---------- Forwarded Message ----------
Date: Thursday, March 10, 2005 3:12 PM -0500
Subject: [PAforDemocracyCouncil] Bury them in letters of protest-we want our primary back!!
PLEASE CIRCULATE AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE AMONG PA DEMOCRATIC VOTERS AND PROGRESSIVE ORGANIZATIONS.
A petition and contact list follow below.
Fellow PA Dems,
Do YOU want OUR PA Dem Primary back? Let's let our party know. Now.
The last election cycle saw an incredible upsurge of participation by ordinary Americans, the likes of which hasn't been seen in decades. We organized, we registered, and we VOTED. And in one arrogant, backroom maneuver, a small circle of Democratic Party powerbrokers has stolen from us, the ordinary working Democrats of Pennsylvania, OUR primary for choosing Santorum's opponent.
If Rendell's (& co.'s) problem was a destructive and expensive primary last time, suppressing democracy by making our votes meaningless is NOT the solution. The solution is to hold a CONstructive primary with a maximum return on the investment:
- name recognition and publicity for all the Dem candidates,
- defining the issues,
- building REAL Dem unity and power by engaging the voters,
- giving Pennsylvania's Democrats a really good reason to turn out for ALL the races in the primary, AND
- keep the Republican's guessing just how to sharpen their sabers, by notpainting a target on our candidate's back this early in the game! Why give the Repubs a whole other year to bash our candidate? Keep 'em guessing!
That would follow the DNC's new mandate. That's our party leaders' JOB.
If Mr. Casey is so, um, "Electable," he can prove it by running an honest and civil race against his competitors. If he needs a marshmallow primary, how in the world will he handle a race against Santorum? Rendell's move HURTS Casey.
One extremely important goal for a constructive 2006 primary race is to build common ground on preventing unintended pregnancies. "When life begins" is the purview of religion. Pubic policy on healthy families is the purview of government. Access to accurate information, contraception, and abortion when needed is the only proven way to reduce the number of problem pregnancies, and thereby, abortions. (See a short, cogent article at: http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/projects/reprod/littmanabortion?b_start:int=0 ) I SINCERELY HOPE THAT IF CASEY EMBRACES THIS POLICY APPROACH (AND WINS THE PRIMARY), THAT HOEFFEL AND HAFER CAN STUMP FOR HIM -- ALONG WITH THE REST OF US -- LIKE THERE'S NO TOMORROW!
Destroying the primary will not settle the polarization about government policy on unintended pregnancy (and thereby abortion). But fighting for proven solutions that work could heal the rift among all but the extremists.
- BELOW IS A LETTER AND LINK TO A PETITION SITE. The letter states pretty clearly why we need a civilized, widely participatory primary debate on the candidates and issues in order to unify to win the race against Santorum.
- IT IS FOLLOWED BY CONTACT INFORMATION FOR DEM PARTY OFFICIALS who snatched our primary, and a link for finding YOUR State Democratic Committee members, who, I'm told, are the ones who actually decide! Let's all let them know, in civil, positive, and no uncertain terms, that we WILL have OUR voice. We will not settle for a primary where we only get to vote "YES". PLEASE CONTACT AS MANY OF THEM AS YOU CAN STAND.
Our vote is our voice, and we will not stand to have both our Choice and our Voice stolen from us by OUR party.
Thank you,
Mary Clark Thompson
Dean Democrat and former Die-hard Independent
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From: Ray Murphy
Sent: Wednesday, March 09, 2005 7:44 AM
To: Ray Murphy
Subject: Force State Democrats to Hold an Open Primary
Dear Progressive Pennsylvanian,
Last week, Governor Ed Rendell effectively ended the 2006 Democratic Primary before it began by endorsing Bob Casey Jr. to run against Rick Santorum for his US Senate seat. Beating Santorum is obviously an important goal, but it's not an excuse to skip the Democratic primary.
The nominee who runs against Santorum will need progressive, grassroots activists to help turn out as many votes as possible just like in the 2004 race. The people who will be on the frontlines against Santorum deserve a say in who they will be working for.
That's why we're asking you to join us in signing a petition to Governor Rendell and the state Democratic party asking for a real Democratic primary to allow voters, not party bosses, to decide who can beat Santorum:
http://www.localnet.com/~raym/primary06.htm
Unlike Rick Santorum, Bob Casey Jr. would fight for health care, good jobs and Social Security if elected to the Senate. However, his anti-choice views and his still emerging stance on LGBT issues raise important questions for progressives and could have an impact on turn-out in SE PA.
A real primary process allows those questions to be addressed. A primary process allows for dialogue and debate so that all members of the party can feel satisfied with the nominee that eventually wins. A primary is the best way for all of us to come together as one to support the best candidate.
Beating Rick Santorum is the key to taking back the Senate and the key to taking back our state. Let's make sure we do it the right way, working for someone we truly believe in.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ben Waxman and Ray Murphy
March 8, 2005
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Democratic Party Contact List
Chairman Howard Dean
Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
202-863-8000
email form: http://www.democrats.org/contact/
Governor Edward G. Rendell
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
(717) 787-2500.
email form: http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Exec/Governor/govmail.html
Chairman T. J. Rooney
Democratic State Committee
510 North Third Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
tjrooney@pahouse.net
(717) 238-9381
7 W. Fourth Street
Bethlehem, PA 18015
(610) 882-1510
Fax: (610) 861-2112
4 East Wing
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020
(717) 783-8515
Fax: (717) 705-1920
Senator Chuck Schumer, Chair, Democratic Senate Campaign Committee
120 Maryland Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20002
202.224.2447 V
202.485.3120 F
INFO@DSCC.ORG
PA Treasurer Robert P. Casey, Jr.
PA Treasury Department
129 Finance Building
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 787-2465
Former PA Treasurer Barbara Hafer
(I haven't been able to track down appropriate,
non-invasive information on how to contact
Barbara Hafer. If I get any, I'll follow up.
Everyone else's info was published in public
sources.)
Rep. Joseph P. Hoeffel III
1908 Lycoming Avenue
Abington, PA 19001
215-659-6267
YOUR COUNTY's Dem State Committee members (I'm told that THEY decide!).
Find out who yours are! Under "County Organizations" in the center column,
click on the link "MORE" at: http://www.padems.com/index1024.html
Then click on your county on the MAP to see who the Chair and the State
Committee members are. Call your county phone number for their contact
information, or look them up in your phone book.
For good measure:
PENNSYLVANIA DNC MEMBERS:
*PA Chair:
Hon. T.J. Rooney
510 N. 3rd St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
W:717-238-9381
Hon. Jean A. Milko
2934 McKelvey Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15221
W:412-350-5334
Rena Baumgartner
RR 4
Kunkletown, PA 18058
W:570-629-0471
Carol Ann Campbell
236 N. 59th St.
Philadelphia, PA 19139
H:215-471-0511
Hon. Ronald R. Donatucci
104 Queen St.
Philadelphia, PA 19147
W:215-686-6250
William M. George
231 State St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
W:717-231-2841
Marcel Groen
1254 Lenox Rd.
Jenkintown, PA 19046
W:215-299-2705
Hon. Sophie Masloff
6315 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15217
H:412-421-7440
Ian Murray
3818 State St.
Erie, PA 16508
H:814-864-0841
Evelyn D. Richardson
6908 Kedron St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15208
H:412-363-6247
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I certainly think the above petition is worthwhile (and have already signed it), as well as knowing that calling these folks can't hurt (and can only help -- be polite!).
That said, for any one who is wondering, I still stand by my original "inflammatory," "vulgar" statements on this subject that make me a "filthy pig" and a "filthy disgusting ho bag."
This is a blog, baby. And its chock full of OPINIONS, as well as FACTS. And, I often write in an in-your-face style. So, no apology here.
___________________________________________
Also, check out alternative-to-Casey Chuck Pennacchio who deserves more recognition in the non-blog world:
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