Press Clips: 10-12-07

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 15, 2007 9:00 AM EDT

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/10/12/news/local/12978727.txt  

2) DraftGore.com, blogvj558136.blogspot.com

http://blogvj558136.blogspot.com/2007/10/draftgore.html

Tom Hughes: Thank YOU!!

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 12, 2007 11:45 AM EDT

This is my last day as DFA’s executive director and I want to say a great big THANK YOU!!!  I’m off to a new challenge in the private sector, but I’m leaving the executive directorship in the good hands of Arshad Hasan.

I have spent the last twelve years working primarily for three great leaders (and some other really, really good ones): Jim Dean, Howard Dean and Al Gore.  One is activating, organizing and training a new generation of grassroots leaders.  One is reforming the Democratic Party from the bottom up.  And the third won the Nobel Peace Prize this morning.  That’s not a bad set of mentors.

But none of those three leaders would be where they are today without someone else very special: YOU.

The Democracy for America community is amazing.  It’s smart, passionate, compassionate, innovative and exciting.  Together we’ve done great things.  And more great things are in store. 

Since I’m a “field guy,” I like metrics and results.  Here are some of the things we’ve accomplished:

• We’ve built a community of over 600,000 progressives.
• We’ve organized over 23,000 grassroots events in the last three years.
• We’ve trained more than 13,000 campaign workers how to win elections.
• We’ve supported 1,000+ candidates, over 560 of whom serve in office today.

Our community has helped elect Howard Dean chair of the Democratic National Committee.  We’ve shown Tom DeLay and Alberto Gonzales the door.  We powered with volunteer hours and financial donations the Democratic sweep of 2006.  And we’ve helped change the direction of the country.

Our fight is not over – and it may never be over.  But I, for one, am proud to have had the opportunity to stand arm-in-arm with so many members of the DFA community over the last few years in the struggle for peace, justice and a better life for all Americans.

-Tom Hughes

Congratulations to Nobel Peace Prize Winner Vice President Al Gore!

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 12, 2007 9:44 AM EDT

Congratulations Vice President Gore!

You make us proud to be Democrats

and citizens of the World.

Jim Dean in Mississippi with DFA-List Candidate Gary Anderson

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 12, 2007 9:00 AM EDT

 Jim Dean and Insurance Commissioner Candidate Gary Anderson made the Jackson Free Press in Mississippi:

‘Blue Dot in a Red Sea’

Democracy for America Chairman Jim Dean endorsed Democratic candidate Gary Anderson for Mississippi Insurance Commissioner last week during a visit to Anderson’s campaign headquarters.

Dean told the Jackson Free Press that he and the pro-Democratic organization Democracy for America endorsed Anderson because of his pledges to take no campaign donations from insurance companies, and to give policyholders easy-to-read language without small-print pitfalls.

“That is a message that the whole nation could agree with,” said Dean, whose organization has helped raise $7,000 for Anderson’s campaign. “Many insurance commissioners get campaign contributions from insurance companies. Many talk about rates the one or two times a year that it comes up, or they talk about plain English policies. ... When Gary talks about that, I think about a lot of other places where voters, both Republicans and Democrats, would respond very positively.”

DFA is a political action committee inspired by the 2004 presidential campaign of former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. Dean’s campaign made waves as one of the first truly grass-roots political efforts in decades, setting new records in private versus business contributions.

Read the rest of the article here. Find out more about DFA-List Candidate Gary Anderson's here and help in any way you can.

-Sheri Divers

Press Clips:10-11-07

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 11, 2007 11:00 PM EDT

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/comments.php?id=15117_0_4_0_C

http://www.montclairtimes.com/page.php?page=15955

 3)       Notes around town, atlanticville.gmnews.com

http://atlanticville.gmnews.com/news/2007/1011/arts_zest/020.html 

4)       Jim Dean, Dan Maffei and Open Thread, openleft.com

http://www.openleft.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1833 

5)       Impeachment? Tomhull.com

http://www.tomhull.com/blog/archives/675-Impeachment.html 

6)       Pre-empting a war with Iran – Make Congress take a stand, pacificviews.org

http://www.pacificviews.org/weblog/archives/003094.html   

Beat a Bush Democrat

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 11, 2007 11:54 AM EDT

DFA fights for the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party. That's why primaries matter.

Give $15 to DFA right now and join the fight to make Congress progressive:

www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/PrimariesMatter

DFA isn't afraid to take on a tough fight. Bush Democrats vote with Republicans on too many issues that matter: The Iraq War. Warrantless wiretapping. Stem cells research.

Together, we hold Bush Democrats accountable and support progressive primary challengers who stand up for America's values. Thanks to you, we have a track record of victory in primary battles against DC establishment candidates.

You made Rep. Jerry McNerney the DFA Grassroots All-Star and he soundly won his primary against a Beltway hand-picked Bush Democrat. Or Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, who couldn't have won her primary battle without the support of DFA members against another D.C. anointed candidate.

Now let's beat two more. Support grassroots leader Donna Edwards against Bush Democrat Al Wynn in MD-04. Support strong progressive Mark Pera against Bush Democrat Dan Lipinski in IL-03. Your $15 today gives DFA the resources to take these DFA-List candidates over the top:

www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/PrimariesMatter

When we unite to support real grassroots candidates the progressive movement wins. Together we're building a People-Powered America and fighting for a Progressive Congress.

Thank you for putting your contribution into action today.

Rachel Moss
Finance Director

Progressive Comedy

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 11, 2007 9:00 AM EDT

Press clips: 10-10-07

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 10, 2007 11:00 PM EDT

1)       County Council candidates weigh in on liquor license, bellinghamherald.com

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/elections/story/202442.html 

2)       Municipal Devolution in MoCo? Don't Go There, maryland-politics.blogspot.com

http://maryland-politics.blogspot.com/2007/10/municipal-devolution-in-moco-dont-go.html

3)       Bush Democrats, pushingrope.blogspot.com

http://pushingrope.blogspot.com/2007/10/bush-democrats.html 

4)      DINOs Beware: Your Primary Opponents are Drawing National Money, blueinthebluegrass.blogspot.com

http://blueinthebluegrass.blogspot.com/2007/10/dinos-beware-your-primary-opponents-are.html

5)       Good news via Glenn Greenwald, leisureguy.wordpress.com

http://leisureguy.wordpress.com/2007/10/09/good-news-via-glenn-greenwald/

6)       [Catapult] Beat the Bush Democrat, synergy191-catapulthepropaganda.blogspot.com

http://synergy191-catapultthepropaganda.blogspot.com/2007/10/catapult-fwd-beat-bush-democrat.html

7)       Phony Democrats targeted, prairieweather.typepad.com

http://prairieweather.typepad.com/big_blue_stem/2007/10/phony-democrats.html

8)       What FISA capitulations are Democrats planning next? Salon.com

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/10/09/fisa/   

Bush Democrats: You're on Notice!

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 10, 2007 6:00 PM EDT

Send a message to Congress: You're on notice. Regardless of political party, when Congress won't represent the will of the American people, then DFA members will fight to replace them with someone who will.

This is one bright blue Democratic district where we can make a change; Mark Pera is the progressive in the primary. Support Mark with a contribution of $15 right now:

www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/SupportMark

Congressman Lipinski is out of touch with his district. He can't stop himself from voting with the Bush party line to prevent life-saving stem cell research or give oil companies even higher profits. He's even voted five times to keep funding Bush's war and supports keeping troops in Iraq beyond 2010.

But this election isn't just about bad votes; it's about leadership and community. Hand-picked by the party machine to take his father's seat in Congress, Dan Lipinski is a poster child for the culture of incumbency.

Mark Pera represents the culture of activism. He worked his way up from the local school board to the State's Attorney's office by taking action and engaging members of the district. Pera has built a relationship with the community and has proven his ability to lead.

Local DFA members are already on the ground supporting Mark by knocking on doors, making phone calls, and recruiting volunteers for their People-Powered Campaign. Please back up their hard work with your hard support by contributing $15 today:

www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/SupportMark

Time and again, Bush Democrats have let America down. Now, we'll show them why primaries matter.

Thank you taking action today,

Jim Dean
Chair

Democracy for America Endorses Illinois Congressional Candidate Mark Pera

Written by: Sheri Divers on Oct 10, 2007 2:20 PM EDT

Burlington, VT-- Earlier this week the political organization founded by Howard Dean, Democracy for America (DFA), endorsed Mark Pera for Illinois’ 3rd Congressional district in a Democratic Primary. DFA’s involvement is an indication that this contentious Primary is garnering national attention. 

Mark Pera’s challenge to Congressman Dan Lipinski is a consequence of the incumbent’s numerous votes supporting President Bush’s positions including banning stem cell research, expanding domestic wire tapping, and repeatedly voting to stay the course in Iraq.  

“We’re sending a message to Congress: You're on notice. Regardless of political party, when Congress won't represent the will of the American people, DFA will replace them with someone who will. Mark Pera is the more consistently progressive candidate in this election, so the choice is clear,” said Jim Dean, brother of Howard Dean, and currently the Chair of Democracy for America.  

Although the organization has been involved in contentious Primaries in the past, it is unusual for any organization to get involved this early. According to Dean, DFA endorsed early because the contrast between the two candidates’ backgrounds highlighted a problem that goes beyond voting records.  

“This election isn’t just about bad votes, it’s also about leadership and community. Hand-picked by the party machine to take his father’s seat in Congress, Dan Lipinski is a poster child for the culture of incumbency,” Dean added.  

Mark Pera worked his way up from the steel mills of East Chicago to the Lyons School Board to the State Attorney’s office by taking action and engaging members of the district. Pera has built a relationship with the community and many say this has proven his ability to lead. 

Area activists from Northside Democracy for America – a local group modeled after the national organization - have been supporting Mark by knocking on doors, making phone calls, and recruiting volunteers for what they call their “People-Powered Campaign”. DFA decided to offer formal support after the organization’s local membership brought this race to their attention.  

Founded by Governor Howard Dean in 2004, DFA is a political action committee dedicated to supporting progressive candidates at all levels of government -- from the school board to the presidency. DFA empowers everyday Americans to reform their political system: www.democracyforamerica.com/candidates.

###