What is it with Thursdays and the Edwards campaign? It is definitely not the "slow" day for John Edwards! Between his statement on Republicans blocking health insurance for children and the new "True Blue Majority" 50-state strategy campaign, we have a lot of ground to cover tonight.
So let's see what we have today:
1. True Blue Majority
2. Mass SEIU, Iowa Postal Workers Endorse Edwards
3. Edwards on Republicans Sustaining SCHIP Veto
4. Edwards in Western Iowa - a video treat
5. Speed Matters
Hang on for the jump...
1. "True Blue Majority" campaign - John Edwards launched his 50-state strategy today demonstrating his commitment to campaigning in every state for the Presidency, and helping down-ticket candidates as well.
I don't know about you but I'm sick of the red state/blue state language. It makes it sound like there are no Democrats in the so-called red states, and no Republicans in the blue states. And we all know that's not true. My state of Virginia is supposed to be red trending blue -- but we've won the governors race 2 times in a row and elected Jim Webb Senator. Mark Warner, our former governor, is set to take the second Senate seat from the looks of it right now. Sure there are parts of the state where one party may outnumber the other, but there are no parts where any party has a lock -- not if we take the time to get out there and make sure people understand what the Democratic Party really stands for. (BIG Hat Tip to Governor Dean!!) It isn't that a state is red or blue but that Democrats put up candidates that share the values and understand the real issues of the people. I like the look of the True Blue map -- it's not red vs blue but shades of blue, with the right candidate at the top of the ticket in 2008.
Pundits say that a Democrat cannot win in the South, Midwest or West.
They say places like Arizona, Montana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Wyoming, South Dakota, Colorado, Indiana, Georgia and Louisiana are Republican strongholds.
Well, they are wrong. Democrats have won there statewide—as governors or senators. And the right Democratic presidential nominee—one who shares their values, understands their issues and offers real and bold solutions—can win these states. That candidate is John Edwards.
Edwards' strength at the top of the ticket will help Democrats expand our majorities in Congress and state legislatures, as well as in thousands of down-ballot races across the country.
Over the next week, across the country, elected and Party officials in red and battleground states will be holding events to highlight their support for John Edwards for president. Today, kick-off events were held in Wisconsin and Georgia:
From Georgia:
We need a leader who can compete anywhere in America, and win. Some pundits say that a Democrat can't win in some places in the South, Midwest or West. But they're wrong. The right Democratic presidential nominee – one who shares our values, understands our issues and offers real and bold solutions – can win these states. That candidate is John Edwards. - former Georgia Governor Roy Barnes
From Wisconsin:
It is so important that we nominate a candidate who will motivate swing voters in battleground states, like Wisconsin, to support the Democratic Party in 2008. Poll after poll in the battleground states shows Edwards to be the strongest Democratic challenger in a general election match-up with the leading Republicans. Edwards' strength at the top of the ticket will help Democrats not only to take back the White House, but also to maintain and expand our majorities in Congress and state legislatures. And his coattails will help lead Democrats to victory in hundreds of other down-ballot races at the state and local level as well." - Dawn Marie Sass, Wisconsin State Treasurer
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
2. Mass SEIU, Iowa Postal Workers Endorse Edwards
In today's Boston Globe Blog, a small item caught my eye: "Massachusetts union endorses Edwards". Can you YIPEE!!??
The announcement today of the 90,000 strong SEIU in Massachusetts makes the count for the 25 SEIU state councils that have endorsed a presidential candidate since Monday at 11 for Edwards, 4 for Obama, and 0 for Clinton. This one is particularly important in the New Hampshire primary race, as they will complement the Carpenters & Joiners already working hard in that state.
"John Edwards understands the everyday struggles of working families," Rocio Saenz, president of SEIU Local 615 in Massachusetts, said in a statement.
I just saw the number of 656,000 SEIU members in California. WOW! 90,000 in Mass, 656,000 in Cal -- Does anyone have the member count for the 11 SEIU states for Edwards now? I've completely lost track.
Back in Iowa, another important endorsement announced today is the one from the Iowa Postal Workers Union.
The Iowa Postal Workers Union, representing more than 3,000 workers in all 99 counties, today endorsed Senator John Edwards for president. The union’s executive board voted at their fall meeting in Bettendorf to support Edwards because they know he will stand up for hard-working families and is the strongest candidate to win the White House. The Iowa Postal Workers Union is the statewide branch of the AFL-CIO-affiliated American Postal Workers Union.
The 3,000 strong Iowa Postal Workers Union adds another element to the strong ground game developed by the Edwards campaign in Iowa, as John Edwards continues to focus on the people and the issues important to Iowans and America.
John Edwards is far and away the strongest candidate to win the White House, take on the special interests and stand up for hard-working Americans. While any of the Democrats running would be preferable to any of the Republicans for working people, only John Edwards has taken clear, specific stands on labor rights, health care, trade, working to end poverty and all the issues so vital to all the workers of America. - Iowa Postal Workers President Bruce Clark
Background on APWU:
The APWU is the world's largest postal union, representing more than 330,000 USPS employees and retirees, and nearly 2,000 private-sector mail workers. The union's state and local affiliates are autonomous organizations that rely on the national union to represent their interests in contract negotiations and in national-level grievances. Depending on their occupation, APWU members belong to the Clerk, Maintenance, Motor Vehicle, or Support Services divisions. The largest division of APWU is the Clerk Division that covers everyone from sales to sorters.
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
3. Edwards on Republicans Sustaining SCHIP Veto
I can't begin to express my utter dismay at today's vote in the House of Representatives where the effort to overturn Bush's veto of the States Children's Health Insurance Program went down. By the end of the evening, I'll have every one of the 156 names who voted to sustain this egregious veto committed to memory -- all 154 Republicans, and 2 DINOs. This President with the lowest approval ratings of any president in my lifetime (I think, certainly in my book) continues to swagger his way into the history books. Oooohhhh, just thinking about him and today's vote makes my blood boil. And as usual, I'm in great company with John Edwards:
"Today is another sad example of how broken Washington is. Instead of standing up for children and health care, House Republicans have decided to stand up for special interests and lobbyists. From this day forward, House Republicans are on notice. When I am the Democratic nominee, the days of Republican members who voted against children's health care will be numbered. We are taking names and, together, as one party, we will campaign against them." - John Edwards
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
4. Edwards in Western Iowa - a video treat
John Edwards is wrapping up a swing through Western Iowa today and will be in California tomorrow, with Elizabeth, to receive the official endorsement of the California SEIU and attend the Democratic Party of Orange County’s 13th Annual Harry S. Truman Awards Dinner. What a transition that will be -- from blue jeans and boots to fancy duns. But before we head out to the West Coast, the campaign has put up some of videos of this week's events in Iowa. Enjoy!
Revitalizing Rural America
Former Congressman Ben "Cooter" Jones introduces John Edwards
Why the Iowa Caucuses are So Important
Building a Better Future for Our Children
Rebuilding New Orleans
And one final treat (h/t NCDem Amy):
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
5. CWA Speed Matters Campaign
No, the CWA hasn't endorsed John Edwards and I have no idea if they will. But a very important part of John Edwards' Rural Recovery Plan is to centered on getting broadband internet access into every community in this country. This is also a major effort right now by the Communication Workers of America, and they are taking it to every presidential candidate, particularly right now in Iowa. As their website points out, he US has been slow to develop truly high speed networks and has been overtaken by other countries in both speeds provided and the percentage of people who have access to high speed networks. The United States is now only 16th in the world in terms of high speed Internet access. (and don't get me started on the outrageous cost!!)
(The picture here is of John Edwards with CWA Local 7108 retiree Jake Blitsch. Edwards promised Blitsch that he will push to make CWA's Speed Matters' goals a reality.)
Invest in Rural Broadband: While half of urban and suburban children have access to broadband for homework, less than a third of rural children do. Just as FDR's rural electrification initiative brought power to every corner of the country, Edwards will set a national broadband policy with a goal of giving all U.S. homes, schools, and businesses access to real high-speed internet by 2010. - John Edwards Rural Recovery Plan excerpt
A couple of tidbits about the United States and high speed Internet access:
- In the U.S., DSL generally reaches speeds of up to 1.5 - 3.0 mbps at a price averaging $30-$50 per month while cable modems generally reach speeds of 3-5 mbps for $40-$50 per month.
In Japan, an average connection with a speed of 26 mbps costs about $22 per month.
From the CWA newsletter today, we can once again see the synch between what's important to John Edwards and to the hard working Americans:
Speed Matters Catches on as Presidential Campaign Issue in Iowa
... This week, at a campaign stop in Iowa, Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said CWA's Speed Matters' campaign is crucial to building a "strong America" where "small towns. . . have the ability to compete."
"All of us need to be out there pounding the bully pulpit and make sure that America understands how important it is to build out high speed Internet to everywhere in America," Edwards told the crowd of 400 who jammed the high-school gym in Exira, population 810. He said the very survival of small town America depends on their residents – workers, health care providers, and schools – having "access to the same technology" that is available in the nation's cities and suburbs.
Edwards, who has made high-speed Internet a major element of his program to revitalize the rural economy, pledged to "find those places in America where access to high-speed Internet is lacking, map them, and build out high-speed internet in all those places."
snip
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
Well, that's a lot of news and I know I've left plenty out. A few good diaries around to check out:
At Booman Tribune
Edwards and Dean both have a 50-State Strategy by james siebert
At MyDD
John Edwards on Cleaning Up Government by sirius
Breaking: Iowa Postal Union endorses Edwards by okamichan13
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
===== ===== ===== ===== =====
And now a word about money -- remember, anything you give now (up to $250 per individual) may be double with federal public financing. And giving now also ensures that the contribution will count toward the January federal funds.
Imagine election night 2008. From around the country the results are coming in thick and fast.
By the time the election night dust settles, the Washington pundits are speechless—the Democratic Party has won 280 seats in the House and 61 seats in the Senate, majorities that allow the new Democratic president to implement bold and vigorous change. The day of deadlocked agendas and timid politics is over.
We can make this happen -- by supporting John Edwards' commitment to a 50-state strategy. That's why I'm asking you to contribute to our "$50 for 50 states" campaign, a campaign to expand the political map.