Tag Archives: Republican

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Stand up — united — and defeat them


Wisconsin Republicans‘ all-out assault on unions and middle-class families has nothing to do with fixing the budget deficit — for them, it’s just about winning. They pretty much admitted it this weekend. Check out this quote from Sunday’s New York Times:

“Scott Walker and I and my brother [Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald] went into this session with the understanding that we had to deliver on campaign promises, that people wanted the Republicans to make change, that the more feathers you ruffle this time, the better you’ll be.”

– Republican State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald

They think “ruffling feathers”, like beating down unions and middle-class families, will make it easier to get reelected. It’s not about what’s best for America or Wisconsin. It’s all about winning the next election for them.

For us, it’s about protecting good-paying jobs. Unions and middle-class families are the backbone of the economy and we need to stand in solidarity with them — that’s why we’re joining our friends at MoveOn, Service Employees International Union, and 29 other organizations in a national day of action. Together, we’ve organized rallies in most major cities and all 50 state capitals across the country this Saturday at noon.

Now it’s time to get the word out and make sure every event is a success. Please sign up to attend the rally closest you right now, then spread the word to everyone you know.

Find a rally near you for this Saturday at noon and sign up to attend now. http://act.democracyforamerica.com/go/513?akid=517.1612139.eyNYjc&t=1

This is an all-hands-on-deck moment so don’t stop with just signing up. We also need to get the word out and recruit others to attend.

The bigger each event is, the more press coverage we’ll generate and the greater impact our message will have on the national narrative. So don’t come to the rally alone. Bring a friend. Bring two friends. Heck, drive a car full of friends.

This fight in Wisconsin is bigger than just one state.

It’s Ohio.

It’s Indiana.

It’s New Jersey.

It’s all of us.

And don’t for a second think Republicans in Congress aren’t paying attention.

With a federal budget showdown looming as Republicans threaten to shutdown the Government, these rallies also serve to put them on notice. If Republicans try to cut the vital programs or the workers’ rights people depend on to protect their middle-class families, America will stand up — united — and defeat them.

Join us this weekend at a rally in Washington.

Find a rally in Washington now.

Thank you for everything you do.

-Charles

Charles Chamberlain, Political Director

Democracy for America

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Four seats …


As Assistant Majority Leader, it’s my job to make sure Senate Democrats have the votes to stop extremist legislation. Things are about to get really busy around here.

Last week, House Republicans voted to defund health reform, eliminate money for reproductive care, slash nutrition for poor women and children and gut resources that keep our air and water clean. This is not cutting fat. These are bones – programs that keep our middle class standing.

Thanks to our Senate majority, we can stop their radical agenda. But with 23 seats up in 2012, compared with 10 for Republicans, we have a fight ahead. A net loss of four seats, and we lose our firewall.

Midnight Monday marks a crucial FEC deadline: All eyes will be on the DSCC’s fundraising numbers. $50,000 will help show that we can defend our Democratic firewall. Your donation now reflects our biggest strength – more than 90 percent of the DSCC’s donations come from grassroots supporters.

https://dscc.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=LtD0ucxYXUsTZo83DE0dVsWzXiojELdK

Republicans won the House by promising to focus like lasers on creating jobs. They have yet to put forward any job-creation plans – or explain how taking away health care, attacking women’s rights and targeting middle class families achieve this goal.

As long as we have our Senate firewall, Democrats can stop their radical legislation. But the GOP and its special interest friends are already on the attack. After the Citizens United decision, corporations are free to spend whatever they like in support of their preferred candidates. And attacks on working men and women by Republican governors weaken the Democratic base. Wisconsin is only the most recent example.

That makes what you do this minute all the more important. 90 percent of the DSCC’s donations come from grassroots donors who give $200 or less. Every dollar you give helps strengthen Democrats – and fight Republican extremists. Please act now to protect our Senate firewall.

https://dscc.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=knxj2CeogB6sqz0ofmX1hgDqzE%2Fg8y7W

From my seat in the Senate, I’m doing everything I can to stop the radical Republican agenda. But I can’t do it alone. What you do now matters. Help defend the firewall. Our future – our nation’s future – depends on it.

Sincerely,

Sen. Dick Durbin

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Outpouring of Solidarity


When Matthew Wisniewski created an incredible video about what’s been taking place in Wisconsin over the past few days, he said, “Please pass on this video if you like it. It needs more publicity. People need to see why we’re protesting.”

I’m not sure having the AFL-CIO send this video out to our entire e-mail list is quite what Matthew had in mind—but our staff loved this video, and we think you will, too. Matthew’s video shows the unbelievable people-powered energy behind what’s happening in Wisconsin.

Watch the amazing video—it’s a few minutes, but worth every second. http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=zzLsGTalIJAHgZIJ0CJGz%2BypG9g0yk3F

Then, sign our statement of solidarity.

Crowds in Wisconsin have swelled to more than 70,000, with more expected today. What the protesters are doing in Wisconsin is working.

Workers who are under attack—and the communities that know and respect them—have created such a powerful show of solidarity that all 14 Democratic members of the Wisconsin state Senate left the Senate chambers in protest, indefinitely delaying a vote on Gov. Scott Walker’s anti-worker bill. And Republicans are starting to waver.

This is the kind of strength it takes to win. We need to make our voices heard whenever and wherever attacks occur, in Wisconsin and in our own states.

Watch the amazing video.

Then, sign our statement of solidarity.

The electricity and energy and solidarity we’re seeing with Wisconsin workers is truly unprecedented. But it is only the beginning. Now, as one supporter said to us on Twitter, “We must keep the momentum going & growing. Now is the time & we cannot give in or up.” That’s true in Wisconsin, and it’s just as true in all our communities.

In Solidarity,

Manny Herrmann

Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO

P.S. Here are more things you can do to show your support:

Join our “We Are One” Facebook page to discuss what’s happening and write messages of solidarity.

Join the conversation on Twitter: Start by signing our act.ly petition. Then, use the hashtags #StateSOS for all states facing attacks on workers, and #WIunion #SolidarityWI and #NotMyWI for Wisconsin.   http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=DH6N7kW%2FzQWbH67I9zwU0%2BypG9g0yk3F

Visit the AFL-CIONow Blog for constant updates and things you can do.   http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=9pXEIUPlY%2FhCl7Q2IsDKJ%2BypG9g0yk3F

Share Matthew’s video with your friends on Facebook.  http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=PpSW2%2B%2B0QCKCdPqwImYEwOypG9g0yk3F

Watch Part 2 of Matthew’s video—also amazing. http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=sExlw6nH2jxY%2F5qBK%2BZ1LeypG9g0yk3F  

Sign up for our text messaging program. Pull out your cell phone and text UNITE to AFLCIO (235246). Message and data rates may apply.

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From Wisconsin to Washington D.C.


I don’t know about you, but I am getting sick of this crap. People are really hurting. Jobs are not coming back fast enough, people are still losing their homes, and what are Republicans doing? The GOP is using the budget crisis to wage a war on working people.

Join our DFA Live call on Tues., March 1 at 8PM EST with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to talk about what Republicans are planning to do and what you can do to stop them.

From Wisconsin to Washington D.C., Republicans are taking advantage of a crisis they created when they gave away tax cuts to the rich.

Seriously, Speaker Boehner is threatening to shut down the government by March 4th if they can’t cut funding of groceries for low-income pregnant women and children, but two months ago he insisted upon tax cuts for people making more than a quarter of a million dollars a year.

That’s not all, Republicans in Congress are insisting on cutting many vital programs to support police, fire fighters, teachers, nurses, and the list goes on and on. Not to mention the fact that even though Social Security does not contribute to the deficit, Republicans are insisting that cuts to Social Security should be on the table.

This DFA Live will also feature Nancy Altman, Co-Director of Social Security Works. She will explain how the budget, Social Security and jobs are linked and what we can do to protect the vital programs that keep our communities strong.

Sign up now for the DFA Live on March 1 at 8PM EST with Sen. Sherrod Brown and Nancy Altman.

Cuts to Social Security and other vital programs are job killers. Speaker Boehner says that if the Republicans kill jobs, then “So be it.”

We believe Americans deserve a budget that creates jobs and protects vital programs with no cuts to Social Security.

Join our DFA Live on Tues., March 1 at 8PM to learn more about the issues and find out what you can do before March 4th to stop the Republicans.

Thanks for everything you do,

-Levana

Levana Layendecker, Communication Director

Democracy for America

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Republican​s vote to eliminate net neutrality


By now you may have heard the news: Republicans in the House of Representatives voted last week to block the FCC from enforcing its new net neutrality regulations.

As I’ve said before, these regulations weren’t nearly good enough to ensure that the Internet remains free and open. But they were a step in the right direction. And by voting to eliminate them, House Republicans declared their willingness to let big corporations control the Internet.

We know what this could mean for American consumers — less diversity of viewpoints, less access to independent content through services like Netflix, and higher prices for Internet service.

The good news is that the Senate still has a chance to stop this special interest power play. I’m working as hard as I can to build support for net neutrality in the Senate — but I’m not the only one talking to my colleagues. These corporations have lobbyists of their own, lots of them, and they’re descending upon Capitol Hill en masse.

The only way we’re going to save net neutrality is if ordinary Americans make their voices heard. I’ll update you soon — but for now, please forward this email to your friends and ask them to join our campaign by linking up with me on Twitter or Facebook.

Thanks — and stay tuned.