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Democracy for America Endorses Ed Zipprich for Red Bank Borough Council
Released: July 24, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Ed Zipprich’s campaign for Red Bank Borough Council.
“Ed Zipprich has the experience, qualifications, and judgment that are needed on the Red Bank Borough Council and Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign.” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Ed Zipprich is just the type of progressive candidate the Red Bank Borough Council needs to bring change to Red Bank and Monmouth County.”
Ed Zipprich has lived with his partner in Red Bank since 1997. He was born and raised in Staten Island and had a long career in purchasing, facilities management, and business operations in international law firms in New York City. Ed is the proud father of a teenage daughter.
Ed Zipprich has worked on planning and preservation issues for much of his life. He continues to do so in Red Bank as a member of the Borough Planning Board and as an active member of the Historic Preservation Commission. Ed is currently working with others on the historic commission to document homes in Red Bank to help create the first residential historic district in town.
In 2008, Ed was appointed to the Vision/Master Plan Review Committee by the mayor to reexamine the plan and move the borough into the future. He is a member of the Red Bank Centennial Committee and Preservation Red Bank. Ed is currently helping the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation reestablish itself and serves as Treasurer and Membership Chair of the foundation.
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.
“Receiving an endorsement from Democracy for America is truly an honor. I worked locally on Howard Dean’s presidential bid in 2004 and have worked closely with NJ for Democracy over the years to educate citizens about the importance of grassroots involvement,” said Ed Zipprich. “I take seriously the ideals of DFA and have learned a great deal from the organization. I never thought I would run for office until learning from DFA that citizens can and should run for positions at every level of government. I am grateful for DFA’s support.”
“Ed Zipprich is a phenomenal candidate who will take the lead on historical preservation, smart growth through controlled development, fiscal responsibility, and public safety,” said Arshad Hasan, Excecutive Director of DFA. “Ed Zipprich is dedicated to Red Bank and he will be a great leader for the Borough.”
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40,000-Signiture Petition Delivered to Senator Lieberman: Don't Speak at Hagee Conference Tuesday
Released: July 21, 2008
New Poll Shows Overwhelming American Jewish Opposition To Alliance With Hagee, CUFI
WASHINGTON— Today, activists delivered a petition with over 42,000 signatures to Senator Joe Lieberman’s office demanding that he cut ties with Pastor John Hagee and his organization, Christians United for Israel (CUFI).
The petition delivery comes as CUFI today begins its annual Washington-Israel Summit. Sen. Lieberman is the most senior elected official confirmed to address the conference and has been actively involved in raising money for CUFI. The Senator will speak Tuesday evening at a dinner that is the only event of the conference open to the media.
“The purportedly ‘pro-Israel’ views of Rev. Hagee and his supporters bear little to no resemblance to the consensus of the vast majority of American Jews, who strongly support a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and active engagement by the United States to facilitate it,” said Jeremy Ben-Ami, Executive Director of J Street, the political arm of the pro-Israel, pro-peace movement.
CUFI which describes itself as “pro-Israel,” opposes efforts by the Israeli government to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through territorial compromise. Trading land for peace is viewed as antithetical to “God’s will” and as an impediment to the group’s apocalyptic quest to precipitate the biblical Battle of Armageddon, in which all Jews will either be killed or converted to Christianity in advance of Jesus' return.
The “Don’t Go Joe” campaign, launched jointly by J Street and Democracy for America, gathered the signatures after footage surfaced last month of Rev. Hagee preaching that Hitler was doing God's bidding. In response to these remarks, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain severed all connections to Rev. Hagee. To date, Senator Lieberman, who has likened Rev. Hagee to the biblical prophet Moses and called him a “Man of God,” has steadfastly refused to follow suit.
“Joe Lieberman still has a chance to do the right thing,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America. “Pastor Hagee is a bigot and a sexist. If Joe Lieberman speaks at his conference, he is giving a seal of approval to a man who thinks it’s fine to use fear and hatred to demonize Americans.”
“We will not allow such unholy alliances as Senator Lieberman’s relationship with Hagee, which are inimical to the core values and principles that the Jewish community holds dear, to go unchallenged for the sake of political convenience,” said Ben-Ami. “With these petitions, we plan to make it loud and clear and very public that, in his unwavering support for Hagee, Lieberman does not speak for us.”
A J Street poll of 800 American Jews, conducted by Gerstein/Agne and released last week, found deep disapproval within the American Jewish community for forming with right-wing Christian Zionist organizations, such as CUFI, and with the public figures who cultivate such ties:
Rev. Hagee himself is quite disliked by American Jewish, 7 percent having a favorable opinion of him and 57 percent an unfavorable opinion.
Senator Joe Lieberman, once highly regarded in the Jewish community as the first Jewish vice-presidential nominee, has become a highly contentious figure whose unfavorable now exceed his favorable ratings, 48 percent to 37 percent.
Without any description other than “CUFI is led by Reverend John Hagee and works to build support for Israel among evangelical Christians,” 51 percent of Jews have a negative impression of CUFI while only 19 percent have a positive impression.
When presented with CUFI’s own words to describe its mission and statements opposing CUFI (one critiquing Hagee’s public comments about Catholics, women, gays, and Hurricane Katrina and another critiquing his ties to extremists in Israel who oppose the peace process), Jews by a 4-to-1 margin say that Jewish organizations and leaders should not form alliances with the pastor or his organization.
In addition to closing most of the CUFI conference to media, Rev. Hagee’s lawyers quietly removed from YouTube over July 4th a series of videos concerning the pastor, charging copyright infringement. The clips include J Street’s own video tying Sen. Lieberman to Rev. Hagee, as well as footage taken from sermons Hagee had already made public and others filmed by media inside Hagee's conventions. Most had been online for well over a year.
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Democracy for America Endorses Annette Taddeo for United States Congress
Released: July 8, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Annette Taddeo’s campaign to represent Florida’s 18th Congressional District. Annette is running against the increasingly irrelevant, Bush lapdog Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.
“Annette Taddeo is a strong, independent thinker whose years of experience as an entrepreneur and community leader make her the progressive choice in this election,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Annette Taddeo represents a clear break from the failed policies of George Bush, John McCain, and the Republican Party.”
For the past 15 years, Annette Taddeo has run her own successful company and proven that hard work and dedication pay off. Annette is the founder & CEO of LanguageSpeak, a comprehensive language services company offering translations, conference interpretation, and private tutoring in over 100 languages.
Annette is the Chair of the Women’s Enterprise National Council’s Leadership Forum and serves on the Executive Board of WIPP-Women Impacting Public Policy. She is also immediate Past-Chairman of the Coalition of Dade-County Chambers of Commerce and Past-Chairman of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Miami-Dade County.
Annette Taddeo’s community activities and strong business leadership have resulted in numerous honors and awards, including being named South Florida Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year, Small Business Administration Minority Business Champion of the Year, and one of the Top 50 Latina Entrepreneurs in the U.S. by Hispanic Magazine.
“Like Democracy for America, I am passionately committed to cleaning up the mess in Washington. When I am elected to Congress, my focus will be on creating jobs and restoring strength to our economy, making healthcare affordable and accessible to every American, and help bring a responsible end to the war in Iraq,” said Annette Taddeo. “I am proud to have the endorsement of Democracy for America because they share my passion for building a better America – we can stand hand and hand – as we fight for a stronger community and country.”
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. This year in South Florida, DFA has raised over $35,000 for Joe Garcia’s congressional campaign in Florida’s 25th District. The DFA Campaign Academy, which has trained over 16,000 progressive activists in the skills and techniques of running winning campaigns, will be in Miami this weekend.
“Annette Taddeo’s opponent, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, has failed her constituents with her bizarre and misguided loyalty to President Bush’s disastrous policies,” said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director of Democracy for America. “Ileana Ros-Lehtinen has failed on job creation, has done nothing about providing affordable health care for Floridians, and has walked in lockstep with George Bush on the War in Iraq. It is time for her useless time in Washington to come to an end.”
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Democracy for America Endorses Marian Harris for Ohio State Representative
Released: July 2, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Marian Harris’ campaign to represent Ohio’s 19th State Representative district.
“Marian Harris is a true progressive fighter and Democracy for America is proud to endorse her campaign,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Ohio needs Marian Harris to tackle problems like our broken health care system and a lack of quality jobs.”
Marian Harris spent more than 30 years working in and out of government and the non-profit sector. Marian’s experience as a constituent aide for Senator Howard Metzenbaum made her very aware of the impact policy makers and legislators have on the person on the street. When she coordinated Capital for a Day for Governor Celeste, Marian took the Governor and his Cabinet to 34 different cities - a true grassroots program that put policy makers next to the people their policies impacted.
Marian Harris graduated from Mt. Holyoke College and has been a medical researcher, a pre-school teacher, and an elementary school teacher before getting into politics and going to work for Senator Howard Metzenbaum. In addition to working for Governor Celeste, Marian has worked for Mental Health America of Franklin County and has had her own business as an event planner and volunteer manager for non-profits.
“Democracy for America speaks my language with their opposition to the War in Iraq and bottom-up, grassroots approach to campaigning,” said Marian Harris. “I truly believe that DFA represents the best of a grassroots approach to accomplishing change and I am very proud to have their endorsement.”
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.
“Marian Harris has shown time and again she has the vision and foresight to take on the tough issues and work to advance progressive values,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America. “Marian Harris will bring her years of experience to Columbus for the benefit of her constituents and all Ohioans.”
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Democracy for America Members Mobilize to Stop Telecom Immunity
Released: July 1, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, this morning sent a message to its over 725,000 members asking them to take action to stop the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. DFA members will be visiting their Senators’ district offices to demand that they stop the President’s attempt to grant retroactive immunity to the telecommunications companies that participated in his program of illegal wiretapping. DFA has been at the lead of efforts to block retroactive immunity.
“Retroactive immunity is an assault on the Constitution,” said Jim Dean, Chair of Democracy for America. “President Bush and Vice President Cheney cannot be allowed to give their cronies at AT&T and Verizon a get-out-of-jail free card.”
Democracy for America members will be delivering directly to their Senators a strong message of opposition to this boldfaced attempt to cover up the Bush administration’s illegal activities. DFA members will be carrying a message which demands that senators support a filibuster of the “compromise” FISA legislation. (DFA handout attached to this email)
In November of 2007, Sen. Harry Reid was forced, after his office received thousands of calls from Democracy for America members, to pull a FISA bill that included retroactive immunity from Senate consideration.
In the days before this year’s State of the Union address, Democracy for America members funded a full-page New York Times ad that called on Senators Clinton and Obama to show leadership, return to Washington, and support the filibuster in opposition to this attempt at retroactive immunity. Again, retroactive immunity was defeated after the Senate failed to garner enough votes to block a filibuster.
And, in March, Democracy for America targeted House Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes. Rep. Reyes had indicated he was “open” to compromise on retroactive immunity. After thousands of calls to his offices in El Paso and Washington and a full-page ad in his district’s largest paper, Rep. Reyes thought better of the compromise. Rep. Reyes stood with Speaker Pelosi and his committee produced a bill that did not contain retroactive immunity.
Over the past two weeks, Democracy for America members made tens of thousands of calls to their senators. These calls pushed back consideration of the FISA “compromise” till after the July recess.
“Democracy for America members have been working to stop retroactive immunity; they have made calls, they have written letters, they have shown the strength of grassroots action,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America. “Today, they are going to show their senators’ the true face of America. DFA members will let their senators know the protections guaranteed by the Constitution are not optional.”
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Democracy for America Endorses Chellie Pingree for United States House of Representatives
Released: July 1, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Chellie Pingree’s campaign to represent Maine’s 1st Congressional District.
“Chellie Pingree, as a business owner and elected representative, has shown she has what it takes to lead and Democracy for America is proud to endorse her campaign,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Chellie Pingree is a tested leader who has the skills and experience that her constituents deserve.”
Chellie has been actively engaged in three decades of work for change. This has ranged from serving the residents of North Haven on the school board to leading more than 300,000 members and supporters across the nation as the president and CEO of Common Cause to serving eight years in the Maine State Senate.
In the legislature, Chellie stood firm for social and economic justice, and never backed down from taking on powerful adversaries--most notably the pharmaceutical lobby. In the Legislature, Chellie took on the pharmaceutical companies to pass a first-in-the-nation program to lower the price of prescription drugs in Maine. Always mindful of Maine's need for economic development, Chellie was chair of the Economic Growth Council.
Chellie is a small business owner and farmer who understands the economic policies of George Bush, John McCain, and the Republican Party are not in the best interests of Mainers. She created jobs for community as owner and manager of North Island Yarns and North Island Designs. Chellie’s current business is Nebo Lodge, an inn and restaurant on North Haven.
"The most important part of my campaign has been one on one interaction with the voters at the grassroots level--which is why I'm thrilled to be endorsed by Democracy for America, an organization committed to grassroots organizing," said Chellie Pingree.
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.
“Chellie Pingree knows we have to break our dependence on foreign oil, support development of alternative sources of energy, and fix our broken health care system to guarantee we leave our children and grandchildren a better world,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America. “Chellie Pingree’s commitment to progressive values shows she is ready to go to Washington and tackle and solve the tough problems.”
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Democracy for America Endorses Tom Allen for United States Senate
Released: July 1, 2008
BURLINGTON, VT – DemocracyForAmerica.com, our nation’s largest progressive political action community, has endorsed Tom Allen’s campaign to represent Maine in the United States Senate. Tom has represented Maine’s 1st Congressional District for the past twelve years. In this campaign, Tom is running against Republican incumbent Susan Collins. Ms. Collins likes to portray herself as a moderate, but in reality she has been a consistent vote for the failed policies of George Bush, John McCain, and the Republican Party.
“Tom Allen has a proven record and the experience Mainers deserve and Democracy for America is proud to endorse his campaign,” said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. “Tom Allen is a committed public servant whose vision and foresight are needed in the Senate.”
Allen expressed his gratitude for the endorsement.
“In a few short years, Democracy for America has greatly strengthened our Party and our nation by empowering voters with effective tools for grassroots engagement and discussion on the issues,” said Tom Allen. “I appreciate DFA’s confidence in me and am thankful to have them on board in my campaign for change.”
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.
“Tom Allen knows we have to end the War in Iraq, fix our broken health care system, and implement economic policies that support the middle class and working men and women,” said Arshad Hasan, Executive Director of Democracy for America. “Tom Allen’s people-powered campaign is a clear sign that he will put his constituents before big money special interests.”
“Susan Collins likes to talk a big game, but the truth of the matter is she can’t walk the walk and remains in lockstep with the misguided agenda of George Bush, John McCain, and the Republican Party,” said Daniel I. Medress, Communications Director of Democracy for America. “Tom Allen is a straight-shooter who doesn’t change his tune based on the latest polling. This is a lesson Susan Collins is incapable of learning.”
Tom grew up in Portland and spent summers and weekends on the family farm near North Sebago. Tom attended Bowdoin College, where he demonstrated his capacity for courage and leadership. In 1965, he made headlines when he led the Bowdoin chapter of his fraternity out of the national association because it refused to admit African Americans. Through his academic success and leadership, Tom earned the Rhodes Scholarship. He attended Harvard Law upon graduation from Oxford.
Tom served on Portland’s City Council in Portland from 1989 to 1995. During his tenure, Portland led the state in nondiscrimination practices by banning bias based on sexual orientation for housing, credit and employment.
In 1996, Tom ran for Congress from Maine’s 1st District, defeating incumbent Republican James Longley, Jr. by 10 percentage points. In Washington, Tom has been a strong and effective leader, pioneering legislation on prescription drug issues, campaign finance reform and the environment. A member of two influential House committees – Energy & Commerce and Budget – he is a strong advocate for health care, small business, energy, fiscal responsibility and economic competitiveness.
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Daniel I. Medress
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802-651-3200 x148
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