Democracy for New Mexico

Prominent New Mexicans Endorse Obama

At a press conference at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe today, it was announced that State Treasurer James Lewis, former U.S. Sen. and State Democratic Party Chairman Fred R. Harris, Attorney John Pound and former State Rep. Patsy Trujillo of Santa Fe would serve as New Mexico co-chairs for the Barack Obama campaign. Other well-known New Mexicans who are supporting Obama include:

• Former Albuquerque Mayor Jim Baca
• Albuquerque City Councilor Michael Cadigan
• NM House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, Grants
• NM House Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton, Albuquerque
• State Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, Albuquerque
• State Rep. Al Park, Albuquerque
• State Rep. Peter Wirth, Santa Fe
• State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, Las Cruces
• State Rep. Antonio Lujan, Las Cruces
• Former state legislator Lenton Malry, Albuquerque
• Former State Rep. Max Coll
• Former Gallup Mayor Robert Rosebrough
• Former Santa Fe County Commissioner Javier Gonzales
• Former Sandoval County Commissioner Damon Ely

You can check out upcoming local events and sign onto the Obama campaign in New Mexico right here.

Obama Campaign Offices:

Albuquerque Office
1000 2nd Street NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
505-205-5629
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Las Cruces Office
212 W Hadley Avenue
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88005
505-205-6689
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Santa Fe Office
347 East Palace Avenue
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501
505-235-5416
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Harry Reid: Telecom Amnesty Activist

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gets tough on fellow Democrats while apparently trying to "earn" more large donations from telecom companies. How else can it be explained? He's like a walking, talking advertisement for public financing of elections. He clearly wants to pass the awful FISA bill that grants retroactive amnesty to corporate lawbreakers and give Bush everything he wants in terms of warrantless surveillence -- and he wants to do it fast. To call Reid's office and let him know how you feel about his behavior: 202-224-3542.

Guest Blog by Martin Heinrich: Beyond the Politics of Rove

This is a guest blog by Martin Heinrich, Democratic candidate for Congress in NM-01. He's one of the candidates featured on the NM netroots' True Blue New Mexico page.

Karl Rove is the epitome of everything that’s wrong with Washington and the Republican establishment. He’s the king of political dirty tricks and smear campaigns. His Machiavellian tactics have no moral compass and are divisive at a time when the nation is ready to unite for progress.

The politics of Rove are the politics of lies, thoughtless partisanship, deception and personal attacks. He allegedly sanctioned a racist push poll that wrongly claimed that fellow Republican John McCain had fathered an illegitimate black child. He was tied to a homophobic push poll that asked voters whether they are "more or less likely to vote for Governor [Ann] Richards if [they] knew her staff is dominated by lesbians." This is the same Rove that used the slash and burn politics of personal destruction to paint a genuine American patriot and Vietnam War hero, former Senator Max Cleland (D-GA), as a friend of Osama bin Laden.

It’s not just campaign tactics that define Karl Rove. As a Bush Administration official, Rove played a key role in the run up to the war in Iraq. He chaired meetings of the White House Iraq Group and devised communications strategies that the White House used to sell the disastrous war to the American people.

If orchestrating the sale of the Iraq War wasn’t bad enough, Rove was also investigated for his role in the Valerie Plame Affair. And, he was allegedly one of the prime movers involved in the U.S. Attorney scandal, which included firing New Mexico’s US Attorney David Igelesias.

At a 2006 White House holiday party, New Mexico Republican Party Chair Allen Weh complained to Rove that former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias failed to bring down politically motivated indictments during the campaign. Rove responded to Weh saying: “He’s gone.”

Today, Karl Rove is back in New Mexico helping his friend Allen Weh. He’s raising hundreds of thousands of dollars from hard right wing oil and gas fatcats. That’s money that will be used by New Mexico Republicans to employ Karl Rove’s style of slash and burn politics of personal destruction.

Together, we can fight back.

One of the things I am most proud of is my record of bringing people together and bridging the partisan divide.  On the Albuquerque City Council I brought business interests together with conservationists and citizen activists to craft an archeological ordinance and to conserve billions of gallons of our limited water resources.  Even when I successfully pressed an increase in the minimum wage, I kept my door open to those who disagreed or did not support the effort.  Had I not taken that inclusive approach, tens of thousands of hard working New Mexicans might not have gotten the raise they deserved.

I believe passionately that our adversaries need not be our enemies.  The Karl Rove approach ensures politics are mired in unnecessary partisanship -- even common sense solutions like the State Children’s Health Insurance Plan (S-CHIP), which would give health care to tens of thousands of uninsured New Mexican children, are stymied by the kind of extreme partisanship that Rove represents. 

We can do better, and when I am in Washington, we will.

Obviously, Karl Rove has taken an early interest in New Mexico and you can be sure that he’ll be following this race very closely. That’s why I need your help. I need the resources to fight back against Rove’s politics of personal destruction.

Together, we can send a message to New Mexico Republicans that the smear and fear tactics of Rove have no place in New Mexico. I hope you’ll help by supporting my campaign and the New Mexico blogosphere’s True Blue New Mexico effort with a generous contribution.

This is a guest blog by NM-01 Democratic Congressional candidate Martin Heinrich.

To learn more about the NM netroots' True Blue New Mexico effort to raise campaign donations for NM Congressional candidates read our previous post or donate directly at the True Blue New Mexico page on Act Blue.

To see our previous coverage on the 2008 NM-01 Congressional race, visit our archive.

If you'd like to submit a guest blog for possible publication on this blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand side of the page.

(Updated) Support True Blue New Mexico: Diss Rove and Cheney

UPDATE: We've posted a guest blog by Martin Heinrich about moving beyond the politics of Karl Rove, and in support of our True Blue New Mexico effort. Check it out.
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This is an effort organized by the New Mexico netroots including and this blog.

Have you heard? The Bush-Cheney-Rove machine is still going strong, working to maintain the far right's obstructive stranglehold on Congress and beyond. Turns out Karl Rove will appear at a fundraiser for the New Mexico GOP today in Artesia, NM. And in D.C. today, Dick Cheney will host a campaign fundraiser for Steve Pearce's Senate run. He's already done a similar event for Heather Wilson, the other Repub candidate for Senate here, with the same $5000/PAC and $2000/person price tag. Given how much Republican elites have gained financially during Bush's two terms, they have a lot of money to burn for the cause, don't they?

As usual, these Repub affairs will bring in big dinero for New Mexico's Bush cronies. What can we do about it? Fight back with True Blue New Mexico! We might not be able to match the big donations of BushCo, but we can certainly blunt some of their clout with hundreds of small donations from ordinary people.

We've set up a special fundraising page at Act Blue to support the campaigns of Senate candidate Tom Udall, Martin Heinrich (NM-01), Bill McCamley (NM-02) and whichever Dem wins the primary in NM-03. Every dollar you donate from now until next Wednesday will go towards helping turn New Mexico's Congressional Delegation True Blue -- and fight back on behalf of Democrats against the relentless BushCo money machine. How can you resist?

The True Blue New Mexico Candidates
True Blue New Mexico is supporting current NM-03 Rep Tom Udall for U.S. Senate. Having voted against such travesties as the invasion of Iraq and the Patriot Act, Rep. Udall is a True Blue New Mexico progressive. His environmental credentials are impeccable and New Mexicans from every corner of the state respect Tom for his integrity, honesty and passion for Democratic principles like fairness and working for the common good. Think about what it would mean to New Mexicans from all walks of life to replace the pinched perspective of Pete Domenici with the forward-looking vision of Tom Udall -- while keeping right-wing Bush rubberstamps like Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson out of the Senate chamber altogether.

In NM-01, True Blue New Mexico is backing former Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, who's been working hard within the local conservation and environmental communities for many moons. He's been instrumental in raising the minimum wage for Albuquerque, promoting smart growth over sprawl. He's won award after award for his work to preserve and maintain New Mexico's stunning landscapes. Now he's calling for an Apollo-style program to achieve energy independence and cut greenhouse gases. Against the Iraq invasion from the start, Heinrich wants to end the occupation as soon as possible and start using the billions being spent there to benefit our pressing human, clean energy and infrastructure needs here at home. Think what it would mean to New Mexicans if we replace Heather Wilson's hypocrisies with someone who really does care about the people. Side benefit? We can keep likely Repub candidate Darren White -- who chaired the Bush-Cheney campaign in Bernalillo County -- out of the halls of Congress and away from the fray.

True Blue New Mexico believes the fresh, creative, passionate voice of Bill McCamley needs to be heard in the U.S. House representing NM-02. Running a truly grassroots operation fueled by the people power of small donations -- and face-fo-face dialogue with voters all over Southern New Mexico -- McCamley is known for working hard while other candidates are hardly working. McCamley was a breath of fresh air during his service on the Dona Ana County Commission, pushing to tamp down the destructive effects of down and dirty sprawl development and inject the process with ethical, reasonable safeguards. He's helped solve long-standing battles over water and improved health care financing. With a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, McCamley is smart, organized and effective in whatever he tackles. In a diverse district, McCamley uses effective negotiation skills, honesty and common sense to bring people together to solve problems. Think of replacing Steve Pearce with a Congressman dedicated to creating solutions -- not pushing rightwing ideologies at any cost.

Because there are several excellent candidates in NM-03, True Blue New Mexico decided to raise campaign funds for the eventual primary winner. Green builder Don Wiviott, PRC member Ben Ray Lujan and Jemez Pueblo member , among others in the crowded field up north, are running lively campaigns to get on the Dem primary ballot. Whoever wins, we hope the funds we raise for the eventual nominee in NM-03 will help them carry forward the progressive platform of current Congressman Tom Udall.

Many Small Donations = Big Mojo
The forces of the Bush-Cheney -Rove agenda may have the big donors and Beltway clout to try and have their way in New Mexico's Congressional districts. What they don't have is authentic grassroots-netroots people power -- the many coming together to support a common cause. If we all pull together and toss a few bucks into the effort right now, we can be instrumental in achieving a True Blue New Mexico. We can add a second Democrat to New Mexico's Senate roster and help transform our U.S. House delegation from 2 Repubs and 1 Democrat to all True Blue. Any donation, no matter how small, will help do the trick. We can't let Rove and Cheney go unanswered today, now can we?

For our previous coverage of these races, visit our archives:

• 2008 U.S. Senate Race
• NM-01 Congressional Race
• NM-02 Congressional Race
• NM-03 Congressional Race

Community Launches GI Rights Hotline to Serve NM

From the GI Rights Hotline: Veterans, military family members, and other concerned individuals are launching a New Mexico “node” of the national GI Rights Hotline network. The Mission of the New Mexico GI Rights Hotline is to provide information, referrals and support to members of the military and their families regarding discharges, grievances, and other civil rights issues. The Hotline will provide information about military life and war to individuals and families affected by military service, conscription, and recruitment. The target date to open the hotline in NM is February 15, 2008.

Events to raise funds and celebrate the launching of the statewide Hotline will be held in Santa Fe and Albuquerque:

• Santa Fe: Saturday, January 26, from 6:30-9:30 PM at St. Bede’s Episcopal Church Common Room, 1601 S Saint Francis Drive;
• Albuquerque: Sunday, January 27, from 1:00-4:00 PM at the Guild Cinema, 3405 Central NE.

Both events will include a screening of clips from the film Arlington West and speakers Jorge Arroyo, Conscientious Objector to the Iraq War; Tony Garcia, Native New Mexican and veteran of both the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; and Dahlia Wasfi, MD, Iraqi-American.

“With an average of 17 suicides a day in 2005, and more than 120 of our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans having committed a murder since their return, it is clear that our service members have needs the Government can not or will not address. The GI Rights Hotline will provide a desperately needed service to our troops, veterans, and their families,” said Bill Bradley, an organizer of the Hotline.

Today: AZ Guv Napolitano Stumps for Obama in NM

Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, who has endorsed Barack Obama for President, will be at three events in New Mexico today in support of his candidacy. Napolitano grew up in Albuquerque and has many contacts in the state. All events are open to the public:

Santa Fe
Tuesday, January 22nd, 1:00 PM, Hotel Santa Fe, Paseo de Peralta. More info: Gaye at 505-982-1899. According to an item in this morning's Albuquerque Journal, Napolitano will also meet with undecided women voters at 3:0 PM today at the Hotel Santa Fe, but I don't see that event on the Obama website so you might want to double check.

Albuquerque
Tuesday, January 22nd, 6:00 PM, Art Dance Art Space Bldg., 3030 Isleta Blvd. SW. Take I-25 South to Rio Bravo Exit and go West. Turn right at signal.

To learn more about local campaign activities, check the Obama for New Mexico page at the Obama website. Obama's Albuquerque campaign office is located at 1000 2nd Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102; 505-205-5629.

(Updated) HB 9-Domestic Partner Bill Passes NM House Judiciary; to House Floor Next

UPDATE: HB9 will be heard by the full House at 10 AM on Thursday, January 24, 2008. Pack the galleries.
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I want to send a special shout out to Republican Rep. Eric Youngberg (right) for voting in favor of the Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act and mentioning how important it is to pass this bill this Session. This isn't about approving or disapproving of such partnerships, but about ensuring fairness under civil law for all our citizens. Thanks for doing what's right Rep. Youngberg. My partner of 18 years and I appreciate it very much.

From EQNM:
At another crowded committee hearing HB 9 was given a do pass by a 9-4 vote. Supporters of Equality came out in large numbers, and shared personal stories of why this important legislation will impact their lives. Legislators commented on how exciting it was to see a large representation of youth from the Santa Fe Mountain Center who were able to provide the committee with a unique perspective. Rep. Barela made an impassioned statement about his personal growth on this issue and a strong commitment to freedom. Rep. Eric Youngberg, a Republican, added that this is one of the most important issues before the legislature.

The Legislation will now move to a vote before the full House, this vote will likely take place Thursday morning, but there is still a possibility it could happen as early as Wednesday. Once we know anything we'll let you know immediately.

Until then, please take this important opportunity to e-mail the entire House and urge them to support this legislation. Take action by clicking here.

Legislators continue to receive a lot of harassing calls from the bill's opposition. Please continue to call your legislators and urge them to support this legislation. Continue to have conversations with people in your daily life and ask them to place calls in support to their Legislators. We know a majority of New Mexicans support equality, together we can make New Mexico a place where equality actually exists.

House Judiciary Vote Tally:

Voting FOR Equality:
Rep. Elias Barela, D-Belen 8
Rep. Gail Chasey, D-Albuquerque 18
Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces 52
Rep. Moe Maestas, D-Albuquerque 16
Rep. Ken Martinez, D-Grants 69
Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque 26
Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque 21
Rep. Tom Swisstack, D-Rio Rancho 60
Rep. Eric Youngberg, R-Albuquerque 23

Voting Against Equality:
Rep. Dan Foley, R-Roswell 57
Rep. Bill Rehm, R-Albuquerque 31
Rep. Gloria Vaughn, R-Alamogordo 51
Rep. Teresa Zannetti, R-Albuquerque 15
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Thanks to all the legislators on the House Judiciary Committee who voted for the bill! BW

Check out for yesterday's Roundhouse Recap.

You can find our previous coverage of the 2008 New Mexico Legislature here.

‘Freedom of Choice Act’ Rally Tuesday at Roundhouse

From NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico:

More than 200 Expected at Roundhouse Event
on 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade
Legislation Introduced Would Repeal
1969 Criminal Abortion Ban
Who: New Mexico Coalition for Choice
What: Rally in support of HB 244, The Freedom of Choice Act
Where: East Concourse, The Roundhouse (outside)
When: Noon, Tuesday, January 22, 2008

More than 200 pro-choice activists from around the state are expected to join the New Mexico Coalition for Choice at noon on Tuesday, January 22, for a rally commemorating the 35th Anniversary of Roe v. Wade and supporting HB 244, The Freedom of Choice Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Gail Chasey and Rep. Mimi Stewart to repeal an existing 1969 criminal abortion ban and to codify the protections of Roe in New Mexico law.

Speakers include the Rev. Stephen Furrer, Unitarian Universalist Congregation Santa Fe; Heather Brewer, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico; pro-choice legislators; and women telling their stories.

Tonight: Conservation Voters Legislative Reception

Please join Conservation Voters New Mexico and our special invited guests, Members of the NM State Legislature, for our second annual
Legislative Rollout Reception
Monday, January 21st  5:30 - 7:30 PM
We will be presenting our "Green Gavel" award to confirmed attendee Lt. Governor Diane Denish
Gerald Peters Gallery
1011 Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe
$100 suggested donation at the door
($50 by online donation in advance) 
By Invitation Only. RSVPs REQUIRED in advance for entrance to the Gallery. RSVP at 992-8683 or RSVP@cvnm.org

This reception was a huge hit last year with a sellout crowd! Come learn about the environmental community's legislative agenda. Don't miss the best environmental party of the legislative session-- RSVP now! 

Conservation Voters New Mexico works to make the protection of our air, land, water, wildlife, and communities a top priority for elected officials, political candidates, and voters across the state.

Tom Udall Statement: Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Today, U.S. Representative Tom Udall (D,NM-01) released the following statement in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr: 

"Eight years ago, John Lewis -- a great civil rights leader in the tradition of Dr. King -- invited me to visit Selma, Alabama, on the anniversary of that city's famous freedom march. Standing on that hallowed ground, I couldn't help but feel moved by all that leaders like Dr. King accomplished. But I was also reminded how much has been left undone.

"My father served in the Kennedy and Johnson Administrations when this country broke nearly a century of silence and passed piece after piece of landmark civil rights legislation. My dad's main contribution to the movement was threatening to evict the Washington Redskins from their stadium unless they allowed black players. To this day, some Redskins fans will tell you my dad did more to keep the team competitive than any coach. I can still remember the hope in my dad's voice when he would talk about civil rights around the kitchen table. Dr. King made us all believe we could change the world.  And with his inspiration, we have.

"But Dr. King's vision remains unfulfilled.

"Dr. King fought for the right to dissent. High government officials, unrestrained by law, sent Dr. King tapes of his own phone calls in an effort to scare him into committing suicide. But he had the last word. Not only did he continue to speak out; his case led to laws that protected future generations from government abuses.

"And yet, this year, some politicians have called for weakening the laws that protect our liberties. They have worked to pass laws that will make it easier for future government officials to harass future Dr. Kings.

"Dr. King fought to protect the poor. He died while supporting a strike for sanitation workers, because he knew that no civil rights movement could be complete without securing the rights of workers. Yet today millions work full time and still live in poverty.  More than twenty percent of African Americans and 34 percent of Hispanic Americans lack health insurance. And our laws too often prevent workers from receiving the union representation they want and need.

"Finally, Dr. King fought to stop war and encourage international cooperation. Yet today our brave soldiers are bogged down in a war that never should have been waged.

"Dr. King achieved great things, and it is fitting that we honor him today and everyday. But he only brought us to the mountain top. We have not yet reached the Promised Land.

"As long as Americans fear that their liberties will be violated, we have not reached the Promised Land.

"As long as children die because they cannot afford to see a doctor, we have not reached the Promised Land.

"And as long as our leaders continue to pay for their policies with the blood of American soldiers and Iraqi civilians, we have not reached the Promised Land.

"As we celebrate the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. let us continue that long march to freedom that he began so many years ago. Let us feel the "fierce urgency of now" and renew our commitment to that brighter world that Dr. King helped us imagine.

Editor's Notes:

Click for more on King and his legacy.

Rep. Tom Udall is running for the U.S. Senate in New Mexico. Click to visit his campaign website. You can read our coverage of the 2008 U.S. Senate race in New Mexico in our archive.