March 27, 2013
By Allie Gregory
We're excited to launch our Purple to Blue program with the announcement of two endorsements in Virginia today. What is Purple to Blue?
Forget John Boehner and Paul Ryan -- Republicans don't need Congress to push their radical right-wing agenda. They're doing it right now, state by state:
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- Ending women's right to choose
- Busting unions
- Deregulating industries and pillaging the environment
- Giving away huge tax breaks to big corporations and the super rich
Republican state legislatures are laboratories of right-wing extremism -- and we need to stop their radical agendas before they go any farther.
That's why DFA is launching the Purple to Blue Project, a new multi-year effort dedicated to winning state House and Senate chambers across the country -- starting right now in Virginia.
Even as Democrats picked up wins nationally last year, conservatives continued to cement control of state legislatures -- and they're using states like Virginia to build momentum for radical, extreme agendas.
We're seeing the damage they can do. Virginia's newly-enacted restrictions on abortion have spawned a national assault on women's right to make decisions about her own life: just this weekend, North Dakota's Republican-controlled legislature passed a "personhood" amendment, effectively banning all abortions in the state.
Whether it's stripping away labor rights in Wisconsin, restricting voting rights in Pennsylvania, or attacking a woman's right to choose in Virginia, conservatives are growing bolder and reaching further than ever before.
It's time to get back to basics. DFA is targeting five swing districts in Virginia to send a powerful message to Republicans: If you continue to wage war on our core values, progressives will defeat you at the ballot box.
This isn't a process that will happen overnight, but we have to start now. We're endorsing our first round of candidates -- now we need to raise $10,000 to begin recruiting staff to join them in the field.
Categories:
Elections
Press Releases
February 21, 2013
By Alex Showerman
In a city ravaged by gun violence, a special election for Congress has turned into a national referendum on gun safety as two candidates go head-to-head -- one with an A rating from the NRA, the other with an F rating.
Welcome to IL-02.
There are an unbelievable number of candidates running in the primary to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. -- and in this solid blue district, the primary is the only thing that matters. For months, these candidates have been jockeying for attention and polls have been muddled. Now, one candidate is surging: Robin Kelly.
Robin Kelly has an F rating from the NRA and she's wearing it as a badge of honor. Her main opponent, conservative former Rep. Debbie Halvorson, has an A rating from the NRA.
Robin has an opportunity to pull off a huge upset victory in next week's primary, but she needs the resources to kick her Get Out The Vote operation into high gear. That's why we're announcing our endorsement of Robin today.
Early voting has already started and the election is next week. Please, contribute $15 to Robin now.
The Chicago area endured over 500 murders last year, more than 400 of which were the result of gun violence.
We can win this -- and we can deliver a huge blow to the NRA in the middle of a national debate on gun violence prevention.
Early voting has already started and the election is next week. Please, contribute $15 to Robin now.
Categories:
Elections
February 14, 2013
By Allie Gregory
On her show last night, Rachel Maddow breaks down Marco Rubio's Republican Response to the State of the Union.
WATCH:
"Watergate" may have been an instant video moment, however, it was the content of Rubio's response that showed yet again the Republican Party is not listening, rather the Tea Party is now infecting the GOP long term. After all, as Maddow literally showed, Rubio is inter-changeable with Romney--and the American people clearly did not elect him POTUS. So why is the GOP convinced Rubio is the Republican Savior? DFA is working to bring about progressive change and overriding leaders like Rubio who wish to cut our Social Security and vote against bills for women's rights like the VAWA.
Categories:
Elections
January 24, 2013
By Emma Hadden
Though they might have thought they were sneaky, Republicans' gerrymandering is obvious in this graphic showing six swing states and that – by their colors – should have voted overwhelmingly for Romney in November. But did they? Nope, all six went to Obama.
Check it out:
The Republicans have divided up the state into wiggly congressional districts that split up the Democratic urban population centers and make the states look much redder than they really are. The House delegations from these states are not representative of how Democratic these states are. Republicans were able to steal away seats from the Democrats and Progressives in these states
Plus, they are now trying to change the way electoral votes are allocated in Presidential elections, making it by districts instead of by popular vote. They made up districts to suit themselves and now plan to rig the next Presidential election to get what they want.
They must realize that the majority of Americans find the Republican Party ridiculous, prejudiced, and stuck in the past. If you can't win fairly, cheat, right? Wrong. The Tea Party faction of the GOP is driving it off the rails, and the lack of enthusiasm for voting in Midterm elections has allowed it to do just that. Do you live in one of these states, or know someone who does? Tell us about your experiences in the comments, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to keep track of our progress getting rid of the Tea Party in 2014. We can do it with your help. It's a little while off, but we can't forget how important Midterm elections are. Don't forget to vote! Let's get some sanity back in our government.
Categories:
Elections
January 16, 2013
By Emma Hadden
Colin Powell, a prominent Republican, recently spoke some constructive criticism to his own party in an interview. Other Republicans, though, have not been taking it well, tearing Powell apart, denouncing him as a Republican, and more. Here's Rev. Al Sharpton and others at MSNBC putting it all in spirited context:
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The Republican Party is caught a ridiculous, illogical, Tea Party mindset, and its eating itself from within. Good on Colin Powell for giving the Republican's a little dose of truth, and bad on them for refusing to listen. After its defeat in the recent election, the Republican Party should be looking for ways to strengthen and broaden its base, but every reasonable person is pushed out or ensnared by the Tea Party.
What do you think about the Republican Party today? Or what is your favorite point Sharpton makes? Let us know in the comments, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter to track our progress in taking down the Tea Party Congress.
Categories:
Elections
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