Democracy for New Mexico

Obama Refuses to Delay Debate, SUSA Says Americans Agree

I like The Nation's take: McCain Cuts and Runs. Excerpt:

After calling for debates all summer, John McCain is cutting and running from the first one.

In one of the weirder political ploys of a long campaign season, McCain says he will "suspend" his campaign on Thursday. He is also pushing for a postponement of the first presidential debate. McCain says he is taking these dramatic steps because he wants to focus on congressional negotiations over the bailout. It's not clear how a national presidential debate -- the ultimate bully pulpit in this political season -- would detract from any effort to build national consensus on solutions for the economic crisis.

I wonder why McCain didn't come to this conclusion last weekend, or Monday, or Tuesday. Today it finally hit him, I guess, when he realized just how far his polling numbers were falling and how persuasive the hearings in Washington are in convincing people that Bush-McCain-style deregulation is the main culprit in this tragedy. Sure seems like a panic move to me.

Obama Isn't Biting
Here's what he said at a previously scheduled press conference this afternoon in Florida, where he's preparing for the debate:

"I believe that we should continue to have the debate," Obama said. "It's my belief that this is exact time when the American people need to hear form the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsibly for dealing with this mess and I think that it is going to be part of the president’s job to deal with more than one thing at once."

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NM-01: New Ad Says White Too Much Like Bush

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has said they are prepared to spend $1.3 on ads in NM-01, where Dem Martin Heinrich is taking on Darren White. They've started airing their first one, called "Too Much Like Bush," which pegs White as "too big a risk" because of his close ties to King George over the years and his continuing support of the Bush agenda.

The DCCC is using this frame based, no doubt, on the still falling approval ratings for Bush (now down to 19% by one count). And because it's true: Darren White has long been one of Bush's strongest supporters. No getting around that fact.

Although White has taken to describing himself as "independent" these days, his positions and past argue otherwise. Both he and McCain are trying to run away from their own Party's positions and the horrendously unpopular and incompetent Bush presidency but it's not easy. There's too much evidence to the contrary, like the kind that's included in this ad.

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Tonight: Obama Youth Vote Kickoff Party at Kelly's Brew Pub, ABQ

Click on image for larger version

Come join us kick off our youth vote outreach in Albuquerque! We will have a DJ, special guests and speakers, and food!

Wednesday, September 24, 2008, 6:30-9:30 PM
Kelly's Brew Pub, 3222 Central Ave., ABQ

THE EVENT WILL FEATURE CSI TV STAR HILL HARPER, STATE AUDITOR HECTOR BALDERAS, AND COUNTY CLERK MAGGIE OLIVER.

Meet and mingle with other Obama supporters and learn about how you can get more involved! All are welcome--young people, students, young professionals and the young at heart! The event is free!

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NM-01: White Campaign Pilfers and Doctors Photo of Heinrich for TV Ad

It's a given that many of the Republican campaigns this cycle have been dishonest, negative and downright sleazy, but now we have accusations by a local blogger of stealing on the part of the Darren White campaign. White is the Repub candidate for Congress in NM-01, and he's the Bernalillo County Sheriff to boot. You'd think the campaign of a law enforcement official would follow the letter and intent of the law but, in this case, you'd be wrong.

Turns out that allegations of copyright infringement are being made by Johnny Mango (Jon Knudsen), who blogs at Duke City Fix. Back in March, Johnny took a photo of Martin Heinrich, the Dem Congressional candidate in NM-01, and posted it on DCF. Mango says he spotted his photo -- doctored to make Heinrich look bad -- in the latest TV ad by White. You can read all about it here, in a post entitled "Sheriff Darren White Stole My Picture...Then Tortured It!!!" -- and see how Mango's photo compares to the one shown in the White commercial. Sure looks like the same pic to me.

So is the White campaign's unauthorized and unattributed use of the photo really copyright infringement -- or in other words, stealing? I think so, but there are some grey areas in the law. Whether or not it's illegal, though, I think it's a low-life thing to do. Especially for a candidate who paints himself as "law and order" all the way. I guess White believes we should do as he says, not as he does. No wonder he's down in the polling.

See this post by Gwyneth Doland at the NMI for another view on this.

Northern Navajo Agency Council Endorses Obama

Obama meeting with Native American leaders at Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque last Thursday

From the Obama Campaign for Change: On the heels of three major endorsements from the Native American community last week, the Northern Navajo Agency Council yesterday announced their support of Senator Obama’s candidacy for president.

“Our endorsement of Sen. Obama is very significant. People on the reservations are suffering the same economic and healthcare pains faced by the rest of the country, and they want change,” said Chairman Donald Benally.

The endorsement became official at a meeting held over the weekend where Chapter presidents and vice presidents along with 80 council delegates from the Shiprock Agency voted unanimously to endorse Senator Obama. The Shiprock agency is located in northwestern New Mexico, northeastern Arizona, and southeastern Utah and represents the following 20 chapters: Cudeii, Hogback, Littlewater, Mexican Water, Nenahnezad, Newcomb, Sanostee, Sheep Springs, Shiprock, Sweet Water, Teec Nos Pos, Two Grew Hills, Red Mesa, and Upper Fruitland.

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NM-Sen: Pearce Votes Against Law to Rein in Deceptive Credit Card Practices

Tom Udall's new TV ad on treating our vets right. .

Another unbelievable act by a Republican on a day that's been full of them. Get this: Today, Steve Pearce cast yet another vote that put the interests of the privileged few over those of the middle class, voting against a bill to crack down on deceptive, abusive, and unfair practices by credit card companies. Congressman Tom Udall and Congresswoman Heather Wilson both voted to pass the bill.

“I don’t see how anyone could oppose this bill,” Udall campaign spokeswoman Marissa Padilla said. “These are common-sense protections that should have been law a long time ago. Yet even in the midst of a financial and mortgage crisis that is squeezing the middle class to the breaking point, Steve Pearce still doesn’t get it. He has chosen to put the interests of big corporations ahead of those of ordinary Americans, just as he’s done throughout his career in Congress.”

Known as the “Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights,” H.R. 5244 will provide crucial protections against unfair and all too common practices by the credit card industry. Among many more protections, the bill:

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Smackdown in D-Town! Watch the Prez Debate Outdoors

Another great idea from PAC 505. Yeah, you do remember all their black balloons around town when Bush came to Burque for a fundraiser for Heather Wilson way back in the days of yore (2006). Now they're organizing Smackdown in D-Town! and say -- Come watch the presidential debate this Friday evening at 7:00 PM at Mary Fox Park (13th Street and Roma, downtown). We will have lots of televisions and sound. If you have kids, you can set them loose on the playground. Please feel free to forward this info to anyone who you think might be interested. You do not have to sign up using the link posted above, but if you do, we will feel validated.

Bernalillo County GOP Gives C de Baca "Vote of Confidence" Despite Racially Insulting Statements

You have to wonder about the sanity of the members of the Bernalillo County Republican Party Executive Committee. Today they met behind closed doors to consider what should be done about what are, at the very least, incredibly insensitive words stated by County Chair Fernando C de Baca. Unbelievably, they decided he could stay in his party leadership post. Last Thursday at the New Mexico State Fair, C de Baca reportedly had this to say to a BBC blogger:

"The truth is that Hispanics came here as conquerors," he said. "African-Americans came here as slaves. Hispanics consider themselves above blacks. They won't vote for a black president."

KSFR Airs New Audio, Colón Reponds
It's now come to light that C de Baca also spoke with a BBC reporter who, unlike the blogger, recorded the interview. Santa Fe Public Radio KSFR did a segment today on that, with audio of more of C de Baca's comments about race, as well as a response from Democratic Party of New Mexico Chair, Brian Colón. Let's just say C de Baca's audio comments were worse in some ways than those originally reported on the BBC blog:

“I feel strongly that Hispanics will not support, in my generation and the generation around my age, are not going to support the Democratic candidate for president primarily because there is a strong feeling that African Americans during the civil rights movement took advantage, full advantage, of all the benefits and programs that the government offered, that were supposed to be offered to all minorities. But we were left behind, we were left sucking air, and we resented that ever since the 60s, and I don’t see how a black president is going to change that.”

In response Colón said, in part:

I think that the Chairman is out of touch with New Mexicans. I disagree wholeheartedly. I also disagree that this is part of the discord that needs to take place if we're going to talk about the future of America.

... I'm offended. I think his own party is offended. I think that at the end of the day New Mexicans are ready for change and that's what's gonna rule the day.

... I'm more disturbed now that I've heard the audio, and I think your listeners will be more disturbed as well.

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Tonight: Reception Fundraiser for Victor Raigoza (SD-10)

Commissioner Deanna Archuleta; Ana Canales, Bernalillo Co. Party Chair; Eleanor Chávez, Representative Elect District 13; Claire Dudley; Kathy Katz; Blair Kaufman; Senator Linda Lopez, District 11; Michelle Mares; Tom Montaño, Business Manager, UA Local Union 412; Ann Piper; Charlotte Roybal; Representative Mimi Stewart, District 21;
Albuquerque Teachers Federation
And
American Federation of Teachers New Mexico
Ask you to join them at a reception for
Victor Raigoza
Democratic State Senate Candidate in SD-10
Tuesday, September 23, 2008, 5:30-7:30 PM
One Up Restaurant & Lounge
301 Central Avenue NW
(Corner of 3rd & Central, Downtown Albuquerque)
Co-Host – Write or Raise $500
Guest – $65

For more information or to RSVP, please email Raigoza4Senate@gmail.com. We have an unprecedented opportunity this year to elect people like Victor Raigoza who will truly represent every New Mexican. Victor has earned endorsements from NARAL Pro-Choice NM, EQNM-PAC and multiple State and Local Unions. Please join us to show your support as his campaign enters the final weeks.

"Bailout" -- Express Yourself

Congress.org makes it easy to email the people who count on this. Or click here to find phone numbers and other contact info for New Mexico's Congressional delegation.
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I agree with what Bob Herbert at the NY Times says:

Does anyone think it’s just a little weird to be stampeded into a $700 billion solution to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression by the very people who brought us the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression?

How about a second opinion?

We're supposed to take seriously a $700 billion "solution" proposed by the very forces that caused the debacle in the first place? And Congress is supposed to totally surrender its oversight duties to the Treasury Secretary (formerly of Goldman Sachs)? And nobody will ever get to challenge what's done with the money? This is absurd on its face. How did they even arrive at the $700 billion figure? Why not $100 billion or $650 billion or, better yet, how about increments of $10 billion where the T. Sec. has to come back for an OK from Congress every time? $700 billion seems like it was pulled out a hat. And it probably was, a nice round figure like that. Who will challenge it?

Granted, Senate Banking Committee Chair Chris Dodd is making noises about holding down executive compensation at the failed institutions, tossing some crumbs to those whose homes are being foreclosed and demanding some very minor oversight -- but he and other powerful Dems are essentially buying into the unprecedented buyout of toxic debt hook, line and sinker. They don't seen to care that not one strong argument has been offered as to why it would even work to solve the real problems we're up against.

Continue reading ""Bailout" -- Express Yourself"