Clark, Dean, Fowler: DNC Veterans Council and Fighting Dems Announcement

[incapsulated]

DNC Chairman, General Wesley Clark to Join Prominent Veterans to Announce Veterans Council, Unveil 'Fighting Dems' Website

27 minutes ago

To: Assignment Desk, Daybook Editor

Contact: Damien LaVera of the Democratic National Committee, 202-863-8148

News Advisory:

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will join General Wesley Clark, former DNC Chairman Don Fowler and Kentucky Congressional candidate and retired Marine Corps Lt. Colonel Andrew Horne for a conference call highlighting the Democratic Party's commitment to America's veterans and military families on Wednesday, April 5 at 12:15 p.m.

They will announce the membership of the DNC's new Democratic National Veterans and Military Families Council, which will be chaired by Fowler, and unveil a new "Fighting Dems" website highlighting the campaigns of dozens of veterans running for Congress as Democrats.

WHO: DNC Chairman Howard Dean, General Wesley Clark, DNC Veterans Council Chair Don Fowler, and Kentucky Democratic Congressional candidate and Iraq War veteran Andrew Horne

WHAT: Conference call announcing membership of new Democratic National Veterans and Military Families Council and unveiling "Fighting Dems" website

WHEN: Wednesday, April 5 at 12:15 p.m.

WHERE: By phone. To RSVP for the conference call and obtain the call- in number, contact Damien LaVera at [e-mail] or call 202-863-8148.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20060404/pl_usnw/dnc_chairman__general_wesley_clark_to_join_prominent_veterans_to_announce_veterans_council__unveil__fighting_dems__website149_x&printer=1;_ylt=AgE0FrT2AmTvXWdaNa3Z8cMJKekE;_ylu=X3oDMTA3MXN1bHE0BHNlYwN0bWE-

Edit to add Fighting Dems website:

http://www.fighting-dems.com/

[blm]

1. I hope they get more media attention for this event. The last few events

highlighting Dem veterans have been getting roundly ignored by corporate media.

[incapsulated]

2. I can only hope

Since Dean is going to be there himself to unveil this, that could help.

[snowbear]

3. Awesome....... and don't forget........

the Fighting Dems website is at: http://www.fighting-dems.com/

:patriot: ~~ ~~ :patriot:

[incapsulated]

4. Thanks, I added it!

:hi:

[Adelante]

44. Incap and larissa - different website

If I'm not mistaken, the new DNC Fighting Dems website is here:

http://www.democrats.org/page/content/fightingdems/index/

[madfloridian]

5. When they get through with national security... look at Medicare D.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2540285

[madfloridian]

8. Seniors are hurting badly.

None of our Democrats are talking about the harm being done to them. Taxes are going up, real estate and IRS taxes, on seniors who thought they had it made with paid for homes.

If we are going to become the party of the military, I am not sure I am on board with that.

Back from an appt today, where I actually saw the doctor's office turn away a new patient saying they were not taking new Medicare patients. That person cried, but not because they didn't feel "safe"...they cried because they felt helpless and no one is noticing. Hubby and I gave them a hug, though we did not know them. It did not help much though.

[incapsulated]

10. I agree that those are important issues

This is a diffrent issue, about addressing Veterans concerns (they also have massive healthcare issues, thanks to Bush's war) and getting Democrats elected. If you are concerned about the lack of attention paid to seniors and medicare then why don't you write Dean and the DNC. They can deal with more than one issue at a time.

[madfloridian]

12. No, military comes first.

That program was taken straight from the Third Way, and they are going to dictate policy.

I have done enough writing and talking.

Let them be the military party. The GOP is smart enough that maybe they will take up the issues for seniors.

[incapsulated]

14. The "military" is part of our party

We have veterans who are Democrats. We have veterans who are running as Democrats. We want service men and women to vote for Democrats. Why do you want to exclude them? Are you accusing Dean of being "Third Way", now? Jesus.

[madfloridian]

17. Exclude them? No.

I want some priorities back. I don't know what Dean is anymore. He belongs to the party now, and he must do their bidding.

[incapsulated]

18. I don't believe Dean is doing anyone's "bidding"

He wants the DNC to represent ALL of the party and GET DEMOCRATS ELECTED.

I guess I missed the memo where the DNC abandoned seniors and health care issues.

We can walk and chew gum at the same time.

[madfloridian]

19. Priority One is Military.

A lot of us have noticed that the National Security issue being put forth by the Third Way is being considered our leading issue.

The Medicare D plan hit a new phase this week. Not a word from Democrats on anything but keeping safe.

I had to keep adding to my own post on the subject because no one cared.

If we are going to become the nationalistic party, I am not sure I am on board that much.

[incapsulated]

23. In case you hadn't noticed

The Democrats are percieved as weak on National Security. It was the ONLY issue that had Kerry trailing Bush in 2004. The repukes kill us over and over on this issue, taking seats from Democrats perceived as weak on National Security. I don't know of many people abandoning the Democrats because they believe the Rethugs will give them better health care, do you? I agree that the Dems need to address that issue, and I know they will, but it is already an issue we win on, the strategy is to strengthen our weaknesses.

And since when does caring about veterans, who are American citizens, make us "nationalistic"? This announcement isn't even about National Security. It was about vets, their issues, and vets who are running as Democrats.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

40. howard dean will show you what's weak about Dems! NOTHING

:kick:

[madfloridian]

25. What about seniors being turned away from doctors for having Medicare.

Are they not part of the party?

[incapsulated]

26. Of course they are and no one is excluding them

There are a lot of people with a lot of different issues in our party. A lot of those seniors are veterans, too, you know. Why is it either/or? It isn't.

[dogman]

13. Didn't see much about national security.

It seems to be about getting Democrats elected to fix a lot of problems that cannot be addressed until we gain control of the Congressional agenda. Medicare is a serious problem that seniors are going to have to make an issue. Local LTTEs that I have seen mainly praise it. The GOP PR is in action that is for sure. Until those affected can draw attention to their plight they will be ignored. Seniors have always had a voice before but, with AARP being in on this, their doesn't seem to be an uproar yet. On "The Road to the Whitehouse" last weekend I saw Wes Clark speak about this problem of privatization of Medicare. Most of the "Fighting Dems" I've seen have also spoken about these problems. I know health care was one of the primary issues addressed by Tammy Duckworth.

[madfloridian]

15. We are becoming what the Republican party was...

concerned only with national security to the exclusion of everything else.

If you think seniors are fine, that is very good. I wil tell that person the doctors turned away today. Ok?

[dogman]

20. Hardly.

This is about veterans and military families, the GOP doesn't care about them. I haven't even seen a mention of national security in any of the links or in the DNC press release. If you look at the records of most Congressmen and Senators and those in the current administration you will see there are few GOP veterans.

[BootinUp]

27. I think that topic deserves its own thread

please let the issue of this thread have a fair hearing, you have had your say no?

[madfloridian]

28. No, because I belong to the party as much as anyone else.

I have a right to post what I think when it is reasonable.

I think our party has it priorities out of order, and I believe after some research that the same ones are calling the shots completely.

I do think it is important to say that.

[BootinUp]

29. now have you had your say on that issue?

in this thread?

[madfloridian]

32. Wow, I guess.

.

[Jai4WKC08]

31. The only priority is on electing Democrats

Are you so prejudiced against the military that you think a candidate who is a veteran doesn't care about any issues but the military? And please don't give me that, poor little me, I was called prejudiced... I'm asking sincerely.

Dean and Clark and most everybody realize that these Fighting Dems are damn good candidates. Moreover, the "theme" of a Fighting Dem party is a damn good strategy.

Americans want tough leaders. Hell, almost everybody here at DU wants tough leaders. Don't we all complain about the spineless ones? You don't have to have been in the military to be tough, but most people who have been in the military are.

[tishaLA]

33. Well of course we want them tough

Unless, of course, they belong to a group we don't like. Or endorse candidates we don't agree with 100%. Or propose an idea we have never heard before and therefore doesn't fit in with the established hegemony.

In which case, they make us just like republicons. :sarcasm:

[madfloridian]

34. We have different priorities.

I am a fighting Democrat, my friends are as well. The seniors in our area are fighting to survive, so they are fighting as well...whether Democrat or not.

[Jai4WKC08]

35. Oh, electing Democrats is not a high priority for you?

And you ignored my question. Why do you assume that these Fighting Dem candidates don't care about, for example, senior healthcare? You think they don't have parents? You think they won't get old some day? You think they're not as compassionate as you are? Why?

Oh, btw. The VA doesn't NOT take care of most veterans. Only if they have a service connected disability and most of the Fighting Dems do not.

[madfloridian]

36. Stop making it sound like I don't care about veterans.

I am saying that I don't think our party should be putting national security front and center and ignoring the plight of seniors.

All are equal in importance.

No, just electing Democrats should not be priority. I will do it this year, but not after this unless I see more listening to the people.

This year is one in which I will do it to make Howard Dean's efforts as chair look good. But after that I just don't know.

[Sparkly]

37. How about this...

How about they put national security front and center during election campaigns. It's an important topic where we have a lot of ground to gain.

Then when they are in office, they work on everything including those issues that are critical to seniors.

Is that a strategy you could accept?

[Jai4WKC08]

38. I didn't say you don't care about veterans

I said you don't seem to think veterans care about anyone else.

I also didn't say anything about "JUST" electing Democrats, as tho that were the only priority. I said it is a high priority. Doesn't mean the other things don't matter.

But the bottom line is, Democrats cannot help seniors, or anyone else, unless they retake a majority in Congress. That means electing Democrats has to come first. That is the reality.

[AtomicKitten]

6. This has teeth.

thanks for posting it; we need some good news :)

[BootinUp]

7. Oh this is good.

I like seeing Clark and Dean working together like this. And an excellent cause too.

[madfloridian]

9. Dean's on CNN about 5:25...to talk military I guess.

Sorry if my disappointment is so obvious. I will tape it and watch it later, maybe.

[madfloridian]

11. We got the phone of the person turned away by the doctor...

Guess we will call them to see if we can help in any way. Our Democrats are too busy trying to be as strong as the Republicans. They don't have time to worry about seniors.

I am very sad today that this is what is happening.

[Donna Zen]

22. Plugging the holes

We always win in any poll regarding health care because people do trust us, our greatest hole is the military/security issue. Once people believe that we aren't going to sweep all of the boats of the table. (remember that ad they ran against McGovern...that's where this shit about Dems being weak on defense started,) the voters will hear our ideas on everything else. That does not change the party...that changes the package.

Anyway, General Clark spoke at length about turning around our broken care system during his trip to NH. He believes that we must move to a single payer system, and he was specific in how we can get there. It must be remembered that the military has one of the largest single payer systems in the world. In addition he talked about Medicare D.

Eric Massa continues to discuss health care with the voters; it is a signature issue for him.

Plugging the holes in the Democrats resume is important for another reason: until the Democrats can vote against every crap piece of military spending, there will be no way to pay for future improvements in health care...education...or anything else. Currently, Democrats are being held hostage by the iron-clad republican generated meme of "weak on defense."

[trof]

16. Will the Fighting Repug Veterans have a website too?

Oh wait.
There aren't any.
nevermind
:-)

[truebrit71]

21. LOL!!

:rofl:

[w8liftinglady]

46. duke cunningham....oh,wait.you're right

[tishaLA]

24. A safety net for military families is so important

I'm glad to see the party getting out in front of this and looking at new ways of keeping families of all kinds safe instead of being inert like the republicons have been--wanting to do the same under-serving they have done since the 40s.

A new vision like this on veteran issues is a real boon to the party. WTG Den. Clark and Mr. Fowler!

[Sparkly]

30. I hope one of you can call in and give a report to the rest of us!!

(I'm in my car at that time...) :(

Anyway, it sounds like another good thing!!

K&R :kick:

[FrenchieCat]

39. Excellent!

We are the party of "Security" of all kind.

The GOP is the party of "Insecurity and Incompentence"!

Thank you General Clark, Chairman Dean and all who participated in this. Fightin'Dems....I'm one of youse! :toast:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

41. KICK

:kick:

[Totally Committed]

42. Great news!

:kick:

TC

[CarolNYC]

43. Nice...

Great to see Clark and Dean working together on this....

Go Fightin' Dems!

Maybe if we get enough of them elected, they can actually do something about fixing the mess that health care so that we can get something accomplished, other than just complaining about what a mess it is. ;)

[Cha]

45. This is way beyond Excellent!

This needed to be done and they did it!

National Securtity is the issue that the repukes have had the voters cowered on in the past ..well, that's about to irrevocably change, baby!

To General Clark and Chairman Dean..:patriot: :patriot: :toast: