Democracy for America Endorses Gaye Symington for Governor

Released: Oct 22, 2008 12:29 PM

Released:  Thursday, October 2, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation's largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Gaye Symington’s campaign for governor of Vermont.  

"Gaye Symington is a fantastic candidate with a long record of achievement," said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.  "Democracy for America is proud to endorse her campaign."

As Speaker of the House for the past four years and a Representative for twelve years, Gaye Symington has a record of bringing people together to tackle tough issues and get results. She's been widely praised for working in a nonpartisan way to make progress on fair school funding, access to healthcare, civil rights, energy efficiency and growing Vermont's rural economy.

Other priorities as Speaker include bringing broadband service to all corners of Vermont, providing support for workforce development, addressing climate change and planning for Vermont's energy future.

Before entering politics, Gaye was a senior fiscal manager for non-profits, started a whole grain bakery, and was a volunteer leader in her community. She earned a B.A. from Williams College and an MBA from Cornell University.

Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach.  DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Donna Edwards in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District.

"I'm honored to receive the endorsement of Democracy for America which is such a strong force for change in our party and our nation,” said Speaker Symington.  “Their support is crucial because my victory depends on waging the kind of effective grassroots campaign that DFA is known for.  I'm very grateful that DFA has chosen to stand with me in this effort to bring Vermont the change it needs."

"In Vermont, we face challenges like job creation and infrastructure investment, repair, and renewal.  Only Gaye Symington offers Vermonters a real, progressive vision and plan," said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of DFA.  "Gaye Symington will bring her experience and wisdom to the Governor’s office for the benefit of everyone in the state."

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DFA Endorses Frank Lautenberg for US Senate

Released: Oct 22, 2008 12:22 PM

Released:  Friday, October 17, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action organization, endorsed Frank Lautenberg’s campaign for the United States Senate during the primaries because of his record of leadership and his commitment to progressive values.  With a global financial crisis, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and working men and women struggling to get by, DFA knows we need Sen. Lautenberg now more than ever.

“Frank Lautenberg is a progressive fighter with the experience, wisdom, and judgment we have to have in the United States Senate,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.  “Sen. Lautenberg is the leader we need as America moves forward to confront the major challenges here at home and overseas.”

Frank Lautenberg was born in Paterson, N.J., the son of immigrants who came through Ellis Island.  Along with two childhood friends, Sen. Lautenberg started ADP – one of the first and largest computing service companies in the world.  After serving as CEO for ADP for many years, Sen. Lautenberg was elected to the U.S. Senate.

In this term alone, Frank Lautenberg has voted repeatedly to bring our troops home from Iraq, stood up to the Bush administration to stop drilling for oil less than 100 miles from New Jersey’s shoreline, and stopped George Bush from cutting affordable health care for thousands of working class New Jersey families and children.

“Democracy for America and I are both committed to changing direction in Washington after the failures of eight years of President Bush and Vice President Cheney.  Together we will work to end the War in Iraq, boost our economy, protect the environment, and make health care and higher education more affordable and accessible,” said Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg.

Democracy for America is the key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach.  DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Jerry McNerney in California’s 11th Congressional District.

“Frank Lautenberg is a true progressive who has always fought for working men and women in the Garden State and across the country,” said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director of Democracy for America.  “Unlike his opponent, Sen. Lautenberg takes his marching orders from the only people who count: his constituents.”

 
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Democracy for America Endorses Linda Ketner for United States Congress

Released: Oct 22, 2008 12:18 PM

Released:  Monday, October 20, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation's largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Linda Ketner’s campaign to represent South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.  Linda is running against out-of-touch Republican incumbent Henry Brown.

"Linda Ketner is a forward thinker with a well-earned reputation for getting the job done," said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.  "Linda Ketner will get down to brass tacks and make sure the economy works for South Carolinians and all Americans."

Linda Ketner is a proven leader and successful businessperson with an independent voice who has worked across party lines on the citizen side of politics for decades in South Carolina.  Linda has worked as a management consultant for many Fortune 500 companies as well as government and nonprofit organizations.  As a community leader, she has founded organizations for change and been recognized for her service with many community awards.  Linda is running for Congress to help repair our damaged economy and to make government work again for the people of South Carolina.

Democracy for America is a key endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach.  DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Donna Edwards in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District.

“I really appreciate the support the Democracy for America endorsement represents,” said Linda Ketner.  “Democracy for America empowers citizens to play an active role in their communities and that is what my campaign is all about.”

"Linda Ketner will be a powerful voice for her constituents.  Her opponent is not a leader, but a pathetic follower of the failed philosophies of George Bush and John McCain," said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director of DFA.  "Henry Brown is part of the problem of a bloated government that does not know how to live within its means.  Linda Ketner is a businesswoman, a community activist, and a leader who will bring the change that the Palmetto state needs and deserves."

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Democracy for America Endorses Nicole LeFavour for Idaho State Senate

Released: Oct 22, 2008 12:12 PM

Released:  Tuesday, October 21, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT - DemocracyforAmerica.com, our nation's largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Nicole LeFavour’s campaign for Idaho State Senate, District 19.

"Nicole LeFavour is a leader, educator, and trailblazer whose experience, wisdom, and judgment is needed in the Senate," said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA.  "Democracy for America is proud to endorse her campaign."

As an Idahoan who grew up in rural central Idaho, Nicole began her work in politics as a small business owner and educator involved in open space preservation, human rights, securing funds for schools, and increasing the affordability of health care.

Today, Nicole LeFavour is a respected teacher and State Representative who was first elected in 2004 to represent Boise’s District 19.  She has been a leading Democratic member of the House Revenue and Taxation Committee and has distinguished herself through her bi-partisan work.  Nicole’s leadership has been instrumental on issues like prison sentencing and her successful passage of legislation to offer clinically trained mental health and substance abuse counselors to address teen suicide and substance abuse.  She is Idaho’s first openly gay elected official.

Democracy for America is a valued endorsement in this race, bringing donations from progressives and providing volunteers to participate in door-to-door, grassroots outreach.  DFA has helped elect over 550 progressives to office from Governor Deval Patrick in Massachusetts to Rep. Donna Edwards in Maryland’s 4th Congressional District.

“It is an honor to have the endorsement of Democracy for America as I run for Senate this year. They have done important work connecting people in communities with each other to work for issues and candidates they care about,” said Nicole LeFavour.  “From improving health care in America and bringing our troops home, to making the Bush administration accountable for domestic spying, DFA has helped many people in rural areas feel less isolated and able to have an impact on what happens in Washington D.C.”

"Nicole LeFavour is a champion of those who are too often marginalized in our political process," said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director of DFA.  "In the Senate, Nicole will fight for working men and women to reduce health care costs, secure funding for public transportation, and lower property taxes."


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Democracy for America Endorses Scott Kleeb for United States Senate

Released: Oct 1, 2008 3:22 PM

Released:  Thursday, August 21, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Scott Kleeb’s campaign to represent Nebraska in the United States Senate.

“Scott Kleeb has a top-notch mind and a background that makes him uniquely qualified to represent Nebraska in the Senate,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign.”

Risch Not Popular with Newspapers, Fellow Republicans

Released: Oct 1, 2008 3:13 PM

Released:  Tuesday, September 30, 2008

BURLINGTON, VT -- During Jim Risch’s 37 years as a politician, he has rubbed a lot of people the wrong way.  Some have been bold enough to say so out loud, despite Risch’s power and reputation for abusing it.

Following Risch’s victory in the primary race for Lieutenant Governor in 2002, sitting Lieutenant Governor Jack Riggs called Risch a “career politician” and told Boise TV station KTVB that he questioned Risch’s honesty.  He also noted that Risch had been beaten in his home county.  “He did not win Ada County, where people know him,” Riggs said.  “I think that’s a good perception.”

Fellow candidate Larry Eastland agreed with Riggs, and had his own explanation for why Risch won.  “It wasn’t just the dollars.  It was a combination of the dollars and deceptive advertising the dollar bought.  It’s deceptive  for a downtown Boise trial lawyer who spent 30 years earning his money as a trial lawyer, who has a ranch as a tax write-off, to spend huge amounts of money calling himself a rancher,” Eastland said.

The state’s largest newspaper has also found itself on the wrong side of Risch.  Calling him a “shoot from the hip type” and “a hard-edged lawmaker who inspires fear,” the Idaho Statesman concluded that Risch “made his reputation as an iron-fisted leader in the (state) Senate.”

During the primary in 2002, the Statesman’s editorial page said of Risch, “He claims to have ‘mellowed,’ but has never erased his image as an autocratic bully.  And his willingness to do anything in the name of politics . . . leaves us worried.”

In the current campaign, several newspapers have taken Risch to task for being less than honest is describing the tax shift he authored as acting Governor.  “The tax overhaul . . . is doing no favors for working-class Idahoans,” the Statesman wrote.  “For Risch to air television ads saying he delivered ‘the largest tax cut in state history’ is an act of political cynicism.”  The paper concluded that “This says a lot . . . about the way the lieutenant governor might approach tax and economic decisions facing Idaho’s next U.S. Senator.”

In a piece titled “Robin Hood in Reverse,” the Idaho Falls Post Register said Risch was “distorting” his tax shift.  “The big winners were businesses, which got a $60 million tax break.  The losers were individuals, who ended up paying $10 million more.”  Noting Risch’s ads touting his “tax cut,” the paper concluded, “and you wonder why people get cynical about politics.”

Private economists have also taken Risch to task for his deception.  Former Idaho Chief Economist Richard Slaughter wrote in the Idaho Statesman that what Risch did was a tax shift, not a tax cut, and that ordinary Idahoans paid more in increased sales tax than they saved in property tax.

“The result of shifting from property tax to sales tax is that wage earners now pay twice the tax on groceries and other necessities as before, while businesses and organizations favored by Risch are totally exempt.”  He concluded, “You remember the old saying, ‘figures don’t lie, but . . ."

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