Category Archives: ~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Support Senator Maria Cantwell for Re election

03/21/2012 Nativegrl77

It was a 41-year battle for women to pass the 19th Amendment, affording us the universal right to vote. It took another 50 years for women to win a constitutionally guaranteed right to choose. And it wasn’t until a few short years ago that we passed legislation helping women like Lilly Ledbetter have a fair shot at getting equal pay.

It has taken women generations to secure the rights we enjoy today. And the extreme right wing in Congress wants to strip those rights away in the blink of an eye — whether it’s overturning Roe v. Wade or denying women health coverage for contraception.

The latest attack in the radical war on women is absolutely infuriating. Some Senate Republicans are set to OPPOSE extending the Violence Against Women Act — a law that helps survivors of brutal domestic violence start new, healthy lives. As I said on Hardball last week, the safety of millions of women depends on this and I will do everything in my power to see it reauthorized right away.

I have had enough. I will continue to speak out in the media and on the Senate floor until the right ends its ridiculous war on women — but I can’t do it alone. The first FEC filing deadline of the year is March 31st. So while all the pundits are watching, let’s prove that our grassroots organization is as powerful as ever, and standing strong for women’s rights.

I’ve set a goal — I want to raise $50,000 by March 31st. Your dollars will help us build a campaign that can fight back against anti-women politicians in the fall. Will you pitch in?

Mitt Romney wants to “get rid of” Planned Parenthood under the guise of cutting spending. Rush Limbaugh unabashedly smears women who speak out on the issues. These are the ideological leaders of the modern right. And earlier this month, the right-wing controlled Arizona state House passed a law that would open the door for employers to fire female employees who seek contraceptive coverage.

Women have come a long way, but there’s more to do — and we can’t accomplish anything while politicians in Washington D.C. are determined to drag women’s rights back to the last millennium.

March 31st is coming up fast. Contribute today — $5 or whatever you can afford — and let’s build a campaign strong enough to end the right’s war on women!

My mission in the U.S. Senate is to give a voice to those who don’t have one. With your help, I have no doubt that we can reach our $50,000 goal, and show pundits from one Washington to the other that our network stands for women’s health.

It’s supporters like you that will make the difference in this election.

Thanks for everything you do.

Maria

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

His 21st Birthday, in Prison

03/20/2012 Nativegrl77

What’s the Word?

For most people, prison is punishment. For a few, it becomes a badge of honor.

One Member of Congress told me that every few years, he gets arrested. So that people can see whose side he’s on.

Eugene Debs was sentenced to ten years in prison for protesting against United States involvement in World War I. Debs ran for President from prison, and he received almost a million votes (3.4% of the total).

And on March 11, 1986, on his 21^st birthday, you would have found Jesse Jackson, Jr. in jail, for protesting at the South African Embassy in Washington, D.C., against apartheid in South Africa.

Both before and after that, if you wanted to find Jesse Jackson, Jr. at lunchtime on Thursdays, you wouldn’t go looking for him in a diner or a fast-food joint. You’d find him at 444 N. Michigan Avenue, in Chicago, in front of the South African Consulate, protesting against apartheid. Week after week after week. The protests at the Consulate started in 1977, and they went on for more than a decade.

The protests ended only after Nelson Mandela was released from his 27 years of incarceration – another badge of honor. On the day of his release, Mandela made a speech that was broadcast around the world. Mandela called for peace and reconciliation. On the stage with Mandela that day was Jesse Jackson, Jr.

For the past quarter-century, in one way or another, Jesse Jackson, Jr. has devoted himself to the causes of justice, equality and peace. He is the kind of Democrat that Democrats always ask for: tough, fearless, compassionate and unstoppable.

He faces a serious challenge in his primary on Tuesday, from a former Democratic Member of Congress.

He needs our help. He deserves our help. Let’s help him.

Remember, we don’t just need more Democrats. We need more Democrats, and better ones. We can’t let one who is this good slip away.

Courage,

Alan Grayson

Paid for and Authorized by the Committee to Elect Alan Grayson

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Is your state treasurer a socialist? … Michael Langenmayr, Democracy for America

03/20/2012 Nativegrl77

You’ve seen what Citizens United has done to federal politics. Now, imagine if we let the same thing happen at the state and local level.

Imagine unrelenting attack ads accusing your state treasurer of being a socialist — or accusing your state legislator of being a secret Muslim — or of your city councilor waging a war against religious freedom.

Right-wing groups are dismantling campaign finance laws across the country to allow unlimited corporate spending up and down the ballot in all 50 states.

We’ve got to fight back. Last week, we launched our campaign to get attorneys general across the country to stand up for common sense campaign finance laws.

The response has been amazing. So far, over 75,000 DFA members have joined our campaign.

Can you contribute $4 right now to get your Attorney General to stand up for common sense campaign finance laws?

All you need to do is look at Montana to see how far right-wing groups are willing to go to undo common sense campaign finance laws — and exactly how your Attorney General can stop them.

Montana’s ban on corporate spending in political campaigns was challenged in court — and Montana Attorney General Steve Bullock stood up to defend it. He fought hard to keep it on the books and took his case all the way to the Montana Supreme Court.

He won.

That is the sort of leadership we need from AGs today. Please contribute now to fuel the campaign.

Thank you for everything you do.

– Michael

Michael Langenmayr, Political Director
Democracy for America

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Thank them for their service … Ron Pierce, Democrats.org

03/20/2012 Nativegrl77

“Welcome home.”

That was President Obama’s message to troops at Fort Bragg in December, marking the end of the war in Iraq.

Today is the nine-year anniversary of the start of that war.

More than 1.5 million men and women served there over the past nine years. Some troops are still stationed overseas, in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

I’d like to ask you to take a moment today to reflect on the sacrifices our troops and their families have made — and the sacrifices some are still making — and invite you to leave a message to thank them for their service:

http://my.democrats.org/Thank-our-Veterans

President Obama recently announced one of the largest increases in funding for veterans‘ health care in decades, so they can return to the care they need.

He’s also working to make sure veterans get the jobs they deserve, taking executive actions and signing legislation that provides help for them to re-enter the workforce.

It’s an important part of his promise — not just to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end, but to honor our commitment to our service members.

And it all comes down to one simple principle: Because they got our backs, we’ll get theirs.

Please take a moment to honor our troops’ service on this anniversary, and if you’d like, send a message to thank them:

http://my.democrats.org/Thank-our-Veterans

Thanks,

Ron

Major Ron Pierce (Ret.)
Director of Outreach for Veterans and Military Families
Democratic National Committee