On the Ground in Illinois' 10th
Hello and welcome to Illinois' 10th District! My name is Matt Kuzma, and I am the newest field organizer for 21st Century Democrats. During the last few weeks, I've been working with the Dan Seals for Congress campaign here in Chicago's northern suburbs.Last Sunday, I helped hang up about 200 signs on the walls of a hotel ballroom in Deerfield, IL. We were taking part in the Tenth District Democratic Convention. About 500 Democrats from the 10th District showed up to hear all of the local and national Democratic candidates, including Dan. The keynote was given by Senator Dick Durbin, who announced his endorsement for Dan at the event! After the Senator finished, there was a straw poll, and Dan won 180-44 over his primary opponent. We hope this is just the first of many victories on the way to Capitol Hill!
Much of my time on the campaign has been spent working on the phone bank in our Deerfield headquarters. I recruit, train and assist the volunteers who are reaching out to voters seven days a week. While phone banks are far from glamorous, they are tremendously important to any campaign and our volunteers have been amazing.
I believe Dan Seals is a prototype for the next generation of Democratic leaders. A finance professional in his mid-thirties, Dan served on Capitol Hill, taught English in Japan, and earned graduate degrees in business and international economics. Dan is a natural leader with a combination of skills that seem to be so rare these days: he has the intelligence and experience to tackle the key issues of the day, the empathy to really hear people's concerns, and the management skills to get things done. I think he would be a strong and independent representative for this district and bring real change to Washington.
Chicago Tribune Endorses Dan Seals (IL-10)
Last week, The Chicago Tribune editorial board endorsed Dan Seals in Illinois’ 10th Congressional District Democratic primary. In the endorsement annoucement, The Tribune called Dan “smart” and “well prepared” and praised him for having a “better grasp of local issues and concerns” than his primary opponent, Jay Footlik.
This important endorsement was followed by Dan’s big win in the Tenth Congressional District Democrats Convention Straw poll on January 20th. Dan easily defeated Jay Footlik 180-44, and recieved the endorsement of US Senator Dick Durbin during the event.
See Dan’s speech at the Tenth District Democrats Convention:
With the support of The Tribune and Senator Durbin, Dan has amassed an impressive list of edorsments including Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-10), Congressman Jim Clyburn (SC-6), The Chicago-Sun Times, The Pioneer Press, and The Daily Herald. For a complete list of endorsements you can visit Dan’s website, www.dansealsforcongress.com.
From the Executive Director - Economic Justice 40 Years Later
Yesterday, as 21st Century Democrats' offices were closed to celebrate the national holiday in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., it occurred to me how dissatisfied King would be about the state of civil rights and economic justice in America today.Nearly 40 years ago, King spoke on behalf of the garbage workers striking in Memphis, “…you are reminding the nation it is a crime for people to live in this rich nation and receive starvation wages.” Just days before he was taken from us, King was leading the Poor People’s Campaign to raise awareness and demand that Congress address the issue of poverty in America – not just for African Americans, but for all poor whatever their racial and ethnic heritage.
By this time, King was also a leader in the anti-war movement urging to end the Vietnam war. He chastised Congress for providing "military funds with alacrity and generosity," yet appropriating "poverty funds with miserliness." He fully understood the connection between an immoral war and the continuance of poverty for tens of millions of Americans.
Today, King would be leading the American people against the war in Iraq and decrying the expenditure of $487 billion so far (estimates are we will spend over $1 trillion before the war is “over”) to continue another immoral war while ignoring more than 35 million Americans who live in poverty, tens of millions more who earn just above poverty, and over 47 million Americans without health insurance.
King said economic justice won’t be given, we have to ask for it and earn it. As we at 21st Century Democrats double our efforts to ask – and work for – economic justice in America, I know we will be closer to this goal at the end of 2008 by training field organizers and electing progressives who recognize that “justice is indivisible.”
In this way, we will take steps forward this year to build a more just and fair American society.
I hope you will support our efforts in 2008 and ask others you know to join us along the way.
Republican Confessions: How To Rig An Election
We’ve let Republican dirty tricks affect our elections for too long! And what’s worse is that now some of these criminals are trying to profit from their misdeeds. Allen Raymond’s book, How to Rig an Election: Confessions of a Republican Operative, is selling for$16.50 on Amazon.com.
Help us combat these disgusting Republican tactics with a recurring gift of $16.50 today
Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) selected for DCCC's Red to Blue Program
Mary Jo Kilroy was selected for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s Red to Blue fund raising program. DCCC Chairman Congressman Chris Van Hollen …
From CQ Politics:
Mary Jo Kilroy, Ohio’s 15th (Western Columbus and suburbs).
Kilroy, an elected commissioner in the county that includes Columbus, has a return engagement on the “Red to Blue” list: She nearly defeated Rep. Deborah Pryce in 2006. Several Republicans are running in the March 4 primary election, the best-known of whom is state Sen. Steve Stivers.
Click Here to Read Chairman Van Hollen’s Post on Daily Kos
OR
Click Here to Contribute to the Kilroy Campaign
21st Century Democrats Endorses Dan Seals (IL-10)
21st Century Democrats is thrilled to announce its endorsement of Dan Seals for the United States Congress. After nearly unseating obstructionist Republican Congressman Mark Kirk in 2006, Dan is prepared to finish the job this year. His race is expected to be one of the hardest fought contests in the nation, but 21st Century Democrats is confident that Dan is the best candidate to bring positive change to Illinois’ 10th Congressional District.
21st Century Democrats has already put an experienced field organizer on the ground in the 10th district to promote Dan’s vision for our country. Our organizer recruits and manages volunteers who knock on doors, make phone calls and talk with voters about Dan’s message of positive change. We are excited to be able to support the Seals’ campaign, but we can’t do it alone. Click here to help us keep our organizer working on the ground in Dan’s district!
In 2006, Dan was the winner of 21st Century Democrats’ Peoples Choice Candidate Challenge. Dan was able to garner over 47% of the vote even as he was outspent by his opponent nearly 2 to 1. This year, 21st Century Democrats is committed to ensuring that Dan has all the resources he needs to win the election and give the people of Illinois’ 10th district a Congressman who will value their needs above the wishes of George W. Bush.
Dan Seals is a strong progressive leader who will work to restore the American Dream. He is committed to building an economy that provides genuine opportunity for all workers, a health care system that is affordable for all people, a public education system that serves all students, and a society that protects its natural environment. 21st Century Democrats is honored to be working with the Seals’ campaign and we hope that you will join us as we fight to elect Dan in 2008.
Or
Learn More About Dan’s Race
Andrew Rice on Health Care in America
My wife Apple and I were recently reminded why so many Americans are frustrated and anxious about healthcare.Our 11-month old son Parker was hospitalized here in Oklahoma City for three days last November with pneumonia. He received excellent care and, like most youngsters his age, he has rebounded very quickly from what was a scary time for all of us. But, that is only half the story.
One month later we learned that our health insurance company was refusing to pay the $10,000 hospital bill because they said our baby Parker had a "pre-existing condition." I'm not kidding. When we argued that baseless reason away, they changed their excuse to "improper notification" by the treating physician, and said it was not a big deal because the hospital would just "write it off." They don't think it is a "big deal" to avoid providing the coverage we pay them for every month, and instead have the Oklahoma taxpayer foot the bill. That tells you something about how they see the world.
The career politicians in Washington do not have the courage and integrity to reform this system, while 47 million Americans go uninsured and those of us who are insured must fight a system that is structured to deny claims first and ask questions later!
I want to be your U.S. Senator so I can take some Oklahoma common sense and values to Washington and change the culture of special interests that see everyday Americans as numbers and obstacles to their priorities. My background in Asia and Africa helping the poor and people suffering from HIV and as a divinity school student has guided my principles to stand up for the common good and be a voice for those who are invisible to the interests who think they own Washington.
I am dedicated to reducing the cost of health care and improving access. When Washington failed to pass S-CHIP into law that would have expanded health insurance coverage for low income children, I worked in the Oklahoma State Senate to expand health coverage to 38,000 children from low-income families. In the U.S. Senate, I will continue this work and make health care more affordable for all.
I invite you to go to www.andrewforoklahoma.com and support my campaign. I'm in an uphill fight to change the status quo and I cannot do it alone. As we are seeing across the country, people are hungry for change, but the status quo is not going to go away easily.
My best to you and your family.
21st Century Democrats Endorses Kate Brown
21st Century Democrats is proud to endorse State Senator Kate Brown in her bid to be Oregon's next Secretary of State. Senator Brown's distinguished record of accomplishment in the State Legislature and her bold vision for the future make her an outstanding choice for Oregon voters.Since winning her first race by just 7 votes in 1992, Senator Brown has continually fought to create a more just society and protect the rights of her constituent. Her work has made Oregon a better place to live and 21st Century Democrats is delighted to be part of the effort to elect Senator Brown as the next Oregon Secretary of State. Click here to learn more
From the Political Director - Happy New Year
Although 2008 began a few days ago I wanted to wish everyone the best.The political calendar has kicked-in with the Iowa Presidential Caucuses last week, New Hampshire tonight and then Nevada and South Carolina in the ending weeks of January. (Michigan and Florida are in the mix too but outside of the DNC schedule so we’ll see what ultimately happens with those states.)
Before we get to February 5th, I wanted to share with you some photographs from Tom Bullock’s swearing–in ceremony for a city council seat in Lakewood, Ohio. You may remember that we supported Tom in his two primaries in 2007. He ultimately won in the general election by 90 votes.
I had breakfast with Tom in Lakewood on Decmber 30th. He was very happy for the assistance Twenty-First Century Democrats gave his campaign and he wanted to thank the people who made donations to him over the internet.
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown swore Tom in (along with the rest of the City Council and the new Mayor) on Saturday.
Tom Bullock is congratulated by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown / Photo by Ivor Karabatkovic
Tom Bullock’s candidacy in 2007 and Sherrod Brown’s Senate campaign in 2006 are the reason we do what we do at Twenty-First Century Democrats. We help elect progressive thinking Democrats to office because we believe that if you want to change America you have to elect people with principles and values on election day.
We’ll be rolling out our list of new endorsements in a few days. I think you’ll see good candidates who will make a progressive difference when they are elected.
Thanks for your support in 2007!
Onward to 2008!
Tom Bullock Sworn In
Before we get too caught up in the excitement of the 2008 elections, it is important that we take the time to celebrate our victories in 2007. At Twenty-First Century Democrats one of our accomplishments from last year was the election of Tom Bullock in Lakewood, Ohio. On January 5th, Tom, new Lakewood Mayor Ed Fitzgerald, and the other members of the City Council were sworn in by U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown. Tom is an exceptional candidate who had to win not only the general election, but two primary elections to claim a seat on the City Council. Twenty-First Century Democrats is thrilled to have had the opportunity to work with Tom and we look forward to great things from him in the future.Sign Up
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