Democracy for America Announces Second DFA-List

Released: Apr 28, 2005 4:17 PM

BURLINGTON, VT - Today, Democracy for America (DFA) announced the second round of candidate endorsements for 2005 - the DFA-List, Candidates for America. Each candidate encompasses the spirit of grassroots democracy, fiscal responsibility, and social progress. They are dedicated to changing America from the ground up.

"These candidates are fighting to take our country back," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. "They are improving communities, promoting economic growth, protecting civil liberties, and ensuring integrity in our voting system. They are the future leaders our country needs to succeed."

The DFA-List Candidates are:

Shirley Franklin for Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia. Shirley marked her successful 2001 bid for mayor of Atlanta with the slogan, "You make me Mayor and I’ll make you proud." Mayor Franklin has certainly lived up to her promise - becoming the first ever African-American female to serve as mayor for a major southern city. She has battled for a living wage, LGBT rights and fought the city's worst budget crisis since the Great Depression. The election is November 8, 2005.
www.shirleyfranklin.com

Colleen Condon for Charleston County (South Carolina) Council. Republicans claimed an 18 vote victory in the race for Charleston County Council in January. But, Colleen discovered that 200 voters had been left off the voter list due to a "clerical error." After months of a prolonged legal battle, the South Carolina Supreme Court supported the County Elections Board and decided that Colleen had the right to a new election and that everyone has a right to vote. The special election date is currently pending.
www.colleencondon.com

R.T. Rybak for Mayor of Minneapolis, Minnesota. Despite being outspent 4 to1, Mayor R.T. Rybak won his 2001 campaign for Mayor of Minneapolis with a progressive platform of reform. He has balanced 5 straight budgets, developed a 5 year financial plan that has already paid down $17 million in debt, and made room for priorities like thousands of new affordable housing units and 4,000 jobs for hard to employ residents. Mayor Rybak has also received the endorsement of Democracy for Minnesota. The election is November 8, 2005.
www.rtformayor.com

Democracy for America is taking our country back from the special interests who dominate government today and putting it back in the hands of the people. DFA and DFA-List candidates are spreading the message that to change America, we must fight from the ground up. Democracy for America is dedicated to electing socially progressive, fiscally responsible candidates to all levels of office - from school boards to the U.S. Senate.

Democracy for America and True Majority ACTION Fund Social Security Day of Action

Released: Apr 21, 2005 4:54 PM

Local Members to Hold Event with Congressman Bernie Sanders

BURLINGTON, VT -- Local members of Democracy for America (DFA) and True Majority ACTION Fund will hold an event with Congressman Bernie Sanders on Friday, April 22, 2005. The event is to thank Congressman Sanders for fighting to protect Social Security.

Who: Democracy for America and Democracy for Vermont Meetup Groups

What: Social Security Day of Action with Congressman Bernie Sanders
Congressman Sanders' will be speaking at the event.

When: Friday, April 22nd at 10:00am

Where: McClure Multigenerational Center
             241 North Winooski Avenue
             Burlington, VT 05402

For more information, visit: http://petition.democracyforamerica.com/page/event/rally/z1v

Last week, DFA Meetup groups across the country held meetings with senators and representatives in over 80 congressional districts. DFA supporters used the meetings to voice their opposition to the President's plan to privatize Social Security and urge their public officials to do the same.

This is the rescheduled event from last Friday, April 15th, 2005.

Democracy for America and True Majority ACTION Fund Host National Day of Action

Released: Apr 12, 2005 12:02 PM

Local Iowa Members to Hold 3 Meetings

IOWA - Local members of Democracy for America (DFA) and TrueMajority ACTION Fund have joined forces for a National Day of Action on Thursday, April 14th. Activists across the country have planned meetings with over 60 members of Congress to voice their opposition to the President's plan to privatize Social Security and urge their Representatives to do the same.

"These meetings are one piece of a larger campaign to protect Social Security," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. "We want to make it clear to both the President and elected officials that many Americans do not support the privatization of Social Security, and that their constituents will hold them accountable in 2006 if they don't take our views seriously."

There are currently meetings planned in over 60 congressional districts throughout the United States, including 2 in Iowa. The meetings scheduled include: Rep. Jim Nussle, District 1 and Rep. Jim Leach, District 2. Local Iowa activists have also scheduled a meeting with Senator Chuck Grassley's office.

For more information on this National Day of Action and these meetings, visit: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/meetings/stats.php.

Democracy for America, which was founded by Governor Howard Dean in 2004, is a political action committee dedicated to building a grassroots network of socially progressive and fiscally responsible activists and candidates running for all levels of office. Through the use of grassroots tactics, coalition building strategies, activist trainings and on-line support, DFA is giving ordinary people the power to reform their own political system.

Democracy for America's Social Security Ad Hits the Airwaves

Released: Apr 1, 2005 3:14 PM

Radio Ad Highlights Real Stories from Real Americans

Listen to the Ad: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/ss_ad2_60.mp3

BURLINGTON, VT - Starting today, Democracy for America (DFA) will air a radio ad titled, "Gina and Josephine" in three media markets - Albuquerque, New Mexico, San Diego, California and Seattle, Washington. It will air in all markets through next week.

"It's important for people to understand the positive impact Social Security has on the lives of millions of Americans - and these stories, along with the thousands of others that we collected depict that," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. "We must protect this vital system from the destruction of privatization."

The radio ad features true stories from real Americans whose lives have been changed by Social Security. These are just two of the thousands that Democracy for America collected over the past month from activists nationwide. The ad will be complemented by a grassroots action plan among DFA Meetup groups in each city. All the stories are available at www.DemocracyforAmerica.com.

"Gina and Josephine" Script

(BACKGROUND MUSIC) GINA: Hi, I'm Gina. My father died tragically when I was only 7 years old - leaving my mother to raise me, my younger sister and brother on her own. If it weren’t for our monthly Social Security checks for dependent care, my family would not have made it through. Because of Social Security, my sister and I have become productive members of society. I was even able to go to college.

(MUSIC STOPS) NARRATOR: Tell your story and learn how you can protect Social Security from privatization. Visit democracyforamerica.com.

(BACKGROUND MUSIC) JOSEPHINE: I am Josephine, one of thirteen siblings. My father was killed in a working accident when I was about eight. My mom died too when I was 12, so my older sister took care of us all. The monthly Social Security checks helped keep our family together. We were poor, but I never knew it - we always had food on the table, clothes on our backs, and blankets to keep us warm during cold nights. Please don't let the elected Republicans take Social Security away from our children.
(MUSIC ENDS)

Democracy for America, which was founded by Governor Howard Dean in March 2004, is a political action committee dedicated to building a grassroots network of socially progressive and fiscally responsible activists and candidates running for all levels of office. Through the use of grassroots tactics, coalition building strategies, activist trainings and on-line support, DFA is giving ordinary people the power to reform their own political system.