Democracy for New Mexico

Dems/Obama Ask for Input on National Platform; Patricia Madrid Co-Chairs National Platform Committee

Be a Part of the Process
As I reported back in January, former NM Attorney General Patricia Madrid was elected to serve as one of three Co-Chairs of the DNC's national Platform Committee, along with Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick and former president and chief executive of Discovery Communications, Judith McHale. The Co-Chairs will be overseeing an intensive party platform process -- designed to be inclusive and transparent -- that will ultimately produce the Dem's national platform for 2008.

Today, the DNC and Obama for America released a statement announcing an initiative to reach out to Democrats nationwide for their input into the national platform. This year, for the first time, voters will have the opportunity to take part in Platform Meetings in all 50 states to help shape the Democratic Platform. DNC Chairman Howard also announced that Governor Napolitano will chair the Platform Drafting Committee. Michael Yaki will serve as National Platform Director and Karen Kornbluh will be the Principal Author of the Platform.

How You Can Get Involved
Members of the public are invited to host and/or attend Platform Meetings in their communities as an opportunity to exchange ideas and share perspectives on the challenges we face. To facilitate the process, the Obama campaign and the DNC will send policy experts and DNC Platform Committee members to as many meetings as possible to serve as facilitators. Each Platform Meeting will produce a written summary that will be reviewed and considered by the Platform Committee.

From today through July 15th, you can register to attend or host a Platform Meeting here -- where you can also download a host guide with everything you need to create your won Platform event. The Platform Meetings will occur across the country from July 19th through July 27th.

"From the beginning, we said we were going bring down the traditional walls of the Democratic Convention and make this event more accessible and include as many people as possible," said Democratic National Committee Chair Howard Dean in a statement today.

"This process will empower Americans in all 50 states to make their voices heard as they help write the document that embodies our Party's values and vision for the future. Barack Obama will bring real change to Washington, and as we write the Democratic Platform, there will be a clear choice between more of the same failed policies of the Bush Administration with John McCain or real change with Barack Obama who will make the American people, not the special interests, the priority again."

"Barack Obama believes that every American should be able to contribute to the Democratic Platform, just as record numbers have participated in this campaign," said Steve Hildebrand of Obama for America. "It's not the lawmakers in Washington who live the day-to-day reality of our policies--it's workers, teachers, parents and first responders--everyday Americans who just want to the best for their families. What better way than to incorporate their voices into the process than to have them help shape the Democratic Platform, the statement of our ideals, values, and proposal for change."

What Happens Next?
A National Hearing will take place August 1st in Cleveland, Ohio, where presentations will be made before the Platform Drafting Committee. The Committee will then meet separately August 2nd and 3rd to draft the Democratic Platform. The Platform Drafting Committee is responsible for preparing an initial draft of the Platform, which is used as a working document by the Platform Committee at its meeting.

Also named as members to serve on the Platform Drafting Committee are: U.S. Representative Tammy Baldwin; State Representative Dan Blue of North Carolina; Maryland Lt. Governor Anthony Brown; Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman; U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro; DNC Secretary Alice Germond; Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm; Donna Harris-Aiken, a National Education Association Policy Advisor; Platform Policy Advisor Heather Higginbottom; Platform Policy Advisor Chris Jennings; Florida Tallahassee Commissioner Alan Katz; AFL-CIO Policy Director Thea Lee; UFCW Local 1428 President Connie Leyva; U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy; Speaker Emeritus of the California State Assembly Fabian Nunez; Obama for America Foreign Policy Advisor Susan Rice; U.S. Representative Linda Sanchez; Youth Representative Giancarlo Sopa of Florida; Ron His Horse is Thunder, Chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North Dakota.

Madrid's Role
The full Platform Committee will meet and recommend adoption of the platform August 9th in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts, former New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid, and former Discovery Communications President and CEO Judith McHale serve as Chairs of the full Platform Committee. At the Platform Committee meeting, members discuss each plank of a draft platform. They have the opportunity to submit new proposed planks, or amendments to the draft. Proposals and amendments must be approved by a majority of the members present and voting.

Meetings of the Drafting Committee and full Committee are open to the public and press. Details will be announced at a later date.

Michael Yaki will serve as National Platform Director. A lawyer in private practice, Yaki is a former senior aide to Speaker Pelosi from 1989-1996 and worked on the 1992 Democratic Platform. He also served as a member of the Board of Supervisors in San Francisco, CA from 1996-2001 and has served as a Commissioner on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from 2005 to the present.

Karen Kornbluh will be the Principal Author of the Platform, while on leave from Senator Obama's Senate office where she serves as Policy Director. Previously, Kornbluh directed the New America Foundation's Work and Family Program, where she published articles in the Atlantic Monthly, New York Times and Washington Post calling for new policies to support families in the global economy. Kornbluh served as Deputy Chief of Staff at the US Treasury Department and Director of Legislative Affairs at the Federal Communications Commission.

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New NM Dem Voter Registrations More Than Double Those of GOP

The Democratic Party of New Mexico has announced that 51,938 New Mexicans have registered to vote since January of this year, according to the New Mexico Secretary of State. Of those, 27,207 registered as Democrats, while only 12,926 registered as Republicans. So far this year, new Dem voters outnumber new GOP voters by more than two to one. In addition, 11,805 registered as Independents.

In a statement, the DPNM expressed excitement about welcome more and more registered Democrats to the party. They said that the impact of an Obama candidacy, the Udall for Senate campaign's work to mobilize Democrats early on and the excitement around the Teague, Heinrich and Lujan campaigns have energized activism among life-long Democrats, Independents, new voters and even disheartened Republicans looking to this election as an opportunity to bring change to Washington. 

"With more and more Democrats registering to vote, we are confident that this year New Mexico will turn Blue," said Brian S. Colón, DPNM Chair. "Democrats are on the right side of the issues and represent the values of New Mexicans. Not only are we registering more and more voters, but record interest in volunteering has energized all the Democratic campaigns here in the state."

The high voter registration number is just one way to measure the amount of enthusiasm that these campaigns are fostering, and we're not even close to Labor Day. With the Obama campaign continuing to register voters across New Mexico and competitive Congressional races reaching out to new voters all over the state, Dems hope to leave an important mark on New Mexico's political landscape for elections to come.

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Catching Up After the Fourth

Dem float in Capitan NM 4th of July parade*

The long Independence Day weekend has been a welcome respite from blogging and politics, but now it's time to jump back into the fray. Here are a few items to help you do just that:

Following on rumors bubbling up over the holiday weekend, the DNCC announced that Obama will give his nomination acceptance speech on the final day of the Dem Convention in Denver at Mile High stadium (er, Invesco Field), where the Broncos play. Pepsi Center, site of the Convention, holds 20,000. Mile High 75,000. All of Thursday evening's Convention events will take place at the stadium and the public will included in the festivities.

Iraqi prime minister al-Maliki is signaling he just might want to set a timetable for the withdrawal of American troops. Imagine that.

Nathan P. Small's post on Heath Haussamen responds very effectively to Jim Scarantino's claim that Rep. Steve Pearce's phony Dona Ana County public lands bill is a widely supported and effective way to protect the Organ Mountains and other natural jewels down south. But then, passing off an anti-public lands bill as being pro-public lands is something of a GOP habit.

The New York Times profiles Mark and Tom Udall and examines the pluses and minuses of their family's history of environmental activism.

Another photo from the Capitan NM 4th of July parade*

Contrary to the talking heads, Obama has Hispanic voters solidly behind him according to polling by Gallup. In June, Obama had the support of 59% compared to McCain's 29% nationally. And in data collected by Pacific Market Research and combined for the Southwestern battleground states, which include New Mexico, Obama is leading McCain 57 percent to 26 percent. Read the New Mexico Independent by Marjorie Childress for more.

An anti-worker business PAC is backing Darren White for Congress in NM-01.

U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi will appear at Netroots Nation in Austin on Saturday morning, July 19th to take questions. (You can submit your question at the link.) Our state should be well-represented at the blogger convention. Mary Ellen and I will be there, as will Matt of New Mexico FBIHOP and a number of other New Mexicans who participate at Daily Kos. Dem Congressional candidates Martin Heinrich (NM-01) and Ben Ray Luján (NM-03) will be panelists for a discussion on New Mexico: Case Study for the Interior West.

*Note: Photos sent along from Dem Ellen Wedum, who's running for the NM House in HD 59. She had this to say about the celebration in Capitan: "I was in the 4th of July parade in Capitan (which is actually 2 miles west of the border of House District 59 in Lincoln County) and both NM-02 Congressional candidate Ed Tinsley and his wife were there. Lots of Tinsley stickers around. Both HD 57 candidates, Democrat Mary Barron and Republican Dennis Kintigh, were there -- Capitan is in HD 57. My HD 59 opponent, Nora Espinoza, was not. She missed a fun parade. The Capitan main street is lined with trees and friendly people."

Meanwhile, NM-02 Dem Congressional candidate Harry Teague visited five communities during the holiday weekend.

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Udall, Luján, Colón to Speak at Wednesday Opening of Dem Party Santa Fe Office

From DPNM: The Democratic Party of New Mexico is holding an office opening party for our new Santa Fe offices.

• WHAT: Santa Fe Office Opening Party
• WHO: Rep. Tom Udall, CD-2 Candidate Ben Ray Luján and DPNM Chair Brian Colón are scheduled to speak
• WHEN: Wednesday, July 2, 2008 from 5:00-7:00 PM
• WHERE: 720 St. Michael's Dr., Suite 2L; Santa Fe 87505

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Bill Richardson to Raise Money in NM for Hillary Debt?

According to ABC News:

Clinton ally James Carville may have called him "Judas" when he endorsed Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in March, but that isn't stopping Gov. Bill Richardson D-NM., from offering to raise money to help Sen. Clinton retire her significant campaign debt.

"We've been asked to help. So in principle we are going to help," Richardson told ABC News after addressing members of the Democratic Leadership Council in Chicago at the centrist group's annual gathering. "I think the party needs to come together," he added.

... Gov. Richardson then mentioned that he has seen some hopeful signs of the party stitching itself back together and that he is "going to be involved in a debt event for Sen. Clinton in New Mexico." He later added that the event has yet to be scheduled.

Remember, Gov. Richardson is also working on getting rid of campaign debt from his own presidential run. According to the AP, it's now down to about $285,000 -- no match for Clinton's debt of about $10 million owed to vendors plus $12.2 million in personal loans to her campaign. Maybe the Governor can host some two-fers, not to mention some events for our THREE U.S. House races and U.S. Senate race.

Richardson was in West Palm Beach, FL this weekend too, at a dinner for prominent Dems:

More than 25 tables were filled with big-name Democrats, mostly from South Florida. Perhaps the biggest name at this dinner was one of Barack Obama’s possible picks for vice president. "I’m not launching any campaigns," said New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. "It’s his decision. If it doesn’t happen, I’m still going to be very happy."

"I’m still Governor of New Mexico. I still can ride my horse in the morning, keep my beard."

Aha! A flip-flop on the beard? Lately, Gov. Richardson has been saying he'll be shaving off his beard any day now, but the quote implies it's here to stay -- unless he gets picked for VP or another job by Obama.

Regardless of who Obama chooses, Richardson says he should wait to announce his decision right before the Democrats' convention. "There’s a short list and I’ve seen my name on some short lists," said Richardson "I think Senator Clinton is a strong candidate. I think there are a lot of other candidates that would bring strength to the ticket."

Richardson was also in Florida working on party unity, and bashing McCain:

Richardson’s goal at this event was to unite Florida Democrats, by luring Hillary Clinton supporters into Obama’s camp. The former presidential candidate also wants Florida's large hispanic population, including Cuban republicans. "We’re ready to lift the embargo, but we want Cuba to become more democratic," said Richardson.

When it comes to the high cost of fuel, the former energy secretary in the Clinton administration says he would focus more on conservation and renewable energy. "There’s so many things we need to do where we need presidential leadership," said Richardson. "Instead of drill, drill, drill, the way John McCain and President Bush want to do."

Richardson says he opposes drilling of the coast of Florida and California. He calls it bad energy policy that would not lower fuel prices until 2030.

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(Updated) Monday: Join Protests of Pearce Policies at the Pump

UPDATE: Bryan Barash over at the Tom Udall blog was at two of this morning's protests and has feedback and photos. Check it out and also learn about the Udall campaign's new text messaging service, TextMyTom.
**************
From the Democratic Party of New Mexico: On Monday, locals will protest Steve Pearce's choice to support Big Oil, while New Mexicans suffer at the pumps.

WHAT: Pearce = Pain at the Pump protest
WHO: Outraged Consumers
WHEN: Monday, June 30, 2008 at 10:00 AM
WHERE: Albuquerque, Clovis and Las Cruces, NM

• Albuquerque: Phillips 66, 4th and Montano; Diamond Shamrock, 2550 Central SE; Diamond Shamrock, 3440 Isleta Boulevard SW
• Clovis: Town & Country #248, 3412 North Prince
• Las Cruces: Brewer Oil Co Inc. Shell Self-Serve, 2512 E Lohman Ave.

"Pearce has repeatedly voted against measures that would help lower gas prices. New Mexicans deserve leaders that will fight for lower gas prices and not for Big Oil's record profits," Josh Geise, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

Pearce has opposed legislation that would:

• Make price gouging by Big Oil a crime
• Take away $14 billion dollar tax breaks from Big Oil
• Increase fuel efficiency standards to get more miles per gallon
• Require utilities to produce 15% of electricity through renewable energy like wind or solar energy

More Criticism of Pearce
Americans United for Change also issued a statement criticizing Steve Pearce on his energy stance, including his vote last week against legislation that aimed to lower gas prices and end profiteering by Big Oil barons and energy speculators.

“It’s almost unfathomable that at a time when his constituents are having to choose between putting gas in their cars or food on their tables that Rep. Pearce would block common-sense legislation that would provide tangible relief and lead the way to a cleaner, more secure energy future,” said Caren Benjamin, deputy executive director of Americans United for Change, the progressive issue-advocacy group behind this summer’s Bush Legacy Tour.  (The Tour will stop in Albuquerque in August, on its way to the Dem Convention in Denver.)

“This is just another – particularly egregious – example of how some members of Congress are putting loyalty to their corporate sponsors and to President Bush’s conservative corporate-driven agenda above the needs of the people they were elected to represent,” Benjamin added.

In lock-step with President Bush and presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Rep. Pearce voted against the “Use It or Lose It” bill, which would compel the oil industry to start drilling on the 68 million acres which they are currently warehousing or be barred from obtaining any more federal drilling leases until they demonstrate that they are diligently developing those lands.   

“Clearly, Rep. Pearce is out of touch with the needs of the people of New Mexico,” Benjamin said. “He must be held accountable.”

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Terry Riley: Help Publicize Dem Party Platform with Donation

This is a guest blog by Terry Riley and others listed below:
I have been working on the Resolutions and Platform Committee of the Democratic Party of New Mexico this year. If you have not seen the platform yet you should go to the state party website and read it here.

The platform is created by compiling the resolutions that have been submitted through the county central committees from around the state. People who submit resolutions work hard to explain their issues and the county and state resolution committees work hard to compile similar resolutions into meaningful planks for our platform. That work has been done for this election cycle and the result is our platform.

Very few people know what the Democratic Party of New Mexico represents. We need to change this. We need to share what we stand for so people can learn why they should join us and work with us. We can do this by distributing copies of our platform or listing key "hot points" from our platform to get people's attention. The Democratic Kicking Donkeys can be a tool to help make that happen. Last year we handed out flyers along the State Fair Parade route. These flyers consisted of four categories and had four or five topics under each category. The idea is to generate interest in the party.

I would like to ask for people to make a special donation to the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County to be used ONLY for this project. We should also consider the same thing for the Democratic Party of New Mexico. This way the state party could provide copies at events that are specific to the state and the county can provide copies for all events that we participate in.

I expect that we will need a couple thousand dollars to get enough flyers for this election cycle. People who are canvassing should have copies with them to offer to people who complain that they don't know what the Democratic Party stands for. We will be able to show them what the Democratic Party of New Mexico stands for. We can also show our legislators what we expect of them.

This is a very important project.  Please support the ideals of the people of the Democratic Party of New Mexico and the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County. Please help us to educate and stimulate the potential Democrats out there.

To donate for this project, send a check made out to the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County or the Democratic Party of New Mexico to 1301 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110, and include a note that your contribution should be used for the platform flyer project.

Terry Riley
State Platform and Resolutions Committee Member
State Central Committee Member
County Central Committee Member
Ward 15A Vice-Chair

George Boersig
State Central Committee Member
County Central Committee Member
State Platform & Resolutions Committee Ad-hoc Member
Precinct 117 Chair
DPBC Outreach Committee Co-chair
DPBC Party Building Committee Co-chair

Robb Chavez
State Platform and Resolutions Committee
State Central Committee
Bernalillo County Central Committee
Precinct 123 Chair

Nancy Denker
Vice-chair precinct 244
County/State Resolutions and Platform Committee
County/State Central Committee

Betsy Barnett
DPNM Resolutions and Platform Committee
State Central Committee
Bernalillo County Central Committee

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Four Democratic Governors in One Room

From Brian S. Colón, Chair, Democratic Party of New Mexico:
It is a great year for Democrats as we come together after an exhilarating primary season that registered more voters, trained more volunteers and activated more individuals to become involved with the Democratic Party than ever before.

On June 24th, the Democratic Party of New Mexico will host an historic event as we bring together four Democratic Governors for the first time. We will honor Governors Bill Richardson, Bruce King, Toney Anaya and Jerry Apodaca for their service to New Mexico. This is the first time Democrats have been able to thank all four Governors in one evening.

Please join us at the Democratic Party of New Mexico's Democratic Governors' Unity Reception and be a part of history.

Where: Sandia Resort and Casino
When: Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Get your E-Ticket
Click for Invitation (doc)

I hope you will be able to support the party and attend this historic event.

P.S. I know you don't want to miss this exciting event, but if you can't make it, please consider contributing to the party to help us prepare for the Republican smear campaign ahead.

Democratic Governors'
UNITY Reception

Sponsored By
Coast Range Investments, Mr. David Buchholtz,
Angela & Nestor Romero, Drew Setter & Associates, 
Hon. Hector H. Balderas, Peterson Properties,
Committee to Elect Brian Egolf, NM Federation of Labor,
AFSCME, Robles, Rael & Anaya, P.C.

We will honor four Democratic Governors
BILL RICHARDSON, BRUCE KING,
TONEY ANAYA AND JERRY APODACA 

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Sandia Resort and Casino 
  Council Levels - Hummingbird B
5:00 - 6:00
General Ticket - Salon D
5:30 - 7:00 PM

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NM Dem Party Demands That Pearce Return Tainted Money; GOP Going Off the Tracks?

CALLING STEVE PEARCE: Return the money from discredited Texan Clayton Williams, and repudiate his repulsive remarks about rape.

John McCain was forced to cancel a Texas fundraiser this past weekend hosted by oil man Clayton Williams after he was confronted with sexist quotes made by the monied GOP donor but has so far refused to return more than $300,000 his campaign Williams has raised for McCain. The most egregious prounouncement by Williams equated rape with the weather, saying "as long as it's inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it."

As I previously posted, Steve Pearce, the GOP's candidate for U.S. Senate in New Mexico, has gotten $4,000 from Williams going back to his 2006 campaign for Congress -- plus who knows how much more from donors "bundled" by Williams. The Democratic Party of New Mexico is now demanding that Pearce return the money.

"Steve Pearce and John McCain need to do the right thing and return every dollar they have gotten from their sexist and misguided friend, Clayton Williams," said Conchita Cruz, Press Secretary for the Democratic Party of New Mexico. "Pearce's silence on the matter is unacceptable, as Williams' words are disturbing and out of step with New Mexico values."

Ironically, one of the major mantras of Pearce's campaign is that he "represents New Mexico values." Guess not, at least when it comes to taking campaign contributions. No wonder Sen. John Ensign, who heads the GOP's Senate campaign committee, was quoted as saying that putting money into races Repubs can't win, like the one in New Mexico, would be a waste.

GOP Woes
It appears that GOP candidates -- as well as the Republican Party itself -- are in big trouble this election cycle. And the tension and bad blood within the Party are growing. Check out Peter St. Cyr's post (and extensive audio) reporting on the New Mexico GOP's convention in Las Cruces last Saturday. One controversy at the event resulted in Albuquerque delegate Patrick Marron being tossed out for trying to ask a question about the ban on taking photos or recording the event. State Party Chair Allen Weh defended the move:

“Other state’s run their conventions by Robert’s Rules,” said Chairman Allen Weh. “Not ours. This convention was run by the chairman’s gavel. ... “It’s my bat, my ball, and he [Marron] struck out.”

Ooooh, how autocratic! Weh and his pals probably think Robert's Rules are un-American. Order before democracy! And I wonder why they're so paranoid about people taking pics or taping the proceedings.

According to St. Cyr, Jeff Wright, state field director of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's presidential campaign, was also closed out of the meeting (at least the SCC meeting portion):

"What we want is the beginning of a recognition that the Republican Party has gone far afield," said Wright ... It's not about the man, it's the message. The Republican Party is damn near about to go off the tracks."

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A Few Pics from ABQ Pridefest

Equality New Mexico booth

Another Albuquerque Pridefest has come and gone with Pride events coming up later this month in places like Santa Fe and Las Cruces. The Saturday morning parade up Central and events at New Mexico Expo on Friday and Saturday were all jam packed with people from all walks of life, whether GLBT or straight as an arrow. The Dem Party, Dem candidates, EQNM, Defenders of Wildlife and other activists and politicos participated in the parade and staffed booths to pass out literature and stickers and register people to vote. Here are a few photos from Saturday's Fest at what used to be called the New Mexico Fairgrounds.

Volunteers and MEB at the Dem Party of New Mexico booth

Obama vols shared the DPNM booth


Voter registration vols worked the crowd


Martin Heinrich booth


DPNM

Click on photos for larger versions. All photos by M.E. Broderick.

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