(no subject)
Dear Amy Truax,
After watching the Republicans attack him over and over for four straight nights, John Kerry launched the general election campaign last night with a stirring midnight rally in Ohio. In his speech, Kerry made it clear that the Republicans aren't going to get away with the lying smears that define their politics of personal destruction.
Here are some excerpts from Kerry's speech:
The election comes down to this. If you believe this country is heading in the right direction, you should support George Bush. But if you believe America needs to move in a new direction, join with us. John and I offer a better plan that will make us stronger at home and more respected in the wo rld. And we need your help to do that.
For three days in New York, instead of talking about jobs and the economy, we heard anger and insults from the Republicans. And I'll tell you why. It's because they can't talk about the real issues facing Americans. They can't talk about their record because it's a record of failure.
We all saw the anger and distortion of the Republican Convention. For the past week, they attacked my patriotism and my fitness to serve as commander in chief. Well, here's my answer. I'm not going to have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they cou ld have and by those who have misled the nation into Iraq.
The vice president even called me unfit for office last night. I guess I'll leave it up to the voters whether five deferments makes someone more qualified to defend this nation than two tours of duty.
Let me tell you what I think makes someone unfit for duty. Misleading our nation into war in Iraq makes you unfit to lead this nation. Doing nothing while this nation loses millions of jobs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting 45 million Americans go without health care makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting the Saudi royal family control our energy costs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Handing out billions of government contracts to Halliburton while you're still on their payroll makes you unfit. That's the record of George Bush and Dick Cheney. And it's not going to cha nge. I believe it's time to move America in a new direction; I believe it's time to set a new course for America.
And we have a specific plan to do just that. So tomorrow morning, John and Elizabeth and Teresa and I are hitting the road across America's heartland. From here, we'll go out and talk with Americans in towns across Ohio, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan. And because a stronger America begins at home , we'll talk about our plan to create jobs, cut taxes for the middle class, lower health care costs, and make America safer and more secure.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Dear friends of women's equality,
We were so inspired these past two weeks watching women reach historic new heights in this year's Olympic Games. Forty-four percent of all Olympic athletes were women - the highest percentage ever!
The Olympics this year also had the fewest all-male delegations. Only five countries sent no women athletes to compete, compared to 12 countries in Sydney in 2000 and 26 countries only eight short years ago in Atlanta . Afghanistan, a country previously banned from the games because of its cruel gender apartheid, brought three women runners to compete - even the bearer of the Afghan flag in the opening ceremonies was a woman.
If that was not enough, for the first time ever two women hosted and organized the Olympics. Dora Bakoyianni, Athens' first-ever woman mayor, is also the first woman to serve as mayor of a host city. As for spearheading Greece's winning bid for the Olympic Games, the credit goes to Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who was later called back to be the chief organizer.
In the United States delegation, we truly saw the Title IX generation at their best. Title IX is the historic federal law of 1972 that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs, including athletics. Title IX is the reason women and girls' opportunities in athletics have increased so dramatically. Since Title IX went into effect in 1972, the number of young women playing sports in college has increased by more than 400% and the number of young women playing interscholastic sports in high school has increased 847%.
The payoff was clear in the Olympics this year. U.S. women's team sports dominated - with soccer, softball, and basketball taking the gold, and gymnastics taking silver. Without Title IX, we wouldn't have made such amazing gains in team sports for women.
And it is only because of the efforts of women's rights organizations like the Feminist Majority Foundation that Title IX's provisions for equality in athletic opportunities remains intact. In 2002, the Department of Education created the so-called Commission on Opportunity in Athletics to review Title IX. Stacked with opponents of Title IX, the Commission recommended weakening enforcement of Title IX.
The outcry from feminists and women athletes was so great that the Bush Administration ended up reaffirming Title IX in a quiet announcement in 2003. This victory shows what feminists can accomplish when we work together.
Now we must band together again to fight the newest attempt to water down Title IX. The Department of Education has issued proposed changes to the regulations to make it easier to use federal funding to hold segregated single-sex classes and schools. The proposed changes provide separate education with no guarantees of equality.
Women's educational and athletic opportunities are at stake. We cannot allow Title IX to be weakened, not when it helped women make such astounding gains not only in sports, but also in the fields of medicine, law, business, and more.
We need your help as we fight to protect Title IX. Even a small gift can help make us stronger and better able to protect women's educational and athletic gains. Donate now and keep the spirit of the Olympics alive.
For Equality,
Eleanor Smeal
Feminist Majority Foundation
Sue Klein
Education Equity Director
Dear friends of women's equality,
We were so inspired these past two weeks watching women reach historic new heights in this year's Olympic Games. Forty-four percent of all Olympic athletes were women - the highest percentage ever!
The Olympics this year also had the fewest all-male delegations. Only five countries sent no women athletes to compete, compared to 12 countries in Sydney in 2000 and 26 countries only eight short years ago in Atlanta . Afghanistan, a country previously banned from the games because of its cruel gender apartheid, brought three women runners to compete - even the bearer of the Afghan flag in the opening ceremonies was a woman.
If that was not enough, for the first time ever two women hosted and organized the Olympics. Dora Bakoyianni, Athens' first-ever woman mayor, is also the first woman to serve as mayor of a host city. As for spearheading Greece's winning bid for the Olympic Games, the credit goes to Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki, who was later called back to be the chief organizer.
In the United States delegation, we truly saw the Title IX generation at their best. Title IX is the historic federal law of 1972 that prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs, including athletics. Title IX is the reason women and girls' opportunities in athletics have increased so dramatically. Since Title IX went into effect in 1972, the number of young women playing sports in college has increased by more than 400% and the number of young women playing interscholastic sports in high school has increased 847%.
The payoff was clear in the Olympics this year. U.S. women's team sports dominated - with soccer, softball, and basketball taking the gold, and gymnastics taking silver. Without Title IX, we wouldn't have made such amazing gains in team sports for women.
And it is only because of the efforts of women's rights organizations like the Feminist Majority Foundation that Title IX's provisions for equality in athletic opportunities remains intact. In 2002, the Department of Education created the so-called Commission on Opportunity in Athletics to review Title IX. Stacked with opponents of Title IX, the Commission recommended weakening enforcement of Title IX.
The outcry from feminists and women athletes was so great that the Bush Administration ended up reaffirming Title IX in a quiet announcement in 2003. This victory shows what feminists can accomplish when we work together.
Now we must band together again to fight the newest attempt to water down Title IX. The Department of Education has issued proposed changes to the regulations to make it easier to use federal funding to hold segregated single-sex classes and schools. The proposed changes provide separate education with no guarantees of equality.
Women's educational and athletic opportunities are at stake. We cannot allow Title IX to be weakened, not when it helped women make such astounding gains not only in sports, but also in the fields of medicine, law, business, and more.
We need your help as we fight to protect Title IX. Even a small gift can help make us stronger and better able to protect women's educational and athletic gains. Donate now and keep the spirit of the Olympics alive.
For Equality,
Eleanor Smeal
Feminist Majority Foundation
Sue Klein
Education Equity Director
Week In Review
September 3, 2004
National Issues
Republican Convention Ends: Mission Still Not Accomplished. First, the GOP lined up so-called "moderate speakers" to give their convention a more inclusive face. Then they had all the speakers spend their time delivering negative attacks on John Kerry -- with no talk of substantive achievement, relief for the American middle class, or plans for a better future.
George Bush did get around to talking about a second term agenda on Thursday night. To help keep his speech in context, here are some quotes from the speech candidate Bush made 4 years ago to the Republican National Convention -- and what he did since then:
Candidate Bush said: "we will extend the promise of prosperity to every forgotten corner of this country"
President Bush did: Latest census figures show poverty has increased by more than a million Americans, and real median family income has gone down by more than $1,500 since 2000.
Candidate Bush said: "We will make prescription drugs available and affordable for every senior who needs them."
President Bush did: The White House prescription drug bill does more for drug companies than for seniors; forbids re-importation from Canada or negotiation for lower drug prices.
Candidate Bush said: "Now is the time to make Head Start an early learning program."
President Bush did: No increases for Head Start above the rate of inflation; the result is that only 60% of eligible children are included.
Candidate Bush said: "When America uses force in the world, the cause must be just, the goal must be clear, and the victory must be overwhelming."
President Bush did: Iraq. Iraq. IRAQ!
If you hear from anyone who was impressed by the speech, remind them: There's a big difference between what candidate Bush promises -- and what President Bush delivers!!
George Bush Does Admit He Wants To Privatize Social Security: Vision -- Or Nightmare? It's official. George Bush has admitted he wants to divert funds that are now earmarked for Social Security into "private accounts."
After watching the stock market rollercoaster for the last three and a half years, how can George Bush think this is the way to safeguard our retirement future? And how does he expect to pay for it?
Here's the bottom line: Bush will continue to pay Social Security benefits to current retirees, while allowing future retirees to save money tax-free in individual retirement accounts. According to the President's own economic estimates, this plan will cost the government $2 trillion dollars over the next ten years. The government will actually lose the revenue that goes to support Medicare and Social Security when baby boomers can begin to take advantage of it!
Who actually benefits from this plan? Not middle class Americans. Bush's plan for Americans to "own" their social security really allows wage earners in the top tenth percentile to "own" two-thirds of the benefits from this policy.
So where does the 2 trillion dollars come from? Will Bush tax his wealthy friends -- or will he cut back benefits and services to make up the difference?
Listening To What Republicans Say -- And What They Don't Say. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the GOP's featured prime time speaker on "compassion night", managed to get through his speech without ever mentioning the economy, jobs, or health care. Although he did find time to call people who disagreed with him "girlie-men". Very funny.
And Dick Cheney got through his speech on "opportunity night" without mentioning Halliburton. As Vice President, Cheney has received nearly $2 million in deferred compensation and bonuses from Halliburton -- sounds like a great opportunity to us!
Zell Miller, speaking on Anger Night, complained about John Kerry's votes on certain weapons systems -- but forgot to mention that Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney opposed the same weapons. And George Bush talked about his agenda for the next four years and neglected to mention unemployment, the uninsured, outsourcing -- or North Korea, Iran or even Osama Bin Laden!
Beyond The Convention: News Of Real Life.While Republicans celebrate George Bush's presidency this week, the economic news for women continues to show the real effects of his policies:
More women are living in poverty: Data shows the poverty rate for women --especially for single mothers -- has increased for the third straight year. The poverty rate for women and girls increased for the third year in a row, to 13.7%, from 13.3% in 2002. The poverty rate for single-mother families increased to 35.5% in 2003 from 33.7% in 2002. That means more than 1 in 3 households headed by single mothers are now living in poverty!
Women continue to get paid less for their work: Why are women falling behind? Besides the general loss of jobs and declining wages, the wage gap between men and women got worse in 2003. Women currently make 76 cents on the dollar compared to men. Real median earnings of women 15 and older fell 0.6 percent last year -- the first annual decline since 1995.
And women are losing access to health insurance: The number of women and girls without health insurance rose to 21.2 million, an increase of 927,000 over 2002. The uninsured rate rose more sharply among women than men between 2002 and 2003 (4% for women, 1% for men). And it's worse for women of color -- 30% of Latinas were uninsured last year, almost three times the rate of white women.
Next time you hear a Republican say W is for Women -- think about the increased number of women in poverty. Click here to get your women's vote center fact sheet, W is Wrong for Women.
Democrats Taking the Lead
Take Five! This week, CNN ran a feature on the "Sex and the City" vote and talked to young unmarried women about the Presidential election. Their response? They won't vote in the election because politics turns them off.
We know that single women are about much more than "Sex and the City". The 22 million women on their own who did not vote in the last election can change the direction of this country. If politics as usual turns them off -- it's up to us to turn them on.
Here's what YOU can do to make sure single women vote in this election. We know that the personal IS political -- so let's put it into action.
The DNC Women's Vote Center launched 'TAKE FIVE', a program encouraging women to create relationships with five unmarried women in YOUR life. Whether she's a coworker, the woman you see at the laundry mat, or your neighbor, all it takes is a first five minute conversation to get engaged with her -- and then follow up with the five women until election day to ensure they cast their ballot.
Click here for your own copy of TAKE FIVE.
Small Business Women Unite -- And John Kerry Means Business! All research shows that small businesswomen are clearly one of the key targets in the 2004 election. Reaching these swing voters is critical and we need your help!
A group of ambitious and talented volunteers headed by honorary chairs Senator Mary Landrieu (LA) and former Small Business Administrator Aida Alvarez, have recently announced a national outreach effort to identify women business owners who wish to publicly and actively support the Kerry-Edwards campaign. This group will support campaign outreach efforts to women business owners. Through email and direct contact, small businesswomen will receive the tools and information needed to get our message out.
Click here to join the Businesswomen for Kerry-Edwards Taskforce. For up-to-date reports about campaign activities, sign up at the Women For Kerry-Edwards website.
The Women's Leadership Forum also announced a new Business Council that will be working with the volunteers on the Kerry-Edwards Small Business Task force. WLF will be hosting a special afternoon of activities for women's business owners on September 29th. This supplemental day of programs will be held in conjunction with WLF's National Issues Conference -- Building a Stronger America -- With Womanpower!! The Conference, scheduled for September 29-October 1st, will bring together women from across the country for briefings by major democratic strategists and leaders. Women can register online for the conference today.
For more information about the WLF Conference please contact us.
America Can Do Better Bus Tour. The DNC's "America Can Do Better" bus tour made a number of stops across the country this week before arriving at New York City where the Republican National Convention was held. The bus tour highlighted Americans saying why they believe America can do better.
In New York, a Virginia Beach woman who supported Bush in 2000 spoke about her troubles paying for her husband's health care when he got ill and later died. "We came within three months of losing everything we had," she said. When asked if she is still a Republican, the 67-year-old proudly said, "I am a Democrat now, baby."
Why are YOU voting Democratic this November? Click here to tell us YOUR story!
Quotes Of The Week
"Four years ago, this page endorsed George W. Bush for president. We cannot do so again...because of an ill-conceived war and its aftermath, undisciplined spending, a shrinkage of constitutional rights and an intrusive social agenda. The Bush presidency is not what we had in mind. Our endorsement of John Kerry is not without reservations, but he is head and shoulders above the incumbent."- Seattle times Editorial Board, 8/27/04
"Over the last three years, more and more women have fallen into poverty, with the loss of jobs, decrease in wages and increase in the number of uninsured helping to push many women into an uncertain and potentially devastating financial situation," - Christina Smith FitzPatrick, senior policy analyst for the National Women's Law Center, quoted in Womens ENews August 29, 2004
Dear MoveOn member,
Republicans hoped that their convention would strike a ringing tone that would echo through the media for the next week. But between the speakers' nastiness and belligerence, John Kerry's swift and tough response, and our hard work, the momentum they're banking on is nowhere to be seen.
At a midnight rally last night, John Kerry stood up to Bush's attacks. "For the past week, they attacked my patriotism and even my fitness to serve as commander in chief," he said. "Here is my answer to them: I will not have my commitment to defend this country questioned by those who refused to serve when they could have and who misled America into Iraq."[1]
Now that the convention bubble has burst, we have an opportunity today to focus the media on the soap scum that remains. Commentators have been surprised at how ruthlessly negative and bitter the convention was - from the Purple Heart band-aids that Karl Rove's mentor handed out on the stadium floor [2] to Zell Miller's rabid attack on John Kerry [3]. Whether or not that perception solidifies into conventional wisdom depends on the conversation in the nation's editorial pages, where our letters to the editor can make a big difference. We've loaded up our letter to the editor tool with all the information and talking points you need to write a letter -- all it takes is a few minutes of your time.
Can you write a letter to the editor today? Go to:
http://www.moveonpac.org/lte/lte.html?zip=99802<e_campaign_id=10
And starting today, the Bush campaign will have to face the blowback from their cynical distortion of Kerry's record of service to our country -- both in Vietnam and in the Senate. People who have stayed quiet for decades about Bush's own record of service have been outraged by the smears against Kerry and are now stepping forward.
Yesterday, a Salon expose featuring a Bush family confidante broke the news that Bush was moved to Alabama because his father considered him a "political liability" and needed someone to "keep an eye on him." (Check out the story here.) And next week, Salon also reports that "60 Minutes" will feature former Texas Lieutenant Governor Ben Barnes, who's coming forward to describe how he pulled strings to get George Bush into the Air National Guard. In light of the Bush camp's repeated attacks on Kerry's military service, this could open a lot of uncomfortable questions about Bush's disappearance from duty in 1972.
We're also using this opportunity to launch the second ad in our 10 Weeks: Don't Get Mad, Get Even campaign. This great new web ad, directed by award-winning filmmaker Richard Linklater (Slacker, School of Rock), features a real Texan who offers a succinct rebuttal to the Bush's agenda.
Watch it now, at:
http://www.moveonpac.org/10weeks/
After one of the ugliest and most hate-filled conventions in recent history, John Kerry didn't waste a moment in answering President Bush's speech last night. He was on the air minutes after the President finished, delivering one of his boldest speeches to date to a midnight crowd in Springfield, OH.
"Let me tell you what I think makes someone unfit for duty," he said. "Misleading our nation into war in Iraq makes you unfit to lead this nation. Doing nothing while this nation loses millions of jobs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting 45 million Americans go without health care makes you unfit to lead this nation. Letting the Saudi royal family control our energy costs makes you unfit to lead this nation. Handing out billions of government contracts to Halliburton while you're still on their payroll makes you unfit. That's the record of George Bush and Dick Cheney. And it's not going to change. I believe it's time to move America in a new direction; I believe it's time to set a new course for America."[4]
It's clear that Kerry isn't going to yield an inch -- Republicans won't get a free pass for their distorted and divisive attacks on Kerry's record. And over the last week, MoveOn members have shown that we won't yield an inch, either. While the Republicans chanted in Madison Square Garden, we've had our best week ever, raising an incredible $2,600,000 to put more organizers on the ground, "Real People" ads on the air, and four wonderful new leaders in the Senate. We're stunned and inspired by your commitment.
The Republican convention didn't pan out the way George Bush and Karl Rove had hoped. Together, we can make sure that the nation sees how divisive and nasty the Republicans really are.
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper using our tool at:
http://www.moveonpac.org/lte/lte.html?zip=99802<e_campaign_id=10
And thanks again for all of your work to win back this country. The next 9 weeks may be tough, but together, we shall prevail.
Sincerely,
--Adam, Eli, Hannah, James, Laura, and the whole MoveOn PAC Team
September 3rd, 2004
Footnotes:
1. http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040903_35.html
2. http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040831/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_purple_heart_bandages
3. Amazingly, several bloggers have discovered that much of Miller's speech was cribbed from a long-circulating (and false) email chain letter. For the details, go to http://martinirepublic.com/item/481
4. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/02/politics/campaign/02CND-KERRY.html
Dear Amy,
In watching the Republican National Convention these past few days, I've realized, more clearly than ever, why the right wing's days are numbered. The show on the stage doesn't match the reality behind the curtain.
They know their actual policies are not popular, so their rhetoric is remarkably divorced from reality. They talk "opportunity," but practice tax cuts for the few and pay cuts for the many. They parade "compassion," even while our country suffers a record increase in poverty. They invoke "security" even as their catastrophic war of choice in Iraq has made America less safe.
You've probably had similar thoughts. And, like me, I bet you'd like to cut through the misleading rhetoric and help tell what's really happening in America today. You'd also probably like to see a convincing case laid out against the right wing on all of the issues that Americans care most about. Well, that's exactly why we've created Straight Talk:
http://straighttalk.ourfuture.org
Straight Talk is a rhetoric-busting issue guide. It cuts through the rhetoric of the right, lays out a progressive alternative, and provides tips on how to argue the case. It's also interactive - a living document that you can help shape. Please come to contribute your own facts, stories and insights and help build a resource that will arm activists and politicians to challenge the right:
http://straighttalk.ourfuture.org
Tonight, President Bush, will accept his party's nomination - and the gulf between rhetoric and reality will yawn greater than ever. So today - and in the days and months ahead - I encourage you to visit Straight Talk and tell the story of what's really happening in George Bush's America.
Americans are looking for change. Progressive ideas are strong and popular, and over the past months we've built new energy and sophistication in the movement to take back America. Together, we will transform this country.
The right wing knows the only way it can survive is to hide its agenda and its record from the American people. That's why this country needs some Straight Talk - to expose the failure of the right, and show that there is a better alternative. Join us in building our case, and mastering the arguments and ideas needed to move this country into a new era of progressive reform.
http://straighttalk.ourfuture.org
Thank you,
Robert L. Borosage, Co-Director
Campaign for America's Future
SEE OUR LATEST NEWSPAPER AD
Dear Supporter,
The campaign to renew the Assault Weapons Ban is entering the final week. Today we are beginning our ad campaign with a full-page ad in the Washington Post's convention issue to demand the President stop blocking the renewal of the ban. Unless it is renewed, the ban expires on September 13. Presidents Reagan, Ford, Carter and Clinton all helped to create the federal ban on Assault Weapons. President Bush is blocking the renewal.
Click here to view the ad
Click here to view the ad
Click here to see the ad: [Web Image] [Acrobat PDF]
So far our efforts have made tremendous progress. Every major law enforcement group has signed on in support of renewing the ban. Over 75 newspapers across the country have written editorials in favor of renewal. Surveys show nearly 80 percent of Americans want it renewed. So do scores of mainstream national organizations. There's only one group that wants to end the ban on assault weapons: the NRA.
Next week we'll need your help to make one final push to get the ban renewed. We've planned an intense week of advertising, public relations and Internet activities starting on September 7, when Congress comes back from summer recess. We'll make it clear that President Bush and Congress need to listen to the vast majority of Americans and law enforcement community who want the ban renewed, not the NRA.
Here's how you can help:
1. Contribute to our campaign
With your help we can run advertisements in key markets across the country. Our campaign will cost at least $500,000 and our fundraising drive is making great progress, but we need your help.
2. Sign the petition
3. If you've already signed, forward this e-mail to friends
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stoptheNRA.com