CUTS WHICH WOULD SHOWER MILLIONAIRES AND BILLIONAIRES WITH EVEN MORE BENEFITS WHILE RAISING TAXES ON THE MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES Center On Budget And Policy Priorities: Romney’s New Tax Cuts Would Cost $4.9 Trillion Over A Decade, On Top Of The Cost Of Extending The Bush Tax Cuts. “The Tax Policy Center estimates that the Romney tax plan would lose about $480 billion in tax revenue in calendar year 2015, beyond the revenues losses inherent in maintaining current policy (such as continuing all of the 2001 and 2003 Bush tax cuts). Over the 2014-2022 period, that implies a total reduction in revenues of about $4.9 trillion, relative to current tax policy.” [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 5/21/12 ] If Romney’s Tax Plan Was Paid For, Families With Kids Who Make Less Than $200,000 Would See An Average Tax Increase Of $2,041. [Tax Policy Center, On The Distributional Effects Of Base-Broadening Income Tax Reform, p. 18, 8/1/12 ] If Romney’s Tax Plan Was Paid For, The Top 0.1% Would See An Average Tax Cut Of $246,652. [Tax Policy Center, On The Distributional Effects Of Base-Broadening Income Tax Reform, p. 19, 8/1/12 ] Reuters Headline: “Romney Tax Plan Helps Rich, Hurts Middle Class-Study.” [Reuters, 8/1/12 ] Boston Globe Headline: “Mitt Romney’s Tax Plan Would Offer Big Cuts To Millionaires, Raise Taxes On Middle Class, Brookings Analysts Say.” [Boston Globe, 8/1/12 ] Washington Post Editorial: The Tax Policy Center Found That Under The Romney Plan “Even If Every Loophole For The Top Brackets Were Closed, There Wouldn’t Be Enough Revenue. The Middle Class Would Have To Pay More.” “The Tax Policy Center (TPC), a joint venture of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, examined Mr. Romney’s claim and found that, even if every loophole for the top brackets were closed, there wouldn’t be enough revenue. The middle class would have to pay more.” [Editorial, Washington Post, 8/21/12 ]
Moms organizing against gun violence
In my professional career, Women’s History Month has always been about politics—electing more Democratic women to office, fighting for access to reproductive freedom, and defeating candidates who don’t value women’s rights. But this year, for me, Women’s History Month is about mothers: moms who are influencing our leaders to take action against gun violence. Moms who are getting organized—first online, but ultimately in town halls, state legislatures, and within the halls of Congress. These are the women who are standing up to the NRA and making sure their voices are heard by their representatives, some of them for the first time, to demand action to keep our kids safe. They’re pushing for commonsense proposals, like fixing a broken background check system to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, eliminating high-capacity magazines, and curtailing access to assault and other military-style weapons that don’t belong on the same streets America’s youth play on. One South Carolina mom organized a rally at the Columbia statehouse, bringing together victims, teachers, and parents to ask for simple, sensible changes. And the Washington Post recently wrote about a mom in North Dakota who, on her own, by walking around her community, very carefully started a conversation about reasonable solutions that would also preserve the 2nd amendment. These moms are amazing—and humbling. They are determined, passionate, brave—and realistic. They take their kids to the bus stop in the morning, then look for creative ways to urge our leaders, especially Congress, to take action, keeping our kids and communities safe. Moms constitute the core of the grassroots army that is taking on gun violence. And during Women’s History Month, when we remember the women who have made the historical advances we all benefit from, it’s satisfying and comforting for me to think about all the moms I know who are working to make history again.
What’s next
It might feel like the next election is miles ahead, but the reality is we’re already laying the groundwork for the 2014 and 2016 elections. Our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, says that it’s up to all of us build that foundation. Check out the email she just sent to Democrats across the country, then chip in $5 or whatever you can to make sure we can accomplish everything we’ve set out to do: from winning elections to legislative battles. Friend — I know that I’ve come to you many times asking for your help. I also know that these appeals can get a little tiresome — and that things may seem less urgent now that we’re not on the cusp of a presidential election. But believe me, the money we raise today is critically important. We’re laying the groundwork today for the 2014 midterms and the 2016 presidential election, and for the many battles between now and then. What we do now to educate voters might be the difference between whether or not we win those battles. Donate $5 or more today to lay a strong foundation for the future. We’ve got ambitious goals for the coming months and years. We have legislative battles to win on reforming immigration, reducing gun violence, and protecting the middle class. And we want to take back the House in 2014 and keep control of the Senate. But without the resources we need ahead of these fights, there’s no chance that we’ll be able to accomplish everything we have set out to do. It’s up to all of us to step up and do everything we can to build our foundation now. Donate $5 or more today to help us fight: http://my.democrats.org/Lay-the-Foundation Thanks, Debbie Debbie Wasserman Schultz Chair Democratic National Committee
Celebrating International Women’s Day
Happy International Women’s Day! Today we have a lot to celebrate. From the recently strengthened Violence Against Women Act, to the establishment of the White House Council on Women and Girls, the Obama administration has been a leader on the road to gender equality for women and girls both here and abroad. President Obama released a statement today: ”Empowering women isn’t just the right thing to do—it’s the smart thing to do. When women succeed, nations are more safe, more secure, and more prosperous. Over the last year, we’ve seen women and girls inspiring communities and entire countries to stand up for freedom and justice, and I’m proud of my administration’s efforts to promote gender equality worldwide.” We are also celebrating women leaders from all corners of the world. Today, the State Department is hosting the International Women of Courage Awards , where Secretary Kerry will honor nine courageous women who are working hard to advocate women’s rights across the globe. This includes Tsering Woeser, a Tibetan poet, author, and social media activist, who is bravely speaking out against China’s human rights violations against Tibetan citizens. Nigerian advocate Dr. Josephine Odumakin is also being honored. Despite being arrested and detained 17 times, Dr. Odumakin has fearlessly handled over 2,000 cases of violations of women’s rights in her country. Women like Tsering Woeser and Dr. Odumakin remind us the importance of continuing to fight for a world where women and girls everywhere can be free to pursue their dreams. Click here to read more about the International Women of Courage Award winners.
What the GOP sequester means for education
Republicans made a stark choice when they refused to work with President Obama and Democrats to avert the sequester: They declared that tax loopholes for the wealthy are more important than protecting middle-class families. As a result, school districts, teachers, and families across the country are bracing for dramatic, damaging—and unnecessary—cuts to their education programs. Stories like these are popping up across the country. Here’s a snapshot of what the GOP sequester means for education: In Arizona, the Window Rock School District in the Navajo nation is proposing to close three of its seven schools as a direct result of the GOP sequester. Those schools are among the 1,600 public schools on Native American reservations and military bases that are reeling from the cuts to their budgets. University of Nevada–Las Vegas students expect to lose a percentage of their financial aid and see the availability of campus jobs dwindle because of the GOP sequester. Statewide, more than 100 work-study students could lose their jobs. The University of Missouri expects a $17 million loss in funding. That puts student financial aid at risk. 1,166 Missouri students could lose federal work-study benefits, and nearly 2,000 students could lose federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants. 48,000 young children would lose their access to Head Start— more than 30 percent of whom are Latino . School officials in Gainesville, Florida, predict cuts in funding for school nutrition, special education, reading skills, migrant education, and programs for low-income and at-risk children. Georgia is expected to lose $28.6 million in federal funding for primary and secondary education. This loss of funding puts 390 teacher and teacher’s aide jobs at risk . The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates that the GOP sequester will force 50,000 job losses across medical schools and health care facilities nationwide. Southern Oregon Head Start expects their current school year to be shortened as a result of the GOP sequester. Next year, 50 children could lose their spots at this preschool program. Fed up? Tell Republicans that our children’s educations are more important than politics. Add your name now .
We need immigration reform
Women’s History Month is an opportunity to focus on the many women who have immigrated here and forged the nation we know today, including the first female U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright; Dr. Rita M. Rodriguez, the first woman to teach at Harvard Business School; and Maya Lin, the architect of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. While the achievements of these women are significant, women’s history also includes the unnamed women who advanced the course of our country. This encompasses the women who pioneered the West, those who taught in schools and toiled in factories. Our nation was built by women who sought a better life for themselves and their families. It was built by women who worked their way up career ladders, and who worked in the home; by those who followed their dreams, and by those who sacrificed their dreams for the sake of others. Women’s history includes you, and your mother, your sister, and grandmother, and all the things they have done which make our nation what it is. Our personal histories are just as noteworthy as our public one. No matter how long we have been here, days, decades, or all our lives, each resident of the United States is a part of its history and its future. As the President said in his State of the Union address: We are citizens. It’s a word that doesn’t just describe our nationality or legal status. It describes the way we’re made. It describes what we believe. It captures the enduring idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations; that our rights are wrapped up in the rights of others; and that well into our third century as a nation, it remains the task of us all, as citizens of these United States, to be the authors of the next great chapter in our American story. We Americans have one thing in common: we want the best possible life for our families, whether for economic security or for personal safety. For some, making the decision to immigrate to the U.S. provided themselves and their families the best possible opportunities. That is certainly true of my own family, who immigrated here more than 50 years ago. In his recent State of the Union address, President Obama reminded Americans how significant immigration is to our country and the importance of repairing the broken immigration system. The President’s commonsense immigration reform proposal has four components: strengthened borders, tougher enforced penalties for businesses that hire undocumented workers, a path to earned citizenship for those undocumented immigrants who are already here, and an update to the legal immigration system. Commonsense immigration reform will strengthen our families, society, and country. As a woman, an Asian American and Pacific Islander, a business owner, a Democrat, and a proud citizen, I strongly support commonsense immigration reform that would allow our families to be reunited; that would allow us to retain hard-to-get skills for the benefit of our businesses; that would allow “DREAMers” to have a path to citizenship; that would look at immigrants as the basic foundation of our society—as someone once said to me, even the original settlers were immigrants themselves!
Then and Now: Marco Rubio on Social Programs Like Medicare
THEN: Rubio In 2011 on social programs like Medicare: “That was a vision crafted in the twentieth century by our leaders and though it was well intentioned, it was doomed to fail from the start. It was doomed to fail from the start first and foremost because it forgot that the strength of our nation begins with its people and that these programs actually weakened us as a people. You see, almost in forever, it was institutions and society that assumed the role of taking care of one another. If someone was sick in your family, you took care of them. If a neighbor met misfortune, you took care of them. You saved for your retirement and your future because you had to … All of the sudden, for an increasing number of people in our nation, it was no longer necessary to worry about saving for security because that was the government’s job. For those who met misfortune, that wasn’t our obligation to take care of them, that was the government’s job.” [Rubio Speech at the Reagan Presidential Library, 8/23/11 ] NOW: Tonight, Rubio is expected to say: “One of these programs, Medicare, is especially important to me. It provided my father the care he needed to battle cancer and ultimately die with dignity. And it pays for the care my mother receives now. I would never support any changes to Medicare that would hurt seniors like my mother. But anyone who is in favor of leaving Medicare exactly the way it is right now, is in favor of bankrupting it.”
The President asked you to act
Yesterday, President Obama called on all of us to play our part in reducing gun violence across the country. Here’s something you can do right now: Sign our petition asking Congress to act quickly and pass legislation that will make our communities safer. Read the email with the details that our executive director, Patrick Gaspard, just sent to Democrats—then add your name . Friend — Yesterday in Minneapolis, President Obama told the American people that it’s time to take some basic commonsense steps to reduce gun violence. It’s up to Congress to take the next step and pass legislation — but first, we have to let them know that Americans demand they act quickly. If you stand with the President, add your name to this petition telling Congress to act swiftly to pass legislation to reduce gun violence: http://my.democrats.org/Reduce-Gun-Violence Thanks, Patrick Patrick Gaspard Executive Director Democratic National Committee
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Barbara Buono will Move All New Jersey Families Forward
Following yesterday’s announcement by New Jersey State Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono that she will be running for Governor, DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement: “Barbara Buono is the right choice to move New Jersey’s middle-class families and small businesses forward from the failed policies of the past. As a powerful, independent voice who has always put everyday Garden Staters first, she has both the experience and the toughness needed to turn New Jersey’s economy around and get the state back on track. I am proud to see Barbara announce that she will be running to bring real leadership to the Garden State — because that is exactly what the state needs.”
The GOP motto: If you can’t beat ‘em, rig the game
In 2012, the Republican Party led a coordinated campaign to disenfranchise millions of voters through burdensome voter ID laws and shortened early voting periods—with the express purpose of sending Mitt Romney to the White House. They failed. Republicans lost their battle to suppress the vote in our nation’s courts, and they lost on the issues at the ballot box, as African Americans, Latinos, and young voters turned out in record numbers. But instead of learning the lessons of 2012 and working to appeal to our growing electorate, Republicans are fixated on finding new ways to undermine the majority of voters and keep another Democrat from winning in 2016. Their philosophy is simple: “If you can’t beat ‘em, rig the game.” Tomorrow in Virginia—where President Obama won decisively in 2012—a state Senate committee will vote on a bill that would rig the 2016 election in favor of Republican candidates by changing how the Electoral College appropriates votes. Currently in Virginia, Electoral College votes are allocated on a winner-take-all basis. But Republicans want them allocated by congressional district—ensuring their heavily gerrymandered Republican districts will deliver for the Republican candidate in the next presidential election. If this scheme had been in place in 2012, President Obama would have won only four out of 13 electoral votes in Virginia—even though he received 140,000 more votes from Virginia voters than Romney did. It’s too extreme even for Virginia’s Bob McDonnell, one of the most far-right governors in the country. A spokesman for McDonnell said last week, “The governor does not support this legislation. He believes Virginia’s existing system works just fine as it is.” But another Tea Party governor, Scott Walker of Wisconsin, thinks election rigging is an “interesting” idea—something “worth looking at.” This is only the beginning. Virginia and Wisconsin are just the first of several states President Obama won in 2012 whose Republican governors and legislatures are considering rigging their Electoral College votes in favor of the GOP. And the head of the party, Republican National Committee chair Reince Priebus, has endorsed the plan, saying, “I think it’s something that a lot of states that have been consistently blue that are fully controlled red ought to be looking at.” But if we learned anything in 2012, it’s that the American people will not stand by and watch Republican politicians manipulate our electoral process and trample on our hard-won voting rights. We’ll fight to make our voices heard and our ballots counted—and oppose any and all attempts to rig our electoral process. For more information on the Republican-sponsored efforts to rig the next presidential election, sign up for updates from the Democratic Party.
Inauguration
Last week, we inaugurated a president. It’s easy to see an inauguration as the culmination of a long-fought campaign, but as our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, reminded supporters in an email today, we still have a lot to do. From tackling climate to working for LGBT equality, the next four years will be busy. Read the chair’s email below, then chip in what you can to make sure it’s a productive term. Friend — Watching President Obama take the oath of office last Monday was an incredible reward for all of the time and energy that you and millions of other Democrats put in throughout the election. And when I looked out at the sea of supporters who braved the cold to watch the President’s inauguration, I was reminded that in you we have the support we need to make incredible change over the next four years. Since I became Chair of the Democratic Party two years ago, my motto has been “no one will outwork us.” And although we’re still celebrating our incredible victories in 2012, it’s time for us to get back to work. President Obama has outlined an ambitious plan for his second term, including tackling climate change, working for full equality for LGBT Americans, and making sure that all Americans, no matter where they come from or who their parents are, have an equal shot. And it’s up to us to fight for Democrats and make sure that that agenda becomes law. Donate $5 or more now to make sure we have the resources to fulfill our duty to our country, ourselves, and the millions of Americans whose lives will change for the better: https://my.democrats.org/Back-to-Work Let’s do this, Debbie Debbie Wasserman Schultz Chair Democratic National Committee
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s Statement on the Passing of Senator Daniel Inouye
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement on the passing of U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye: “I am incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of my colleague across the Capitol and the dean of the United States Senate, Senator Daniel Inouye. In so many different ways, Senator Inouye spent his life fighting for our country—first as a World War II hero who eventually earned a Medal of Honor for his brave service, then as the very first congressman to represent the state of Hawaii, and finally as the second-longest serving senator and the highest-ranking Asian-American elected official in American history. Having spent over 50 years in the halls of Congress, he was a tireless advocate and a dear friend to many, and we know his humble spirit and dedicated service to the Aloha State and to all Americans will not soon be forgotten. “Tonight, as we mourn this monumental loss, let our thoughts and deepest condolences be with Senator Inouye’s wife, Irene, and all of his loved ones—not to mention the people of Hawaii who have known him for decades as their very own champion.”
10 highlights from 2012
10. Karl Rove’s, the Koch brothers’, and other conservative groups’ $1 billion in outside money was no match for your grassroots organizing. 9. Everyday citizens stood up to Republican attempts to suppress the vote—and our nation’s courts struck down some of the GOP’s most blatant efforts in Pennsylvania, Florida, and Ohio. 8. The Supreme Court affirmed what we’ve known all along: Obamacare is constitutional. 7. Four states made history by supporting marriage equality at the ballot box. 6. Back from the brink of collapse, General Motors is posting record profits and investing billions in the U.S., thanks to a President who wouldn’t let Detroit go bankrupt. 5. President Obama and congressional Democrats prevented 7.4 million college students’ loan interest rates from doubling. 4. With the DREAM Act stalled in Congress, President Obama signed an executive order helping undocumented young people in college or the military. 3. As of this year, 3.1 million young people now have health insurance and birth control is co-pay free—all thanks to Obamacare. 2. We’ve added 5.6 million jobs over 33 straight months of private-sector job growth. That’s progress. 1. With 332 electoral votes, President Obama won re-election—decisively.
We want to hear from you
As 2012 comes to a close, we’re heading into a new year, a new Congress, and a new term for President Obama. That means it’s an important time to speak up. We want to know what your priorities and interests are as Democrats, so we’ve put together a quick survey. Check out this email our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, just sent out, then make your voice heard —because this is your party. Friend — While we at the DNC are still reflecting on the President’s victory and all our other wins, we’re also refocusing and planning for the work ahead. How we move forward depends on you. This is your party, and we want to hear from you. What are your priorities and interests? Please share your thoughts about the election and how you think we should move forward. Now is the time to hone our strengths and identify areas for improvement. Together, we’re facing a big moment in American politics. We have the chance to accomplish some major successes for the American people. Your input today — and your participation going forward — is incredibly important. I look forward to hearing from you . As always, thank you so much for your support, Debbie Debbie Wasserman Schultz Chair Democratic National Committee
The Stakes are High
If Congress fails to act, income taxes will go up for millions of middle-class families when the new year begins. The National Economic Council and Council of Economic Advisers estimates consumer spending would fall by $200 billion nationwide next year. Retailers from big chains to mom-and-pop small businesses would be affected—which is why even the CEO’s of Walmart and Costco have called for a balanced approach that protects the middle-class. Asking millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share is an essential component of the President’s plan for balanced deficit reduction. The Senate already passed this bill and the President is ready to sign it as soon as the House takes action. Find out what’s at stake in your state: Nationwide Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming The Stakes for Middle-Class Families If the GOP-controlled House fails to extend the middle-class tax cuts: 114 million middle-class families will see their federal income taxes go up. A typical median-income family of four (earning $ 75,000 ) could see its income taxes rise by $2,200 . Families will receive a smaller Child Tax Credit, and 35 million low-and moderate-income working families with children will lose access to the Child Tax Credit altogether , costing them an average $1,000 a year. 11,000,000 middle-class families will no longer get help paying for college from the American Opportunity Tax Credit. Small businesses will be able to claim immediate tax deductions for only $25,000, rather than $250,000 of new investments. The President’s Plan Under the President’s plan, the 98 percent of families with incomes of less than $250,000 per year would continue to benefit in full from the income tax cuts that are set to expire at the end of 2012: Lower tax rates on up to $250,000 of income ($200,000 for single filers). The doubling of the Child Tax Credit to $1,000 per child and extension of the credit to working families that previously could not benefit from it. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, which provides as much as $10,000 of help over four years—the equivalent of a 30 percent discount on tuition at a typical state university—and thousands of dollars more help with college expenses than many families could have previously received. The 10 percent tax bracket, which will provide middle-class couples with a tax cut of up to $890 next year . Expansions to the Earned Income Tax Credit, which give millions of working families the break they need. Marriage penalty relief, which reduces or eliminates marriage penalties for nearly 38 million couples nationwide . Under the President’s plan, the income tax rates for high-income households would return to what they were under President Clinton, when the economy created nearly 23 million new jobs —including 633,900 new private-sector jobs —and we went from deficit to surplus, and businesses and investors did very well . Tell Congress what these tax hikes would mean to you, and tell them to pass the President’s plan.
The President’s plan to keep your taxes low and reduce the deficit
Right now, President Obama is working with leaders of both parties in Washington to reduce the deficit in a balanced way so we can lay the foundation for long-term middle-class job growth and prevent your taxes from going up. This is the President’s plan, but he’s not wedded to every detail. He is determined to work with Congress to find compromise and common ground. His guiding principle throughout this debate will be what’s best for the middle class. He’ll be fighting for you. These problems are challenging, but they’re solvable. In fact, the Senate has already passed a bill to keep your taxes low, and the House needs to pass it and Congress should get it to the President as soon as possible. There’s a lot at stake, and with your help we’ll continue to move this country forward.
Romney’s Pennsylvania Fantasy Turns into Disaster
If this state was in play (it wasn’t!), it ain’t now. Michael Barbaro @mikiebarb “We’ve got to get out! My daughter is frostbitten,” begs mom, asking to leave Romney rally. Staffer replies: “It’s not cold enuf for that.” Sabrina Siddiqui @SabrinaSiddiqui . @JFKucinich is live tweeting more about the frustrated folks wanting to leave Romney rally. Jackie Kucinich @JFKucinich People are literally streaming through the gates – Romney still speaking. Ashley Parker @AshleyRParker This is a big rally for Romney in PA, but dozens of people — cold and angry — are begging to be let out. Michael Barbaro @mikiebarb W/ Romney more than an hour late (but now speaking), dozens of people stuck in the cold, begging staffers to leave, use the bathroom… Michael Barbaro @mikiebarb Rally in PA just went eerily quiet for 3 mins after a man collapsed in the audience. No music. No speaker. He’s. Okay now tho. MoveOn.org @MoveOn BREAKING: USA Today reporter says @MittRomney staffers are trapping people at rally in #PA. Won’t let them leave. pic.twitter.com/M6svk9qN Andrew Kaczynski @BuzzFeedAndrew It looks staffers at the Romney event refused originally let ppl leave, despite their begging. https://twitter.com/mikiebarb/statuses/265241615558406145 … https://twitter.com/JFKucinich/status/265241932295438338 … Jackie Kucinich @JFKucinich Man just pulled me aside and said “My son is on the verge of hypothermia” just as staffer starts letting people out a few at a time.
DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Republican Party Field Director’s Arrest for Throwing Voter Regi
Yesterday, Republican Party field director Colin Small was arrested in Virginia on charges of committing voter registration fraud. Small, who was part of a broader swing-state operation financed by the RNC, was first hired by Strategic Allied Consulting—a firm run by GOP consultant Nathan Sproul, who has a lengthy history of being accused of voter registration fraud and whose activities on behalf of the RNC in Florida this cycle are the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation. In response to yesterday’s revelation—part of a growing voter registration fraud scandal that has embroiled the RNC—DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement: “Over the course of this election cycle, the Republican National Committee has now been implicated or alleged to have been involved in voter registration fraud in no fewer than three states: Virginia, Colorado and my home state of Florida. It’s not hard to connect the dots here—each of these cases is directly connected to Chair Reince Priebus, who as Chair of the RNC hired a firm headed by Nathan Sproul, a longtime Republican consultant with a known history of alleged voter registration fraud. “But Sproul’s checkered past hasn’t affected his success. In 2008, it didn’t stop then-Wisconsin GOP Chair Reince Priebus from hiring Sproul to run his absentee ballot walk program. It didn’t stop the Romney campaign from paying $80,000 to a separate Sproul-run firm. It certainly didn’t prevent Karl Rove’s American Crossroads PAC from paying nearly $1 million to Sproul’s firms for voter outreach. And it has not stopped the RNC from directing millions to Sproul’s firm since Reince Priebus became Chair last year. It should come as no surprise, then, that Colin Small—the Republican Party field director arrested yesterday for dumping voter registration forms in the trash—was working under the supervision of RNC officials and was first hired by a Sproul-run firm. “The fact that these allegations aren’t surprising does not make them any less reprehensible. What we have seen throughout this cycle is a concerted effort by the RNC and its allies to win the game by rigging it altogether. They have repeatedly violated the trust of the American people and launched one attack after another on the fundamental right to vote—and it’s a fight they will continue to lose. Just as we have for decades, the Democratic Party will continue to push back on these shameful tactics and keep working to ensure that all eligible Americans are able to make their voice heard in this and future elections.”
“I’m voting for one now”
The country got a glimpse at who Mitt Romney really is when a video recently leaked showing him dismissing 47 percent of Americans as victims who depend on government handouts. At a Gotta Vote bus tour stop at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, Dana Wachs, who’s running for a seat in the state assembly, told this story of what Romney’s comments meant to a man he met knocking on doors: “The other day, I was campaigning in my district, and I was going through walk sheets, and I got a couple blocks mixed up—should’ve gone to the left, but I went to the right and walked up, knocked on the door. Then I turned around and there were pretty conservative bumper stickers on the car, and there were pretty conservative flags flying on the flagpole. I thought, my goodness, I’m going to be in there for a long time. “And the door opened, and I said, ‘I’m Dana Wachs, and I’m a Democrat running for the state assembly.’ And this guy wheeled up to the door in a wheelchair, and he put his hand out, and he said, ‘You’re a Democrat?’ I said yeah. He said, ‘I’ve never voted for a Democrat, but I was wounded in the war, and I’m voting for one now.’” If you don’t want a president who’s so quick to dismiss our combat troops and disabled veterans as “victims,” then you gotta vote .
“This is personally offensive”
On the debate stage last week, Mitt Romney shamelessly misled the American people when he said he has a plan to insure people with pre-existing conditions. Like so much of the rhetoric that comes out of Romney’s mouth, it’s simply not true—even his campaign admitted it after the debate. Our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a breast cancer survivor, says this latest example of say-anything dishonesty is personally offensive to her, and she wants all of us to set the record straight. Check out the email she sent to Democrats today, and chip in $5 or whatever you can to help us make sure everyone knows the truth. Friend — At the debate, Mitt Romney looked the American public in the eye and said: “I do have a plan that deals with people with pre-existing conditions. That’s part of my health care plan.” His campaign quietly admitted afterwards that, no, it is not, in fact, a part of his health care plan. As a breast cancer survivor and someone living with a pre-existing condition, this statement was more personally offensive than any of his repeated promises to repeal Obamacare. This kind of say-anything dishonesty is typical from Mitt Romney and the Republicans. You can do something. Please give $5 or more today to help Democrats set the record straight about Romney and his allies. Voters need to know. When the other side makes empty, dishonest promises like this one, it’s not only the worst kind of politics, it’s toying with real people’s lives. As a cancer survivor, I know just how much we used to be at the mercy of insurance providers. Obamacare protects us from unfair practices like lifetime caps on your coverage, denial of coverage because of pre-existing conditions, and being dropped from your policy exactly when you need it most. Mitt Romney will take that all away — but when he’s asked point-blank about it, he won’t admit it. We deserve better. But we need to work harder than ever for it. Time to suit up and fight back. Please donate $5 or more today — let’s stand together and keep Mitt Romney and Republicans in Congress away from our health care: Thanks, Debbie Debbie Wasserman Schultz Chair Democratic National Committee P.S. — Your donation will do more today than tomorrow or any day after. The election is in just 28 days. Please donate today .
With major victory in Ohio, voting rights momentum continues
Just three days after a court blocked the implementation of Pennsylvania’s voter ID law, a federal appeals court has sided with the Obama campaign and the DNC, rejecting Ohio Republicans’ attempt to implement unconstitutional restrictions on early voting. As a result of today’s decision, when Ohio early voting locations open during this election, they will be open to all voters on equal terms. In 2008, approximately 100,000 Ohio voters cast their ballots during the last three days before the election—including many low-income and minority voters who couldn’t make it to the polls on Election Day. In May, however, Ohio’s Republican secretary of state issued an order eliminating in-person absentee voting for the vast majority of Ohio voters during those final three days. The doors to Ohio’s early voting polling places would be open to some voters—but closed to others. We challenged the state’s decision in court, arguing that it violated the Equal Protection Clause. In August, a district court ruled in our favor. Today, a federal circuit court affirmed that ruling, holding that Ohio’s action unjustifiably abridged the right to vote. The court ruled that when Ohio early voting locations are open to some voters, they must be open to all. The full text of the court’s decision is available here . Coming on the heels of major victories in Pennsylvania , Florida , Iowa , and New Hampshire , today’s decision represents another milestone in our effort to protect the right to vote. As we defend voting rights in court, we must also ensure that all voters know how and where to cast their ballots on November 6. For more information on how to vote in your state, go to www.gottavote.com today. Working together, we will ensure that, this Election Day, all Americans can exercise their fundamental right to vote.
On National Voter Registration Day, celebrating another win in court
Today is National Voter Registration Day, so it is especially fitting that yesterday, a New Hampshire judge blocked yet another attempt by Republican lawmakers to make voter registration more difficult. This ruling marks the latest victory in our effort to protect the fundamental right to vote. The decision concerned a GOP bill in New Hampshire—enacted over Gov. John Lynch’s veto—that revised the state’s voter registration form to include inaccurate and misleading statements about voter registration requirements. Specifically, the new form stated that people who register to vote in New Hampshire would have to register their cars there, and also obtain a New Hampshire driver’s license. The court concluded that these statements were contrary to established law, did not pass constitutional muster, and would have undoubtedly discouraged eligible voters from registering. In the court’s words, “Those who by our laws and our constitutions have the fundamental right to vote in New Hampshire must not have that right inappropriately burdened or infringed.” The court ordered that the language be removed, so the form accurately reflects New Hampshire law. The right to vote is fundamental. It should never be restricted for partisan reasons. We celebrate this decision for protecting this right for all eligible voters in New Hampshire, including college students and our brave members of the military. This decision is just the latest in an undeniable string of victories for voting rights advocates in states like Iowa and Florida . In the weeks ahead, we will continue to use every resource at our disposal to protect the right to vote. And today, we encourage all Americans to join their fellow citizens who are participating in National Voter Registration Day. Every time an eligible American registers to vote, our nation is strengthened. If you need to register, go to www.gottaregister.com right now, where you can follow a few simple steps to fill out a voter registration form—and ensure that you can fully participate in our democracy this November. The full text of the New Hampshire Superior Court’s opinion is available here .
“Important”
There’s a fundraising deadline on Sunday night, and Vice President Biden just sent out this email explaining why if you can make the biggest difference to the campaign by donating now. Check out the Vice President’s email, and if you’re feeling fired up, chip in $5. Friend — It’s not hyperbole to suggest that this is the starkest choice for president that this country has had in my lifetime. Barack and I have a fundamentally different vision and profoundly different values than our opponents do on everything from Medicare to how to balance the federal budget to a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. That’s why it’s absolutely critical that we have the resources we need over these final weeks to win tight races across the country. Chip in $5 or more today — before our big quarterly fundraising deadline. If you think your donation doesn’t matter, just look at what congressional Republicans have done over the past four years. They’ve dug in their heels to oppose the President and his agenda every chance they’ve gotten — and a lot of their disagreements aren’t based on the facts or their principles or what the American people need. They’re just trying to shut him down. I think if President Obama said he liked mustard on his hot dogs, you’d hear a lot of the other guys start talking about how pro-ketchup they are. That’s not leadership, and it’s why this election — and what you do today — is so important. Make a donation of $5 or more now. Thanks for all you do to support this organization. Joe
“Tea Party stranglehold”
This election isn’t just about defeating Mitt Romney, Donna Brazile writes in an email to Democratic supporters. We have a change to take back Congress from the Tea Party stranglehold in 39 days—but we need your help. Check out Donna’s email, then chip in $5—because your donation is going to make the biggest impact on the results of the election right now. Friend — This is one of the last times I’ll send you an email about a critical fundraising deadline in this election. So here it is: We need your help if we’re going to defeat Mitt Romney and take back Congress from the Tea Party stranglehold. Why? Because in six weeks, this thing is going to be over. Win or lose, good or bad, it’ll be the end of this election. And your donation is going to make the biggest impact right now. So I need you to help out. Can you donate $5 or more today? Millions of Americans are counting on us — there’s more on the line than ever before. If we don’t do all we can between now and Election Day, there are simply no words to describe the regret we could feel. Mitt Romney and a cohort of extreme Republicans could be at the helm of every policy decision that affects you, me, and all Americans for generations to come. Can I count you in to help build this movement by chipping in $5 or more? I’m proud to be standing with you, Donna Brazile P.S. — Election Day is just 39 days away, and we’re up against our biggest fundraising deadline yet. Chip in $5 or more to make sure we win this thing.
What Mitt Romney really thinks
Mitt Romney has been extraordinarily tight-lipped with the American people on just about everything: he hasn’t offered policy specifics, he won’t name his fundraising bundlers, and he still has yet to release more than a full year of tax returns. Less than two months from Election Day, voters know very little about the Republican candidate for president. That is, unless you can afford to attend one of his closed-door fundraisers. Mother Jones just released undercover video from one of Romney’s recent events, and it’s devastating . Speaking to a room of wealthy donors, Romney revealed what he really thinks about half of country: that 47 percent of Americans view themselves as “victims” and are “dependent on government.” Here’s what he said: “There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it. That that’s an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. … These are people who pay no income tax. … “My job is is not to worry about those people. I’ll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives.” It’s getting clearer by the day what kind of president Romney would be. If you count yourself among the 47 percent of people who will vote for President Obama, not only does Romney look down on you with utter disdain—he also doesn’t think it’s his job to fight for you, for the middle class, or for the poor. How can you serve as president when you’ve dismissed half the country?
Constitution Day
Today is Constitution Day, and students across the country—from pre-kindergarten to pre-med programs—are taking time out of their schedules to reflect on our most significant founding document. They will learn, I expect, that the creation of a government “of, by, and for” the people was unprecedented. Students will learn that the Constitution was never perfect, but always evolved to ensure that more Americans could enjoy the blessings of liberty. They will learn that, like the wider narrative of our country, the story of the Constitution is one of progress: while the first Americans elections only allowed a tiny minority to vote, amendments to the Constitution extended the fundamental right to vote to all American citizens, regardless of race, class, or gender. But as these conversations are happening on multicolored carpets and in campus dining halls, I hope that students also learn that the Constitution is what binds us all together. I hope they learn that a few simple words in our Constitution’s preamble—“We the People”—have endowed us with a country where we are all in it together. As President Obama said when he accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination, this is why we “believe in something called citizenship—citizenship, a word at the very heart of our founding, a word at the very essence of our democracy, the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations.” On today’s Constitution Day, I hope the next generations will continue to learn that what makes America such a special place is not simply what we accomplish as individuals, but what we can achieve together. Just 50 days from the presidential election, I hope today reminds us that our first collective obligation is ensuring that our Constitutional rights are protected—not just on paper—but in the lives of every American. I hope today reminds of our responsibility as citizens to protect the voting rights of all Americans and keep moving our country forward.
Comparing President Obama’s and Mitt Romney’s small business records
Small businesses are the engines of our economy, creating 2 out of every 3 net new jobs in this country. President Obama and Mitt Romney take starkly different approaches to supporting America’s small business owners. While the President aggressively pursues policies that support their growth, Mitt Romney has championed policies that undermine the ability of entrepreneurs to expand and hire. Just take a look at what happened to small businesses in Massachusetts while Romney was governor: Start-ups fell: Under Romney, the number of business start-ups fell by 10%, hitting their lowest point in his last year in office. Each year Romney was in office, start-up growth in Massachusetts lagged behind the national average. Small businesses shut their doors: When Romney took office, more entrepreneurs were starting small businesses than shutting them down. When he left, the opposite was true—the number of small businesses shrank during his term. Job creation suffered: With fewer new businesses starting, and existing small businesses closing shop, Massachusetts fell to 47th of 50 states in job creation during Romney’s term. Click here to read more about Gov. Romney’s small business record in Massachusetts. President Obama, on the other hand, has a long record of support for small businesses. Here’s just a few things he’s done: Signed 18 tax cuts to support small businesses Supported a record volume of small business loans last year, and more than 150,000 loans since he took office, allowing business owners to expand and hire more workers Invested $2 billion in Small Business Administration funding for early-stage businesses and businesses in underserved communities or emerging business sectors Click here to learn more about how the candidates compare on support for small businesses. President Obama has put forward a plan that would support small businesses by cutting taxes for entrepreneurs who hire and expand, and investing in infrastructure, innovation, and education. Romney’s plan, on the other hand, would slash investments that support small business growth while putting millions of small businesses at risk of a tax increase to pay for tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires. To distract Americans from what his own plan would do, Romney is deliberately editing the President’s words to make it appear as if the President was insulting small business owners. The facts are clear and, no matter how much Romney tries to distort the truth, his record reveals exactly what his policies would mean for small businesses. Watch Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter lay out what’s at stake this year, and then share the facts with your friends.
GOP lies: A cheat sheet
As Mitt Romney and the Republican Party try to renew and reinvent his image, you can expect them to roll out the same old dishonest attacks. Here are just five of the falsehoods to look out for when Romney and his allies take the stage this week: Small business: President Obama has consistently fought to help small businesses grow by cutting taxes and making it easier for them to invest and create jobs. As fact checkers and news organizations have noted, Romney took the President’s words out of context in an attempt to imply that the President was somehow insulting small business owners—rather than discussing the investments that help them grow. Take a look at what the President actually said and learn more about the stark contrast between President Obama’s support for small businesses and Mitt Romney’s plan that would make it harder for small businesses to hire and grow. Medicare: Under Obamacare, seniors will see their Medicare benefits package improve while the program sees eight additional years of solvency. But Romney, who wants to turn Medicare into a voucher system, is claiming that the President cut billions from benefits. This categorically false attack cannot hide the fact that Romney and Ryan would force new retirees to pay more out of pocket for services. Click here to learn more about this attack. Welfare: President Obama is a strong supporter of welfare-to-work programs and recently gave states flexibility to help move more people from assistance to employment as quickly as possible—a policy that many Republican governors, including Romney himself, have requested. But Romney has decided to falsely claim that the President has somehow weakened welfare-to-work requirements—an allegation a multitude of independent fact checkers declared “discredited,” “mind-boggling,” and “blatantly false.” Click here to learn more about this attack. Health care: President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act to make sure insurance companies play by the rules. In his quest to overturn Obamacare on day one if elected, Romney has launched a myriad of false statements and distortions about the health care law. Here are the facts: Obamacare improves the private health care system, strengthens the insurance plan you currently have, reduces the deficit, and offers the largest middle class tax cut for health care in history. Click here to see what is fact and what is fiction when it comes to health care. Birtherism: Even after President Obama released his long-form birth certificate to reaffirm his birthplace, conspiracy theorists and members of the Republican Party continue to to push this false and dangerous attack. Not only have a number of them been invited to speak at the RNC convention, Romney actually enlisted himself in this birther movement last week: “No one’s ever asked to see my birth certificate. They know that this is the place that we were born and raised,” he said. Click here to get the facts and pitch in what you can to make sure this kind of politics doesn’t make it to the White House.
“Legitimate rape”
Our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, just sent out this email in response to Missouri Rep. Todd Akin’s stunning comment that victims of “legitimate rape” rarely get pregnant. Join us in taking a stand against statements like these and a Republican Party whose policies on women and women’s health are dangerously wrong. Friend — In a year that has brought us no shortage of stunningly backward statements from Republicans on issues affecting women’s health, the GOP Senate nominee from Missouri may have just taken the cake. This morning, Rep. Todd Akin, explaining his opposition to abortion even in cases of rape, said that victims of “legitimate rape” don’t get pregnant because “the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.” What exactly, Rep. Akin, is an “illegitimate” rape? And what are these unnamed “ways” women have of avoiding pregnancy after being (legitimately) raped? Now, Akin’s choice of words isn’t the real issue here. The real issue is a Republican party — led by Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan — whose policies on women and their health are dangerously wrong. I’m outraged at the Republicans trying to take women back to the dark ages — if you agree, join me in taking a stand for women. Really, it’s deeply concerning that Republicans continue to support legislation that is, quite literally, dangerous for women. Mitt Romney famously says he would “get rid of” federal funding for Planned Parenthood if he had the chance. His running mate, Paul Ryan, was one of more than 200 Republican cosponsors of a piece of legislation that would have narrowed the definition of rape. Can you imagine — the same Republican House that refuses to pass a jobs bill jumped at the opportunity to make life harder for victims of rape? And what do Romney and Ryan think of Akin’s latest statement? They’ve been trying to distance themselves from it — but Congressman Ryan has already partnered with Akin on a whole host of issues that restrict women’s ability to make their own health care decisions. This kind of “leadership” is dangerously wrong for women — and I can’t sit by and watch as these out of touch Republicans like Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and Todd Akin continue to roll back women’s rights. It’s time for us to move forward — not back — on women’s rights. Take a stand for women now. Thanks, Debbie Debbie Wasserman Schultz Chair Democratic National Committee
Massachusetts legislators urge Virginia: Don’t make the same mistake
David Linsky has represented Massachusetts’s 5th Middlesex District for nearly 14 years. When Mitt Romney was elected to the governorship in 2002, Linsky says he was optimistic. But it didn’t take long for disappointment to set in—both as a legislator and a member of the middle class. “I thought he would be nonpartisan and issue-oriented,” Linsky says. “I think that very quickly changed because he almost immediately began running for president—and he became very conservative, particularly on social issues. After a very short period of time, he also showed an amazing lack of interest in being governor. He was not interested in the details of running our state.” What Romney did manage to do in office, however, was notable in all the wrong ways. For all his so-called business experience, Romney failed to translate his personal success in the private sector to success in governing. “I think that, by and large, he thought that he could be governor the same way he was CEO of the company: directing other officials as if they were his employees,” says Linsky. “And that’s not the way government works.” Romney had campaigned on more jobs and less debt—but in the four years he spent in office, he broke every one of those pledges. As Linsky noted in his press conference in Richmond, Virginia, Massachusetts had dropped to 47th out of 50 in job creation. “That’s not a record to be proud of,” he says. Kathi-Anne Reinstein, who has also served in the Massachusetts legislature for nearly 14 years, adds, “He left us in all kinds of debt. He shifted where money was allocated to make it look like things were OK, but he left us in a mess—he really did.” In fact, by the time Romney left office, Massachusetts ranked first in per capita debt. And while Romney vowed not to raise taxes, he found a loophole: Reinstein notes he raised fees on just about everything from EMTs to plumber licenses. “Now you’ve hurt the people who need help the most—and that was his record,” she says. What surprised and upset both legislators was how conservatively Romney governed on social issues. Reinstein cites this story as an example she’ll never forget: “When we worked on marriage quality, he sent us all a copy of the Constitution with an incredibly condescending letter saying, in so many words, that you’re not as educated as me, so here’s a copy of the Constitution. But here’s the thing: The Constitution has only been amended to add rights for the people—not to discriminate. I remember that very well.” So today these Massachusetts legislators are on a bus criss-crossing Virginia in advance of Mitt Romney’s arrival with an urgent message for the American voting public: Don’t repeat Massachusetts’s mistake. Don’t send Romney to the White House. Romney Economics didn’t work in Massachusetts, and it won’t work now. Learn more at RomneyEconomics.com .
Romney’s record: Balancing the budget on the backs of veterans
Drive into Norfolk, Virginia, and you’re greeted by the sight of an enormous naval fleet in the harbor—a visual reminder that this state has a proud military history and is home to more than 800,000 veterans. Paula Miller, who represented Norfolk in the Virginia House of Delegates, explains Mitt Romney’s record on veterans’ issues as governor of Massachusetts, and what his record and his policies would mean for veterans across the country: “Having Romney in the White House would only add to the uncertainty for Virginia’s veterans and military families. As governor of Massachusetts, Romney tried to balance the budget on the backs of veterans and their families by cutting funding for veterans’ benefits while proposing increased fees on long-term care for our veterans. He even vetoed $2.1 million of support for Massachusetts veterans and attempted to downsize the Department of Veterans Affairs. “Whether it’s his time as a corporate buyout specialist or as governor of Massachusetts or the policies he is supporting for the future, Romney would leave the hardworking folks of Virginia behind.”
Why I am Voting for the New American Dream
To some, Seoul, South Korea is just another large Asian metropolis. To me, it is the birthplace of my American Dream. It’s an American Dream that begins halfway across the globe, but it ends with a pride in America that is indistinguishable from the pride of those born here. I was born in Seoul to a Korean mother and a Saudi Arabian father. Troubled by the inability to solely care for a child and the social disapproval of having of a mixed daughter, my biological mother placed me into an adoption program. I was adopted by American parents and thus began my journey as an American. Soon after, our family welcomed my younger brother, also adopted from South Korea. We led a fairly normal suburban life in Ohio; the only difference was how we looked. My brother and I were constantly questioned about why our parents were white and why we were not. For two children who saw nothing unusual about the difference in our skin tone and our parents’, we were confused by others’ lack of acceptance of our family. Were we not Americans too? Eventually, our friends and classmates learned to accept the diversity of our family. As evidenced by my family and many other families like mine, the American Dream really has outgrown the classic imagery of a suburban family with two children, one pet, and a white picket fence. Today there could be two mothers or two fathers. They might be African American, Hispanic, or Asian American. The children may be adopted. The family could practice any number of religions. Living the American Dream is about belonging and acceptance. This is why I am a Democrat. I want a party that accepts me as an American, despite my race, place of birth, sexuality, religion, or economic standing. I learned at an early age that the Democratic Party does this and more. My brother and I both can identify with President Obama and Democrats, because the President and this party are open to and work toward diverse interpretations of the American Dream. As a first-time voter, I am faced with the choice of progress, into an America that celebrates my American Dream, or the choice of regress, into an America that isn’t quite ready for it. This election, I will vote for many American Dreams. I will vote for a way forward that doesn’t leave anyone behind. This election, I will vote for President Obama and the Democratic Party.