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Governor Howard Dean Speaks Out Against Komen Foundation for De-funding Breast Cancer Screenings Provided by Planned Parenthood
“The
Komen Foundation has abandoned hundreds of thousands of women who rely
on breast cancer screenings - over a hundred and seventy
thousand through its partnership with Planned Parenthood in recent
years.”
– Gov. Howard Dean
Burlington, VT – Statement from Gov. Howard Dean,
former member of the Board of Directors for New England Planned
Parenthood released today via Facebook:
“The Komen Foundation has abandoned hundreds of thousands of women who
rely on breast cancer screenings- over a hundred and
seventy thousand through its partnership with Planned Parenthood in
recent years. By caving in to pressure from the far right, the Komen
Foundation has demonstrated that they lack courage. Organizations which
lack courage eventually fail. I support calls for the corporate donors
to re-evaluate their support for Komen so that consumers aren't forced
to re-evaluate buying their products. I urge continued support for
Planned Parenthood and the work they do to provide women's health
services and organizations who will continue the fight against breast
cancer without endangering women's lives for political purposes. Learn
more about Komen's corporate sponsors at their website: http://ww5.komen.org/corporatepartners.aspx Support Planned Parenthood: http://bit.ly/y0PtUQ.”
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ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Founded by Gov. Howard Dean, Democracy for America is a people-powered
Democratic Political Action Committee. With over one million members
nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country
and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
Democracy for America Kicks Off Its Biggest Cycle Ever
DFA To Work In Over 60 Federal Races in 2012; Kicks Off Cycle
By Endorsing First 5 Congressional Candidates and Announcing An Online
Contest for Congressional Challengers and Open Seats
Burlington, VT – Today, Democracy for America (DFA)
announced five endorsements and the launch of its first online
endorsement contest of the year. In 2012, DFA will endorse over 60
candidates and the largest campaign the organization has ever run.
The first five progressive champions endorsed by Democracy for America are:
- Ilya Sheyman - IL-10
- Joe Miklosi - CO-06
- Eric Griego - NM-01
- Mary Jo Kilroy - OH-03, and
- Darcy Burner - WA-01
“This is a critical year to win back the House and we are getting
started on a great note with some real progressive champions who will be
fighters and truth-tellers in Congress,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.
“With the kick-off the Grassroots All Stars competition for House
challengers, we will begin the largest campaign season in DFA’s
history.”
Grassroots All-Stars (www.grassrootsallstars.com)
is an annual competition for House challengers and open seats.
Candidates compete for online votes to demonstrate support among DFA
members, and the candidate with the most votes wins. The winner of the
2012 Grassroots All-Star Competition will receive:
- The title of "2012 DFA Grassroots All-Star" and DFA's endorsement
- A commitment to raise $20,000 in small donations from our national membership.
- A commitment to tap into our national membership to recruit volunteers over the course of your campaign and other support. (See www.grassrootsallstars.com/faq)
Two runners-up also receive prizes.
ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action
Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots
powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from
the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
Democracy for America Blacks Out to Protest Corporate Internet Censorship
“The Internet is where democracy happens. The last thing we need is corporate censorship of free speech.” – Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America
Burlington, VT – Statement from Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America (DFA) on DFA’s participation in the web site blackout on Wed. Jan. 18th to stop SOPA & PIPA, or corporate censorship of the Internet:
“Democracy for America recently divested our 48 domains from GoDaddy in protest of their support of SOPA and PIPA – which will amount to unlimited corporate censorship of the Internet. The Internet is where democracy happens. In a post ‘Citizens United’ world where corporations already can spend unlimited amounts of money in politics, the last thing we need is corporate censorship of free speech.
Democracy for America was founded from Howard Dean’s campaign for President, a campaign that was born on the Internet where innovations in online organizing paved the way to more participation in our political system than ever before. Our organization of deeply engaged members and volunteers would not exist without a free and open internet. The idea that corporations would have the power to police or censor the Internet puts Democratic movements like ours at risk everywhere.”
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ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
Democracy for America Recruits More than 400 Progressives to Run for Office; Endorses first '2,012 for 2012' Candidates
Part of a Joint Effort with New Organizing Institute, Progressive Majority, and others, DFA Helps to Build the Progressive Bench with Recruitment, Endorsements, Training and Support
Burlington, VT – Today, Democracy For America (DFA) announced the endorsement of three progressive candidates running for local office in 2012.The endorsements are part of DFA’s involvement with ‘2,012 for 2012,’ a collaborative effort to recruit a new generation of progressive candidates for local office. So far, 400 DFA members have pledged to run for office, and an additional 800 DFA members have pledged to support them locally.
Today’s endorsements include: Mary Nickum running for town council in Fountain Hills, Arizona; Tom Ammiano running for re-election to represent the 13th Assembly District and San Francisco in the California State Assembly; and Debra Shore, running for re-election to the Metro Water Reclamation District in Chicago. DFA will support candidates in the ‘2,012 for 2012’ project with online trainings, volunteer recruitment, endorsements, and fundraising.
“We’re proud to support progressive candidates like Mary Nickum running for town council in Fountain Hills, Arizona -- a long-time DFA activist and local member of DFA-Maricopa County; Tom Ammiano, a strong supporter of universal healthcare who is running a truly grassroots campaign to continue representing San Francisco in the California Assembly; and Debra Shore, running for re-election to the Metro Water Reclamation District in Chicago. These candidates make change from the bottom up possible and we’re proud to endorse them,” said Nick Passanante, Political Director for DFA.
“DFA is also proud to work on this collaborative effort in the 2012 for 2012 campaign to recruit a new generation of progressive candidates for office,” Passanante added.
In total, the ‘2012 for 2012’ campaign has exceeded its goals and has already recruited more than 5,000 new progressive candidates to run for office.
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ABOUT 2,012 for 2012
2012 for 2012 is a non-partisan collaborative effort to recruit a new generation of progressive candidates for local office. The initiative is hosted by the Candidate Project, a program of the New Organizing Institute, and is a collaboration between organizations who have successfully recruited and trained candidates for years – including Progressive Majority, Democracy for America, Emerge America, and Women's Campaign Fund – and innovative organizations who are new to candidate recruitment – like CREDO, Rebuild the Dream, Color of Change, America Votes, and Living Liberally.
ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Founded by Gov. Howard Dean, Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
Gov. Howard Dean and Democracy for America Support "Better Democrat" Ilya Sheyman in Primary in IL-10
Meanwhile, Primary Opponent Makes Major Contributions to Republican Campaigns
Burlington, VT – Today, Gov. Howard Dean and Democracy for America (DFA) sent an email to DFA’s one million members asking them to support Ilya Sheyman’s campaign for congress in IL-10. Sheyman is in a contested primary against opponent Brad Schneider.
In the email, Gov. Dean explains, “According to FEC reports, Ilya's opponent gave:
• $250 to Republican Bob Bennett in Utah
• $250 to Republican Mike Johanns in Nebraska
• $1,000 to Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan.
And here's the big kicker: between 2002 and 2009 Ilya's opponent contributed a total of $3,300 to Republican Mark Kirk – the Republican who used to represent this very same congressional district.”
Gov. Dean and DFA endorsed Sheyman in May because he is a strong progressive who will stand up for the 99%.
Dean continues, "But today, I want to make one thing clear: we can't send a 'Democrat' who supports Republicans to Congress and expect to get better results. That's why I'm working to send a true progressive leader instead."
Sheyman responded to the endorsements and support saying, “I am very grateful for Gov. Dean and DFA's support because from my days as Field Director at Democracy for America, and even before, I've been working in the trenches to elect Democrats, and to fight for the values and priorities of middle class families. Since launching our campaign in April, I've always said that I'm in this race to prove that when Democrats stand up with backbone and conviction for working families, we win. And in less than 100 days, we intend to do just that.”
View full email here: http://www.democracyforamerica.com/blog_posts/37810-exposed
ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Founded by Gov. Howard Dean, Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
Gov. Howard Dean and Democracy for America Endorse Raul Grijalva (AZ-07) and Donna Edwards (MD-04)
Progressive Champions Gather Support as Redistricting Forces Primary Challenges from the Right
Burlington, VT – Today Gov. Howard Dean and Democracy for America (DFA) endorsed progressive champions Raul Grijalva (AZ-07) and Donna Edwards (MD-04).
In an email to DFA’s one million members nationwide, Gov. Dean explains,
“Few Democrats in the House of Representatives have fought harder than
Donna and Raul to stop Paul Ryan’s plan to end Medicare. They stood
strong to defeat attempts to cut Social Security. And they have never
backed down in the fight to restore the American Dream for everyone. But
now their districts have been redrawn to make them significantly harder
for a progressive Democrat to win.”
The email encourages DFA members to give individual online donations to the Edwards and Grijalva
campaigns to support them in their contested primary campaigns. In the
past year, DFA members gave more than one million dollars to support the
recall efforts in WI, and in past years DFA members have given hundreds
of thousands of dollars to Congressional campaigns.
“Donna and Raul have been there for us. Now is the time for us to stand up and be there for them,” states Dean.
Grijalva and Edwards expressed gratitude for the endorsements and support.
"I am honored to receive Democracy for America's endorsement. DFA is a
crucial ally in our fight for the 99% and a steadfast advocate for the
progressive policies and candidates that will move our nation forward. I
look forward to continuing our great partnership as we fight for
America's working families,” stated Rep. Grijalva.
"I want to thank Democracy for America for their continued support.
Together, we have fought to hold insurance companies accountable,
eliminate corporate greed, and defend our shared values against a Tea
Party-controlled Congress. But our most important fights are still ahead
of us. I will continue to be a vocal advocate for creating jobs,
investing in our nation's infrastructure, protecting our environment,
and giving our children the education they deserve to compete in a 21st
Century, global economy,” Rep. Edwards added.
Democracy for America supported Donna Edwards in 2006 in her first race, and has also been a longtime supporter of Raul Grijalva in his campaigns and his leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Founded by Gov. Howard Dean, Democracy for America is a people-powered
Democratic Political Action Committee. With over one million members
nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country
and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
"Democrats on the Super Committee were right to walk away from the deals Republicans proposed which only protected their political allies and donors in the top 1% while cutting vital programs that support the 99%." - Jim Dean
Burlington, VT - Statement from Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America on Super Committee failure:
“Democrats on the Super Committee were right to walk away from the deals Republicans proposed which only protected their political allies and donors in the top 1% while cutting vital programs that support the 99%. Republican behavior has been reprehensible in these negotiations.”
“The failure of the Super Committee is the best case scenario for America. It’s time for Democrats to stop begging for crumbs of compromise from the Republicans and get to work getting Americans back to work. The best way to reduce the deficit is to get American’s working again and President Obama’s Jobs Bill will do that. Congress should put the Jobs Bill first on the agenda when they get back.”
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ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up.
VIDEO: Gov. Howard Dean on the Occupy movement
"This is about a just and fair America and I thank you for standing up for it. Where will you be November 17?"
Statement from Gov. Howard Dean, founder of Democracy for America, on the Occupy movement:
In a video address to Democracy for America members filmed by Democracy
for New York City on Nov. 15, Gov. Dean encouraged the Occupy movement.
Watch the video here: http://youtu.be/ADqUTOGoi60
In the video statement Gov. Dean says:
“I want to thank Occupy Wall Street for standing up for something that really needs to be stood up for.
This country can’t be a coherent country if the people at the top are making 500 times as much as ordinary working people.
Keep doing what you are doing. Make it peaceful, but be clear:
This is about a just and fair America and I thank you for standing up
for it. Where will you be November 17?"
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ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action
Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots
powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from
the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
Democracy for America Celebrates 'No on 2' Victory in Ohio
Gets 50,000+ Out to Vote Nov. 8, Voters Reject Gov. Kasich Extremist Attack on Working Families
Burlington, VT –Democracy for America staff and their
40,000 members in Ohio celebrated last night, when voters turned out to
the polls and rejected Gov. Kasich’s deeply unpopular anti-labor law,
Senate Bill 5. DFA has been actively pushing the ‘No on 2’ campaign in
Ohio for the past five weeks--talking to voters at more than 50,000
homes about Gov. Kasich’s attack on hard-working Ohioans.
“The victory in Ohio should send a clear message to extremist
politicians like Gov. Kasich: policies that protect the wealthiest 1% at
the expense of the 99% of hard-working Americans are hugely unpopular
and will be rejected at the polls,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “DFA
and our 40,000 members in Ohio worked hard to get out the vote and
defeat the job killing Issue 2 and we will continue to fight back
against extremist right wing attacks on hard-working Americans.”
The results in Ohio are clear. ‘No on 2’ won by a clear margin with a healthy voter turnout.
More than one million Ohio voters signed a petition to bring Issue 2 to
the ballot because the bill passed by the state legislature, SB 5,
unfairly limited the bargaining rights of public workers in the state.
ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action
Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots
powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from
the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
Democracy for America on the Ground for 'No on 2' Campaign in Ohio
With ‘No On 2’ 25 points up in the Polls, DFA Gets Tens of Thousands Out to Vote for Nov. 8
Burlington, VT – So far in Ohio, DFA staff talked to voters at
44,864 homes to make sure that Ohioans can vote down Issue 2 on Nov.
8th. The door-to-door canvass Get-Out-The-Vote effort will continue
until Election Day.
“Momentum is on our side in Ohio,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Gov.
Kasich started a war on working families and Ohio voters will reject him
and his right-wing Republican agenda at the polls on November 8.”
Recent polls show a 25 point lead for ‘No on 2’ (Ohio Votes 2011):
“Quinnipiac pollster Peter Brown said the poll results show the
opposition to Issue 2 crosses almost all demographics. The poll showed a
majority of men and women, blacks and whites, union and non-union
households all opposed to Issue 2.”
More than one million Ohio voters signed a petition to bring Issue 2 to
the ballot because the bill passed by the state legislature, SB 5,
unfairly limits the bargaining rights of public workers in the state.
Democracy for America is not taking this lead in the polls for granted
and will continue to knock on doors in Ohio until the polls close on
Nov. 8th.
Jim Dean will be in Ohio on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 on the ground with DFA
members working to get out the vote. For press availability for Jim
Dean, please contact Levana Layendecker at
llayendecker@democracyforamerica.com.
More on Issue 2 here: http://bit.ly/nFHPZx
ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Democracy for America is a people-powered Democratic Political Action
Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots
powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from
the bottom-up.
www.DemocracyForAmerica.com
Paid for by Democracy for America, www.democracyforamerica.com, and not authorized by any candidate.
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Press Contact:
Levana Layendecker
Communications Director
802-651-3200 x157
media@democracyforamerica.com
Twitter: @DFAaction