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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsOpen letter to Debbie Wasserman Schulz
Your web page explained that you canot read email from people outside your district. That is an odd step for someone with a national position, a chair of the Democratic -->NATIONAL<-- Committee. However, that is not the point. I will bring up a duty that I feel you have not done, a duty that, as possibly the most powerful Democrat in Florida, you should already be on. As Florida election misery aka GOP Vote suppression affects the nation, and indeed, the world, I would ask my fellow DUers to read this too, though I think they will see my point more readily than you.
Simply put, we know that the GOP is set to STEAL ANOTHER NATIONAL ELECTION. Let's call it what it is. They know Florida is a tipping point, and for various reasons, the race is too close not to be stolen. This very page shows people that are clearly citizens, whose right to vote is denied. We know the Superpacs are planning to literally drown us with paid ads, and that they are preapred to resort to the same thuggery they did in 2000. Go ahead, read papers of even liberal papers like the Tampa Bay Times, check the comments section, and hear people literaly talk of using the "stand your ground" laws to shoot Democrats in Tampa during their "convention." Go ahead and see the Superpacs raise money, as Rick Scott gladly purges voters. Why am I mad at you, you ask?
Because YOU have a NATIONAL DUTY to speak on these things. You get a LOT of time on MSNBC, CNN, and I doubt Current would ban you (though I am sure Cenk U and Jennifer G could give you a finer talking to than I ever could. When you know that this PURGE (and let's use the nice Stalinist word, PURGE) is happening, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU? It's bad enough that on the local level, the Florida Democratic party is so docile that our best hopes of beating Rick Scott are Alex Sink and Chain-gang Charlie Crist, you know, that GOP the Dems want to bring in. But, you, even if the local party is weak, have a national pulpit you can speak from.
You know what you should be doing: you should be getting to TV, bringing along victimized voters, and make Mittens and his sidekick Trump have to tapdance. To quote the idiot that weak Florida democrats helped put in Tallahassee: let's get to work.
bigtree
(86,013 posts)Debbie Wasserman Schulz has been on the job and kicking ass against republicans and their presidential campaign before most people even thought of working in this election.
All of your hyper-ventilated screaming at her to do whatever it is you want looks ridiculous in the face of her continuing and tireless efforts at the DNC.
Where the hell have YOU been?
Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)but I am here in Fl and I agree with his assessment.
bigtree
(86,013 posts)If they want her in Florida she'll come to Florida. If they want her on TV, she'll go on TV. Otherwise, her main job is to organize resources and voters in Florida and in all of the other states, as well.
Like I said, she's been on the job. She can't very well run these Florida Democrats' races for them, can she?
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)like 2004. Now is the time to take action to stop this thief.
Your call for complacency is sad.
Now is the time to challenge, NOT AFTER THE ELECTION.
Where is the Federal Government when states are impinging on citizens (Democratic citizens) rights.
bigtree
(86,013 posts)Last edited Wed May 30, 2012, 12:04 AM - Edit history (2)
more hyperbolic nonsense.
She's been working with the Justice Dept. to actually challenge the laws. She's been waging war on the Florida voter suppression initiatives for years, most notably last year when she accused the republican party of working to 'rig the election.' The DNC has put in place several voter protection initiatives and programs to counter the push from republicans and more efforts are certainly anticipated in the future. She's not just sitting around waiting for DU to set her straight. She's been on the job before many folks out here knew spit about the republicans' efforts and has been a major force in making those voter suppression efforts public and leading demands for accountability and justice.
the President and the party are doing much more in coordination with the Justice Dept . . .
Voting Rights Institute of the Democratic National Committee is a permanent organization created to monitor developments in election law, advocate to make voting more accessible, and provide guidance on voting rights and election administration issues. This work is integrally tied to our Party's platform, which commits to fully protecting and enforcing the fundamental right to vote.
The Democratic National Committee is dedicated to ensuring that the process of voting remains open and fair for all eligible Americans. We continue to work to defeat any legislative or political effort that erodes the most fundamental of American rightsthe right to vote.
Under the leadership of its chair Donna Brazile, the Voting Rights Institute focuses on the protection and expansion of voting rights in a variety of ways, including:
Voting Rights Policy Development
Research and Publication
Voter Protection Organizing
Redistricting Support
Voting Rights Litigation Support
read more: http://www.democrats.org/about/voting_rights_institute
The National Lawyers Council of the Democratic Party
works to support President Obama's agenda, promote and protect the right to vote, and engage Democratic attorneys in a variety of ways. Sign up to receive information on relevant events, legislation, calls to action, and leadership opportunities throughout the year.
read more: http://my.democrats.org/page/s/national-lawyers-council-sign-up?source=Demsfooter
The Accountability Project is a platform for you to hold candidates accountable for their claims, their public statements, and their campaign tactics. No matter where you live, you can:
If you have a video camera of any kind, or even a cell phone that records video, you can document Republican candidate events, including speeches, forums, and public meetings.
You can submit copies of candidate mailers, emails, and attack ads.
You can also report upcoming public events in your area, so that other volunteers can document them.
read more: http://my.democrats.org/page/content/ap/home
DNC Protect the Vote Initiative:
http://www.protectingthevote.org/?source=DNC_HQB
December 23
COLUMBIA, S.C. The Justice Department on Friday rejected South Carolinas law requiring voters to show photo identification at the polls, saying it makes it harder for minorities to cast ballots. It was the first voter ID law to be refused by the federal agency in nearly 20 years.
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/12/justice-dept-rejects-south-carolina-voter-id-law/1
WASHINGTON (AP) - A photo ID requirement for voters in Texas could disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of registered Hispanics, the Justice Department declared Monday in its latest move against Republican-led voting changes in many states that have drawn protests from minorities, poor people and students. The Justice objection means that now a federal court in Washington will decide whether Texas, as well as South Carolina, will be allowed to enforce its new voter photo ID requirements.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/justice-department-rejects-sc-voter-id-law-says-it-makes-it-harder-for-minorities-to-vote/2011/12/23/gIQAqDpDEP_print.html
Attorney General Eric Holder blasted efforts to keep people from the polls and vowed to throw the full weight of the Justice Department behind efforts to protect voting rights.
Holder said the department would "carefully review" changes to voting rules and practices -- including political district boundaries -- in the 16 states that require "preclearance" due to their history of discrimination.
Holder also vowed to crack down on deceptive practices and pushed for the passage of legislation set to be introduced Wednesday that would establish tough criminal penalties for those who engage in fraudulent voting practices.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h9o8CE6DGgSbzkLpZ3moCZIYuOqg?docId=CNG.249cb628071b3a25f19cf14352a8df81.921
Attorney General Eric Holder Speaks at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library & Museum
Austin, TX ~ Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Under this Administration, our Civil Rights Division and its Voting Section have taken meaningful steps to ensure integrity, independence, and transparency in our enforcement of the Voting Rights Act. We have worked successfully and comprehensively to protect the voting rights of U.S. service members and veterans, and to enforce other laws that protect Americans living abroad, citizens with disabilities, and language minorities. As part of our aggressive enforcement of the Motor Voter law, this year alone, we filed two statewide lawsuits to enforce the requirement that voter registration opportunities be made available at a wider variety of government offices beyond just the local department of motor vehicles. And were seeing promising results from this work. For example, after filing a lawsuit in Rhode Island, we reached an agreement with state agencies that resulted in more voters being registered in the first full month after our lawsuit than in the entire previous two-year reporting period.
Were also working to ensure that the protections for language minorities included in the Voting Rights Act are aggressively enforced. These protections now apply to more than 19 million voting-age citizens. These are our Spanish-speaking friends and neighbors, our Chinese-speaking friends and neighbors, and a large and growing part of all our communities. In just the past year, weve filed three lawsuits to protect their rights. And, today, were actively reviewing nationwide compliance.
http://www.justice.gov/iso/opa/ag/speeches/2011/ag-speech-111213.html
Obama Administration Blocks Texas' New Voter ID Law
http://www.kxnet.com/story/17136671/justice-dept-opposes-texas-voter-id-law
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765558948/Justice-Dept-TX-law-could-limit-Hispanic-voting.html
http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/03/12/3804561/texas-voter-id-law-heads-to-federal.html
Dept. of Justice Rejects South Carolina 'Discriminatory' Voter ID Law
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/justice-department-rejects-sc-voter-id-law-says-it-makes-it-harder-for-minorities-to-vote/2011/12/23/gIQAqDpDEP_print.html
http://www.wtam.com/cc-common/news/sections/newsarticle.html?feed=104668&article=9542778
http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/12/justice-dept-rejects-south-carolina-voter-id-law/1
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)bigtree
(86,013 posts)sounds like projection. The OP just ignored the entire first round of the fight and acts like they invented the idea of fighting back. Hyperventilating on a message board isn't . . . well, you know.
Now, where's that little button . . . ah, here it is.
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)Instead of slamming me, you offered something I can and will take advantage of.
Liberal_Stalwart71
(20,450 posts)dflprincess
(28,091 posts)No doubt one of those "strongly worded letters" - what more can we ask of her?
AzDar
(14,023 posts)WillyT
(72,631 posts)jannyk
(4,810 posts)hedda_foil
(16,376 posts)(Even FL only issues) contact her at the DNC. If it's related to her own re-election, contact her through her campaign office or website. The official .gov site is for constituent issues only and even then, if the question is campaign related, it has to go to one of the political offices. It's the law.
UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)Chill the fuck out.
MannyGoldstein
(34,589 posts)If we are too pushy, there's a definite chance that Fox News could call us mean names, and nobody wants that! Better to tread carefully.
Any suggestions on an opening compromise would be appreciared here.
Smilo
(1,944 posts)but ALL elected Democrats need to get off their respective backsides and start shouting up that things stink in GOPT land - that the GOPT are desperate are lying and doing anything and everything they can to win all elections. Once they have taken that step then the Dems need to get out there and start taking action - there are plenty of us that are trying to do something - but until someone in an elected position - preferably a leadership position does something we are spitting in the wind.
eridani
(51,907 posts)This letter is pointless unless you access the DNC email system. All national leaders have separate sites for their local and national constituencies. The following links are for national leadership positions.
Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Democratic Whip
http://www.democraticwhip.gov/content/email-whip
1705 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-4131 = ph
202-225-4300 - fx
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Democratic Leader
http://www.democraticleader.gov/contact
Office of the Democratic Leader
H-204, US Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-0100 - ph
Democratic National Committee
http://my.democrats.org/page/s/contactissues
grantcart
(53,061 posts)Frankly I hope that she is not 'personally' reading any emails but is having her staff do it and when it comes to her district representation they should be focused on district matters.
Matters for national concerns should go to the national staff and she should be getting summaries and random sampling, not 'reading everyone's email'.
DLevine
(1,788 posts)Tarheel_Dem
(31,249 posts)DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)But the fact is, we have been getting our heads handed to us because we have not been agressive, and yes, Florida is a state that shows that idea very well. I have read here about stuff going on behind the scenes, which, upon reading it, makes me tip my hat to DWS a BIT, however, the fact is, the Media has been dead silent on the issue of Florida, and DWS needs to take the fight to the NATIONAL MEDIA. Considering that Tray martin's blood is not even dry, and that Rick Scott turned down the train (a point that should be hammered whenever people ask what Obama ever tried to do for jobs) this should not be as difficult. It may be sad, but the truth is, this needs to be fought on the boob tube.
alp227
(32,073 posts)Regarding the selection of the mayor of Los Angeles as the convention chair, DWS had an empty response to the host's criticisms of the mayor's record in the city. I wish the DNC had a more effective leader and communicator like Russ Feingold or Jan Schakowsky. As far as I can see, DWS is an ineffective leader.
DonCoquixote
(13,616 posts)note the defiance, as they say "there will be more names."