Donna Edwards Defeats Incumbent

Released: Feb 25, 2008 11:23 AM

Rockville, MD – Democracy for America, our nation's largest progressive political action organization, provided the critical support that propelled Donna Edwards to victory in the Maryland 4th Congressional District Democratic primary.  Donna Edwards resoundingly beat the Bush-Democrat incumbent, Al Wynn, in Tuesday's Democratic primary.  DFA raised over $40,000 for Ms. Edwards' campaign and local DFA members were the boots on the ground who staffed phone banks, walked precincts, and supplied the necessary grassroots support that was key to Tuesday's victory.  

"Al Wynn has a shameful record in Congress and thanks to Donna his days of ignoring his constituents are soon to be over," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America.  "Al Wynn has been a consistent vote for George Bush's War in Iraq and for big oil companies, big banking companies, big insurance companies, and against working people.  Donna Edwards is ready to provide the progressive leadership that the residents of Maryland's 4th Congressional District deserve."

Ms. Edwards ran on a progressive platform that emphasized important differences with Mr. Wynn.  In stark contrast to the incumbent, her campaign focused on issues like providing comprehensive health care for all Americans, repealing the bankruptcy law, standing up against wealthy corporate special interests, and ending the War in Iraq.

"While Al Wynn was taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from corporate special interests and lobbyists, Donna Edwards was working to pass the Violence Against Women Act.  While Al Wynn was voting to allow President Bush to continue his War in Iraq, Donna Edwards was fighting the big pharmaceutical companies to reduce the cost of prescription drugs," said Gina Angiola, local DFA member and Montgomery County Coordinator for the Donna Edwards for Congress campaign.

"Democracy for America has stood by me since the beginning and their support was vital for my campaign," said Donna Edwards.  "DFA knows that a progressive message and an effective grassroots campaign can beat out money, cynicism, and special interests."  
    

The Senate Stands Up Against President Bush and for the Constitution

Released: Feb 25, 2008 11:19 AM

Burlington, VT – Members of Democracy for America, our nation's largest progressive political action organization, made thousands of phone calls to Senator Harry Reid and played a key role in forcing the tabling of the reauthorization of the so-called Protect America Act just over one month ago.  Today, DFA members responded to the call to action and have scored another victory in the battle against President George Bush's effort to grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies who participated in his program of warrantless wiretapping.

Republicans attempted to prevent debate and consideration of Democratic amendments to the FISA bill.  GOP senators, working in tandem with the White House, tried to force through a version of the bill with retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies.  The Senate voted 45 to 48 against cloture.  A vote for a 30-day extension of the bill also failed with Republicans voting against cloture.

After being targeted by Democracy for America, Senators Clinton and Obama, who had originally indicated they would not participate in today's vote, came to the Senate to vote against cloture.  
 
"Our members were making calls to the Senate at a rate of over 1000 per hour," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America.  "The death of retroactive telecom immunity was an expression of the will of the American people and a victory for the United States Constitution."

President Bush has indicated he will veto the 30-day extension or any version of the Protect America Act that does not include a provision for retroactive immunity.

"For reasons passing all understanding, the Republicans voted against a 30-day extension of a bill the President says is vital to the safety of the American people," said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America.  "Our members got involved and gave voice to what a vast majority of Americans believe: we live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, not some place where the President can throw a tantrum and get what he wants."

Democracy for America Sends a Message to Senators Clinton and Obama

Released: Feb 25, 2008 11:14 AM

Burlington, VT – Democracy for America, our nation's largest progressive political action organization, will place a full-page ad in the Monday, January 28 edition of the New York Times.  The ad calls on Senators Clinton and Obama to show true leadership and fight retroactive immunity for the telecommunications companies who participated in President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program.  Currently, the Senate is considering unprecedented legislation that would grant the Bush administration a wide array of powers to spy on Americans.

"President Bush has done real damage to our Constitution and any legislation that grants retroactive immunity would make the United States Congress and the American people complicit in his illegal activities," said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America.  "Senators Clinton and Obama and the senators who have endorsed their presidential campaigns are key to holding the Bush administration accountable for their actions."

The ad makes clear that this is the last chance for the American people to discover the extent to which the Bush administration violated the Constitution by pressuring telecommunications companies to spy on American citizens without warrants, due process, or probable cause.  Senators Clinton and Obama now have the opportunity to show the leadership we need in any future president.  Twelve Democratic senators voted for cloture on yesterday's Judiciary Committee amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that did not include retroactive immunity.  The cloture vote was successful by a margin of 60 to 36.  Of these twelve senators, seven have endorsed either Senator Clinton or Obama.  If these presidential hopefuls bring along the support of these senators, they can sustain a planned filibuster, defeat any cloture vote, and demonstrate that they have the integrity, vision, and judgment to be president.

"Americans recognize that we live in dangerous times, but we cannot sacrifice our liberty and our freedoms every time the President says the sky is falling," said Arshad Hasan, Exceutive Director of Democracy for America.  "I was born and raised in North Dakota and I said the Pledge of Allegiance everyday and I believe in it; especially, that we live in a country with liberty and justice for all.  We expect Senators Clinton and Obama to stand up for these bedrock American principles."

Democracy for America to Deliver Voters Decide Petition to Hillary

Released: Feb 22, 2008 11:17 AM

Released: February 22, 2008

DFA Calls on Superdelegates to Let the Voters Decide

Burlington, VT -- Democracy for America, our nation's largest
progressive political action organization, will deliver over 60,000 Voters Decide
petition signatures to Sen. Hillary Clinton on Monday.  DFA started
the Voters Decide campaign to pressure Democratic superdelegates to affirm
the winner of the popularly allocated delegates. 

WHAT
NYC area DFA Members Deliver 60,000+ Voters Decide petition signatures to
Superdelegate Sen. Hillary Clinton.

WHO 
Members of Democracy for New York City
(Same day deliveries to Sen. Obama in Chicago, Sen. Majority Leader Reid in
Las Vegas, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, and DNC Chair Gov.
Dean in Washington, DC)

WHEN 
Monday February 25th at 12:15 PM

WHERE
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton
780 Third Ave
Suite 2601
New York, NY 10017

Democracy for America to Deliver Voters Decide Petition to Howard

Released: Feb 22, 2008 11:13 AM

DFA Calls on Superdelegates to Let the Voters Decide

Burlington, VT -- Democracy for America, our nation's largest
progressive political action organization, will deliver over 60,000 Voters Decide
petition signatures to DNC Chairman Howard Dean on Monday.  DFA started
the Voters Decide campaign to pressure Democratic superdelegates to affirm
the winner of the popularly allocated delegates. 

WHAT
DC area DFA Members Deliver 60,000+ Voters Decide petition signatures to
Superdelegate and DNC Chairman Gov. Howard Dean.

WHO 
Members of DC for Democracy

WHEN
Monday February 25th at 1:15 PM

WHERE
Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC  20003

Democracy for America to Deliver Voters Decide Petition to Barack

Released: Feb 22, 2008 11:08 AM

DFA Calls on Superdelegates to Let the Voters Decide

Burlington, VT -- Democracy for America, our nation's largest
progressive political action organization, will deliver over 60,000 Voters Decide
petition signatures to Sen. Barack Obama on Monday.  DFA started
the Voters Decide campaign to pressure Democratic superdelegates to affirm
the winner of the popularly allocated delegates. 

WHAT
Chicago area DFA Members Deliver 60,000+ Voters Decide petition signatures
to Superdelegate Sen. Barack Obama.

WHO 
Chicago area members of DFA
(Same day deliveries to Sen. Clinton in New York, Sen. Majority Leader Reid in
Las Vegas, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in San Francisco, and DNC Chair Gov.
Dean in Washington, DC)

WHEN 
Monday February 25th at 12:15 PM

WHERE
John C. Kluczynski Federal Office Building
230 South Dearborn St.
Suite 3900 (39th floor)
Chicago, Illinois  60604