TThhee NNeeww DDeemmooccrraatt A Publication of the Peninsula Democratic Coalition (PDC) July 2012

Presidential Election News – Mark Your Dashboard and Technology Calendar Development Volunteers PDC Annual Picnic Plans Sought Are you or do you want to be an activist to re-elect President Obama? The campaign has developed a new online Underway “virtual” field office to help us plug into the campaign’s Mark the date in your calendar—the PDC annual picnic grassroots efforts. The site is will be held on Saturday, August 18, this year. The location, https://www.barackobama.com/dashboard. If you already have as usually, will be Shoup Park in Los Altos. But the time will an account on www.barackobama.com, you can use that login be 4 to 7 p.m. this year, earlier than usual. to log in to Dashboard; otherwise, you can create a new It’s not too early to start thinking about what YOU’d like account. Dashboard is the core of the campaign’s organizing to do to help make this event a success: strategy. Through Dashboard you can call voters, track your • Donate some special item, service, or a gift certificate progress and connect with your neighborhood team. to a local business for the silent auction Dashboard was in part developed by the Obama Technology • Offer PDC some time in your vacation home, as a the Center in San Francisco. Eitan Fenson and I are in discussion silent auction item with them about how Silicon Valley technical talent can support • Help plan active games to keep the kiddies happy in and contribute to their efforts. If you are a back end software the playground area developer interested in volunteering some time to this effort , • Invite your friends to become PDC members, so they contact us at [email protected] or [email protected] . can come with you! One last note: I loved the First Lady’s email on Father’s If you’d like to help in any of these ways, let us know as Day. If you missed this video, check it out: soon as you can. Call 650-941-2120 and talk with Andrea, http://youtu.be/Tz28tO2IIeM. or leave a message. By Amy Pearl Save the Date: September 8 Put Your Professor Larry Diamond, an expert on post-conflict democracy building and democratic development, will be our Money Where featured speaker at the PDC’s September 8 luncheon. We can expect Dr. Diamond will share with us fascinating Your Voice Is insights on the prospects and challenges of democracy Every month we dutifully pay our phone bills. But do you building in the tumultuous Middle East—and perhaps ever wish all that money could be going to support causes you elsewhere around the globe. really care about? Do you ever think about how your present Dr. Diamond is the Director of the Center for Democracy, phone service may be supporting the very things you oppose? Development, and the Rule of Law; a Senior Fellow at the Would you like to get out of the clutches of AT&T, which is a Hoover Institution and at the Freeman Spogli Institute for major supporter of Tea Party conservatives and Republicans? International Studies; and professor by courtesy of political I felt that way about my phone service, but then I found out science and sociology at Stanford University. about CREDO Mobile—the progressive phone company. I Save the date! September 8, at Michael’s at Shoreline switched to CREDO for my cell phone service, and now have Restaurant. the pleasure of knowing that my monthly payments go to a company that has raised over $70 million for progressive CALIFORNIA PRESIDENTIAL & nonprofit organizations such as GreenPeace, Planned STATE GENERAL ELECTION Parenthood, the ACLU, and Democracy Now. Tuesday , November 6, 2012 - POLL HOURS: 7am-8pm In 2010, CREDO was a leading force in defeating Proposition 23, Big Oil’s attempt to overturn California’s Deadline to register for the General Election strong climate protections. CREDO organized local is October 22. (continued on page 7) The New Democrat 2 July 2012

situation. We associate Republicans with Vision B and Democrats with Martin’s Vision A. In recent years the Republicans have been doing a great job of articulating their views. They attack the Democrats as “big spenders” for attempting some progress toward their EDITORIAL realization of Vision A. The Democrats are not responding. They are not pushing a vision for the future. The last time we heard a strong national voice for an alternative view of the future was Lyndon There are two visions for the future of this country. They can Johnson’s War on Poverty! The Democrats fail completely to be characterized generally as follows: point out that they are not the “big spenders.” There is a conflict in spending priorities – the Democrats Vision A meekly push for domestic programs while the Republicans This vision follows the philosophy of the founding fathers spend on war and defense with no vocal opposition from the and that which has governed the country for much of its Democrats. In recent years the budget increases under Bush history. In this model the role of the government is to look after were significantly larger than those under Obama. Yet those who need help. Concern and empathy are important Republicans bash Obama as spending without control and there qualities. is no vehement response. In this vision public education – high quality public education Education is the key: education that produces an electorate – is a necessity. Quality public education serves to create an ready to question authority and to understand the issues. There informed and alert electorate; quality public education provides is an abundance of information available today. Between the social contacts and understanding. television – news and advertisements – and the web it is In this vision the government exists to protect the country possible to find authoritative opinion on both sides of any issue. against threats from within and without. The public should be That is true for global warming, evolution, weapons of mass protected against unscrupulous businesses, snake oil sales, and destruction, Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Great fraud. Pumpkin. The government of this vision is expensive. It is supported If citizens are to participate effectively in democracy they by a tax system in which everyone is expected to pay a fair need the ability to form critical opinions. It is obvious to share; the rich, who have benefited most from the opportunities speculate that an informed and properly skeptical electorate presented, pay a higher proportion of their income than do the might have kept us out of the war in Iraq as well as the Viet poor who have yet to gain the financial windfalls. Nam war. There is no thought of complete income equality; some Full disclosure for political advertising is a good idea – but it people will be richer than others; but there is a hope of will not solve the problem. Every voter in California should eliminating poverty and of having the very rich pay their share have known that the opposition to the cigarette tax initiative of the cost of government. The goal is for a narrower gap was funded by big tobacco; that information did not sufficiently between the top and bottom of the economic ladder. Again, a blunt the effect of their advertising. large part of the interest is grounded in the desire for Rules and regulations are not going to stop the enormous democracy: citizens in abject poverty cannot participate fully in spending on behalf of candidates and causes. That spending will the democratic process. slow if, and only if, it no longer bends the will of the voter to the whim of the advertiser. Vision B It may be too bad if our schools do not produce high scores In the alternative vision, capitalism is the major consideration. on the standardized tests; however it is a disaster if the schools Those who have become rich see no need for quality public do not create a citizenry able to think critically and education – they can send their children to expensive schools independently. anywhere in the country – or in the world. They see little need Martin Gorfinkel for a highly educated work force – they can run their corporations with employees educated in other countries. Ours is a land of opportunity – but people, generally speaking, have the responsibility for generating their own opportunities. Hard work will bring success without the need for significant government assistance. This vision sees extreme wealth as a good thing; it generates jobs; it shows the value of working hard; it provides incentive to others so they will also work hard.

Politics When one candidate articulates a vision – or a plan or a philosophy – the opposition has three options: (1) ignore it; (2) argue with it and denigrate it; or (3) counter with ideas that offer an alternative. Herein lies the problem in our current The New Democrat 3 July 2012

who came with their two young children. Between 1861 and Ask Mitt’s Cousin… 1885 he married five more wives. In all, he fathered at least 17 children. Two daughters, Dora and Bertha, by his first wife By Karen Fox became two of Helaman Pratt’s wives. His oldest daughter Dora gave birth to Anna Amelia Pratt, who married Gaskell Q. The birther frenzy over President Obama’s ancestry Romney. The Wilcken family name was given to their son and stories about his distant relatives has me wondering: George Wilcken Romney, Mitt’s father. What can you tell me about ’s ancestry? Charles Henry Wilcken’s widowed mother, sisters, nieces, and brother August—my great-grandfather—eventually came to A. Mitt Romney’s American ancestry goes back to the late and joined the Mormon Church. Charles Henry spent 17th century. Rebecca Towne Nurse was 71 when she was time as a Mormon missionary in England and co-authored a hanged as a witch in Salem in 1692. You can view Mitt booklet on Mormonism in German. Back in he Romney’s lineage back to the mid-16th century at eventually became a miller. As he became better known, he http://www.wargs.com/political/romney.html took on responsibilities as a body guard/helper/driver for the Mitt’s great-great-grandfather Karl Heinrich Wilcken (pictured top leadership of the Mormon Church and their wives. When below in a photo from federal authorities closed on in these Mormons polygamists, www.keepapitchinin.org/2012/05/15/guest-post-a-brief-guide- Charles Henry was the go-between to husbands in the to-mitt-romneys-polygamous-heritage/ ) emigrated from penitentiary and their families. He hid their polygamous Germany in 1857. Karl Heinrich’s families, and was able to provide advance warnings of imminent father was a brewer and had a pub in arrests, often by bribing federal marshals and deputies. In the village of Eckhorst, Schleswig- short, he made himself indispensible. Holstein, close to Lubeck, about 45 I visited the Wilcken ancestral village in February of this year. miles from Hamburg. Lubeck and its Half the village is now under a highway, and the village is surrounding area were in territory at mainly a bedroom community for Lubeck. For relaxation, there that time contested by the King of are two pubs. Denmark. In the first half of the 19th century, Lubeck and its surrounding Q. What is the special underwear that Mormons wear area were in territory contested by the and why do they wear it? King of Denmark. Karl Heinrich was born in 1831. He was apprenticed to a A. Many religions prescribe special clothing for ritual events, miller and then served in the Prussian army as an elite rifleman. such as vestments worn by ministers and priests, and distinctive He was tall (6’3”) and well trained and completed his seven headgear and clothing worn by some rabbis. The Mormon years of service with distinction, decorated with the Iron Cross Church is perhaps the only one that prescribes special by the Kaiser. Karl Heinrich’s father bought a grist mill not far undergarments for adult faithful believers, which are to be worn away, but in what is now Denmark, and the son took up his at all times, day and night, with brief exceptions. The trade there and married. But he was soon warned that he garments, almost always white, represent physical and spiritual risked conscription into the Danish kings’ Horse Guards. He purity and keeping the covenants made in the temple quickly sold his mill and went to England, with plans to join his ceremony. “Mormon underwear,” referred to by Mormons as brother in South America. “garments,” is worn when a Mormon makes his/her first visit In London Karl Heinrich met up with some military buddies to a Mormon temple, as part of a special ceremony called the and, in his own words, “had a jolly good time” for a few weeks. “temple endowment.” Wearing these garments is a guarantee When he took stock of his resources he had only enough to sail of modest dressing: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article- to New York City, where he arrived nearly penniless in 1857. 2100995/Mitt-Romney-shows-strength-faith-wearing-special- On arrival, in need of work and knowing no English, he met up Mormon-underwear.html. with an army recruiter who encouraged him to enlist in the army—called Johnston’s Army—being organized to head west Q. Which Is correct to say, the Mormon Church or the to put down the rebellious Mormons. He was disgusted with Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day-Saints? the lack of discipline of the other recruits, totally unlike his Prussian Army colleagues. A. Either. The church’s own official website listing at He requested permission to go out to hunt for game to www.lds.org is headed “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- supplement the army rations. One version of the family story Day Saints (Mormons)” and the Church’s ongoing advertising claims that Karl Heinrich was captured by Mormons he met on campaign features individual Mormons from all walks of life one of these hunting trips; the other version says he met some saying “I’m a Mormon.” The website at www.mormon.org is Mormons, decided Mormons were not the terrible people he also official, but is aimed at non-Mormons interested in learning had been told, and deserted his regiment to join with them. about the Mormon faith. One contemporary diary reports that he provided intelligence to ______the Mormons and helped them “liberate” 150 cattle from the army’s herds. Karen Fox, a PDC Board member, is Mitt’s third cousin, Karl Heinrich went on to Salt Lake City, became Charles once removed, one of Mitt Romney’s many, many cousins. Henry Wilcken, and two months after his capture/desertion he Her father was named for his great uncle Karl Heinrich was baptized into the Mormon Church. He sent for his wife, Wilcken and his grandfather August Wilcken. The New Democrat 4 July 2012 Attention All PDC Members!!!! Volunteer to do Voter Registration to Save our Democracy!

All PDC Members and Past Volunteers for Democratic Voter Registration, The first line of defense for our democracy is getting people registered to vote and to the polls. Nothing else really matters!

The PDC has a long and glorious tradition doing voter registration and we need YOU to help this year like never before!!!

Voter Registration is now starting and our first Fair will be on July 4th (Wednesday) here in Palo Alto. Volunteer today to do voter registration at this fun, relaxed, event. Which Fair is this? The famous Palo Alto Chili Cook-Off! Information is as follows:

PALO ALTO CHILI COOK-OFF Location: Mitchell Park, Palo Alto----1305 Middlefield Road When: July 4, (Wednesday) The Fair runs with Set-Up from 9 – 11 AM and the Fair runs 12 – 5 but we get many voter registrations before the Chili Tasting and Music festivities begin. J Shifts: Shift #1: 9:30 to 12:30 includes set-up; Shift #2: 12:30 to 3:00; Shift #3: 3:00 to 5:30 Includes take down. You are guaranteed beautiful weather, fine Democrats working by your side, tables, padded chairs, complete voter registration materials, great SWAG ---i.e. buttons and bumper stickers for donations, training for new people and a short review for returnees, cold bottled water, and a white canopy with beautiful balloons soaring overhead. Above all else, we have FUN at the most vital, energetic, yet casual of fairs. (The entire Palo Alto City Council will be here at this FAIR too!) If you are interested in helping, please respond to this flyer or phone me, Diane Rolfe, Voter Registration Chair at (650) 326-6328 or [email protected] . (continued on next page) The New Democrat 5 June 1012

VOTER REGISTRATION (continued from previous)

Mark your calendars for two major fairs in mid-July: the Los Altos Art and Wine and the Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival , both on the weekend of July 14 & 15th. If you want to guarantee your place at either of these two fairs, sign up early. (Both fairs last 2 days-- -Saturday and Sunday). On July 21 and July 22, we are participating at a new fair, the Connoisseur’s Market in Menlo Park . Contact Diane Rolfe today if you want to be able to do voter registration at these other great FAIRS. Phone (650)326-6328 or e-mail [email protected] .

FARMERS’ MARKETS Carol Kuiper is the Coordinator for Voter Registration at all Farmers’ Markets. She already has the Mountain View Farmers’ Market up and operational and just this weekend the Palo Alto Farmers’ Market on California Avenue started operations. If you want to work at the always delightful Farmers’ Markets (and do some of your own shopping as well), please call Carol Kuiper at (650) 941-8190 or e-mail her: [email protected] Some other Farmer Markets sites Carol wants to initiate are the Menlo Park, Los Altos, and Palo Alto Farmers’ Market on Gilman. Can you help as a volunteer or be a lead?

RETAIL STORES, COLLEGES & COMMUNITY OUTREACH If you like doing voter registration or are intrigued with doing so at places like Starbucks, Safeway’s, or Foothill College, please contact Coordinator Heidy Braverman who will be heading up the voter registration efforts at retail stores, colleges, and community outreach. . Please contact her at [email protected] or (650) 966-1129. She is also doing outreach to local communities. If you have a special talent, like you are fluent in Spanish, please share that with her.

COMING JULY 15 : Democratic Volunteer Center 350 El Camino Real in Menlo Park (the old Towne Ford showroom) http://www.demvolctr.com/ The New Democrat 6 July 2012

Change” event in their home with Charles Karel Bouley from Women’s rights the KAREL SHOW in Los Angeles. At that time, Jan became by Amy Pearl a Board member of Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte and completes her second and final term this summer. In the fall of 2008, Jan hosted a dinner party in her home to raise funds supporting the Campaign for Teen Safety: No on 4; fighting against the third parental notification ballot measure in Planned Parenthood 4 years. She joined other volunteers staffing the phone banks that helped defeat the measure. Among the highlights of her activities is her frequent participation in Planned Parenthood’s Advocates Honors Local annual Capitol Day in Sacramento and hosting several Board retreats at her home. Jan is incredulous over today’s rhetoric Activists in Congress and among the Republican candidates. In 1965 there were state laws prohibiting use of contraceptives by Planned Parenthood Advocates Mar Monte is the non- married couples. She finds herself asking, “Are we returning to partisan political arm of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte , THAT?” covering 29 counties in mid-California (including Santa Clara, San Mateo and Alameda) and northern . PPAMM works to elect pro-choice candidates at all levels of government by News Reporter - Damian Trujillo South Bay native Damian Trujillo has been an NBC Bay identifying, educating and mobilizing pro-choice voters. They Area news reporter for 16 years and host and producer of also advocate for legislation and hold elected officials “Comunidad Del Valle”, the longest-running public affairs show accountable on issues such as comprehensive sexuality in all of Northern California. On “Communidad Del Valle” and education and affordable access to family planning services and in his work as a reporter for NBC news, Damian has featured general health care. Planned Parenthood and has greatly promoted and lauded the Voices for Change is the organization’s annual fundraising work that the organization does for the community as well as event at which they recognize distinguished individuals for their the Advocates’ important political work. contributions to protecting reproductive freedom and privacy. Damian has been honored with awards from the Associated This year’s event was held at PDC Board Member Kavita Press, the Radio and Television News Directors’ Association Tankha’s home in Los Altos Hills. Many elected attended (RTNDA), and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. including CA Secretary of State Debra Bowen, State Senators Damian was named “2004 Reporter of the Year” by the Ellen Corbett and Joe Simitian, and State Assembly member Associated Press Television and Radio Association for Jerry Hill. There were four amazing honorees: California and Nevada and has been nominated five times for Young Activist - Maggie Wells an Emmy Award. (Do not read this bio unless your self-esteem is rock solid) Damian grew up in Greenfield, California. While in high Maggie Wells is a third year MD candidate and first year MPP school, he worked in the agricultural fields of the Salinas Valley, (Masters in Public Policy) candidate at Stanford University. Her with his family to help make ends meet. Every March 31 on medical concentration lies in biomedical ethics and medical the Cesar Chavez holiday, Damian’s family and friends humanities. Maggie grew up in Orange County, California. She assemble sack lunches at the Trujillo home and distribute them attended UCLA and received her B.S. in Molecular, Cell, and to roughly 250 farm workers in the South Bay. The Trujillo Developmental Biology and her B.A. in Women’s Studies. family also awards a college scholarship to the son or daughter While in college she was active as a youth mentor through of a farm worker in Greenfield each year. Damian and his wife, Women and Youth Supporting Each Other and an advocate for Monica, have three children. In his spare time, Damian enjoys survivors of sexual violence through Clothesline Project. Maggie golf and volunteering with school children. was awarded a fellowship from the Los Angeles chapter of the New Leaders Council Institute, a six month training program which prepares progressive young professionals to become the Congressman - Mike Honda U.S. Congressman Michael Honda has represented the 15th next generation of political entrepreneurs. Maggie is currently Congressional District of California in the U.S. House of active in the student group Medical Students for Choice and Representatives for a decade. In Congress, he is a member of has partnered with Planned Parenthood Mar Monte to conduct the House Appropriations and Budget Committees, Chair a policy needs assessment and policy design project with the Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, support of a Valley Fellowship through the Office of Co-chair of the Democratic Caucus’ New Media Working Community Health. Group, House Democratic Senior Whip and the original author of the Equity and Excellence Commission now housed in the Community Leader - Jan Fenwick US Department of Education. Jan remembers her conservative Republican parents’ long Congressman Honda is committed to working towards policy time interest and support for Planned Parenthood in Dayton, changes that support and encourage gender equality and equal Ohio as an early influence in her upbringing when deaths from access to education and services for women. He is committed back-alley abortions were in the news. In the 1980’s, Jan to ensuring access to comprehensive sex education, birth participated in the “Clinic Defense” gatherings in San Jose. In 2007, Jan and Bob hosted the second annual “Voices for (Continued on page 8) The New Democrat 7 October 2009 Introducing...

The PDC Board of Directors is made up of an inspiring group of Democrats and we feel it important to introduce you to them. Each month, we will be running a brief biography of one member of the Board. We look forward to hearing your response to this new column. Kavita Tankha Kavita Tankha is a political activist committed to supporting democratic candidates and ideals, electing a new generation of democratic leaders and energizing our democracy. She is a member of the Northern California Finance Committee for President Barack Obama and committed to his re- election campaign. She is one of the top three Indian-American fundraisers for the President and has successfully raised a large sum of money for both the President and the Democratic Party. Kavita is on the board of the Peninsula Democratic Coalition (PDC) the largest Democratic club in Santa Clara County, with a long history of promoting and influencing the aims and goals of the Democratic Party. She works with the chairs of both the Santa Clara Democratic Party and the Peninsula Democratic Coalition to make sure that they play an effective role in helping elect Democrats to office. Kavita is a very engaged and active member of the South Asian community and works hard to make sure that the South Asian Community becomes and stays involved in the political process. She works with numerous South Asian organizations and helps bring awareness to their causes and serves the needs of the community she most represents. She has worked on a number of political campaigns in different capacities, the most recent being those of Attorney General Kamala Harris, Congressman Mike Honda, Josh Becker, Dr. Ami Bera and more recently Ro Khanna. She is a member of Dawn, Democratic Activists for Women Now and committed to the 2012 Project, a national campaign to increase the number of women in elected office. Prior to her engagement in politics Kavita spent several years working as an attorney with various law firms around the world. She now lives in California and supports the many causes and organizations she believes in.

Credo (continued from page 1) donation to PDC is by listing me as your “friend”. CREDO will then send me the $50 check, which I will turn over to the PDC. If you’re interested in doing this, you’ll need a few pieces of information about me to put on your CREDO sign-up form, and I’ll need to know you’re going to sign up so I can tell the PDC you have done this. Just send me an e-mail message at kaforrest_at_earthlink_dot_net or call me at 650-854-5695, and we can set it up. Here’s a bit more information about CREDO, which was formerly known as Working Assets Wireless. It is an American for-profit company that offers mobile and long distance phone service, using Sprint as a carrier; its website is http://www.credomobile.com. CREDO has a number of different phones to choose from, including the new Android. They also have convenient voice, text, and data plans. A map on their website lets you identify how good CREDO service is everywhere across the country; I generally am in or near urban demonstrations against Texas oil company backers of Prop. 23, areas, and have been quite satisfied. provided anti-23 signs and bumper stickers, and ran GOTV CREDO is headed by a progressive Palo Alto businessman. phone-banks against Prop. 23. In 2008, CREDO carried out Michael Kieschnick. His wife is the Reverend Frances a large text-messaging campaign, targeted toward young Kieschnick, Senior Associate Rector at Trinity Episcopal people, to get out the vote and help monitor any Election Day Church in Menlo Park. Together, they founded the Beatitudes problems that might arise. Society, a national Progressive Christian leadership I’d like more people to switch to CREDO, and I’d also like to development organization, and they both serve on the support the Peninsula Democratic Coalition. So I’m offering a organization’s board. way in which YOU can switch to CREDO and also have the I hope you’ll join me as a CREDO subscriber, so together we satisfaction of supporting the PDC. can provide extra support for the PDC and progressive causes. When you switch to CREDO and stay with the company for Katherine Forrest at least 30 days, paying your first bill, CREDO will send $50 to Vice President, PDC the friend who referred you, if that person is already a CREDO suscriber. The way you can make sure that $50 becomes a The New Democrat 8 July 2012 Planned Parenthood CALENDAR (continued from page 6) control, and safe and legal abortion. He was a proud co- OF EVENTS sponsor of the “Prevention First Act,” which provides comprehensive family planning services, expands teenage MONTHLY MEETINGS pregnancy prevention services, and provides equity in Santa Clara County Democratic Central Committee insurance coverage of prescription contraception drugs, devices, and outpatient services. He also co-sponsored the meets at 7:00 p.m. on the first Thursday of each month at 70 West “Responsible Education About Life Act,” which provides Hedding, San Jose. Call 408/445-9500 for information. Anyone is federal money to support responsible, comprehensive sex welcome to attend. education in schools. Last year, Congressman Honda helped defeat the Pence Amendment which would have barred The PDC Board of Directors meets at 7:30 p.m. on the second Planned Parenthood from receiving funding from the Title X WEDNESDAY of each month at the Palo Alto Unitarian Church, 505 East Charleston Family Planning Program. Most recently, Congressman Road, Palo Alto, Fireside Room (in October), otherwise Room 8; all are welcome. Honda organized his fellow colleagues in the House to write a joint letter encouraging the Komen Foundation to reconsider its decision to stop providing funding to Planned EVENTS: JULY 2012 Parenthood. Friday, July 6 WHAT: Meet and Greet with Jose Hernandez, Candidate for Congress Become a Planned Parenthood Advocate! in California's 10th District, co-hosted by the PDC There are a number of ways you can get involved and 6 to 8 p.m. become a Planned Parenthood Advocate. Where: Home of Gregory Loew, 255 Polhemus Avenue, Atherton Volunteer: Volunteers are needed to help mobilize voters Former astronaut Jose Hernandez is a fantastic Congressional candidate and educate the public by staffing information-tables during from the Central Valley and this is an excellent opportunity to turn a public events, phone-banking during elections and much RED district BLUE! There is no suggested minimum donation, but more. Email [email protected] for more contributions are appreciated. information. Be an Online Activist: Follow PPAMM on Facebook and Twitter and share our posts with your friends and family. SAVE THE DATE Stay Informed: Join our email list and sign up to receive Saturday, August 18 Planned Parenthood Mar Monte text alerts. Donate: Your donation will help provide the resources PDC Annual Picnic and Auction we need to get out the word about candidates’ positions as WHEN: 4 to 7 p.m. well as legislation and ballot initiatives on issues of choice and access to health care so that voters can make educated WHERE: Shoup Park, 400 University Avenue, Los Altos choices when casting their ballots. SPECIAL GUESTS: Local state-wide elected officials COST: $10 Donation for adults plus POTLUCK item: Entrees, salads, desserts serving 12+.; kids FREE. Beverages For additional calendar listings, visit provided. peninsulademocrats.com Your auction donations are needed NOW: Contact: Andrea Eaton: [email protected] Nicole Fernandez: [email protected] Karen Fox: [email protected] Auction Items Needed: Lunch with Legislators; Vacation Homes; Party Packages; Get-away packages; Democratic memorabilia; football, theatre, Celebrity Forum and other entertainment tickets; gift items; gift certificates of all kinds: restaurants, personal services…

Contact Kristen Lohnes Johnson, editor of The New Democrat , Join the PDC on Facebook! at [email protected] for advertising rates. Your www.facebook.com/groups/144436228947606/ advertising dollars will help pay for this publication! The New Democrat 9 July 2012

wife to buy a bulletproof vest. Shame no one told Trayvon Martin to get one too. - Rielle Hunter now claims she wrote a tell-all book about her relationship with John Edwards just because their daughter Frances should have “have one entirely truthful public account of how she came into the world.” Or at least enough money Funnies by Janice for years of therapy. - Many Americans on both sides of the aisle are anxiously Two prosecutors in Illinois have refused to defend the awaiting the Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare. Got to love state’s gay marriage ban. So where’s the applause from small- it, such a major decision on our nation's healthcare will be government types for their decision not to waste taxpayer made by nine men and women with jobs, and benefits, for dollars? life. - - Cory Booker was recently on the Tonight Show with Jay Mitt Romney spent a recent weekend in Park City at his Leno this week. Booker, the charismatic mayor of Newark, "Victory Leadership Retreat" for donors who have contributed achieved superhero status in many minds when he ran into a at least $50,000 to the campaign. Privately Mitt referrred to burning building to save a woman. this as his middle-class outreach program. Of course, if President Obama had done the same thing, - Republicans would accuse him of too much government Rick Perry, on Obama's first use of executive privilege: involvement interfering with hardworking firefighters. "You have a president who is using his executive privilege to - keep information from Congress. If that's not Nixonian, then I The Supreme Court did uphold that part of the Arizona don't know what is." Uh, where was the Texas governor when immigration law that allows police to check a person's George W. Bush was invoking his executive privilege... six immigration status if "reasonable suspicion" exists that the times? person is in the illegally. Hmm, this means it - could be dangerous to wear a Maple Leaf or cheer too loudly A 6,000-acre fire south of Salt Lake City was believed to for the Phoenix Coyotes. have started at a target-shooting range. The NRA immediately put out a statement: Guns don't start fires, people start fires. Janice Hough, PDC Member - Today is the 40th anniversary of Title IX. While the law isn't perfect, two words for men who think it's only benefited women: beach volleyball. - COMING SOON! Jeb Bush, yesterday complimented President Obama on immigration in a speech, and said “when we find common Mid-Peninsula Democratic ground we shouldn’t fight anymore, we should move on and build on that success.” Well, no worries about a 3rd Bush in Volunteer Center the White House, with talk like that he’ll never get through a November is fast approaching! A group of local GOP primary. activists, in cooperation with the Santa Clara and San - Mateo County Democratic Central David Blankenhorn, the chief witness for Prop 8 in Committees, the Silicon Valley California, wrote an editorial saying he has changed his mind, Action Network, the Peninsula and now believes the right to gay marriage is “basic fairness.” Democratic Coalition and Obama Wonder what really tipped him, knowing more gay couples, or For America has begun organizing watching people like the Kardashians? and planning the Democratic - Volunteer Center. The headquarters Congrats to for having a horse going to the will be located at 350 El Camino Olympics to compete in dressage. But can you image the Real in Menlo Park (the old Towne Ford showroom). We outcry from the GOP if the Obamas had a daughter have a signed sealed and delivered lease for three competing in “elite” equestrian events? months. We will be moving in on July 15 and have - tentatively scheduled the " Grand Opening" for A recent NY Times/CBS News poll found that 75 % August 4th. It will be a place where volunteers can Americans believe Supreme Court justices have their decisions gather to work on behalf of Democratic candidates and influenced by their political beliefs. Shocking. That means progressive initiatives up and down the ballot. To learn 25% actually think they don’t. more about the Democratic Volunteer Center and join the - team, please visit: http://www.demvolctr.com / In a jailhouse phone call, George Zimmerman urged his DEM LA O The Peninsula Democratic Coalition U C S R P.O. Box 97 N A

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P last issue of C O N “The New Democrat” A LITI O Don’t get dropped!! The New Democrat For a membership Published monthly by The Peninsula Democratic Coalition form, please contact P.O. Box 97, Los Altos, CA 94023-0097 the PDC Tel: 650/949-1009 Phone: 650.949.1009 President: Marc Berman Vice President: Dr. Katherine Forrest or renew/join online at Editor: Emy Thurber www.peninsulademocrats.com/join.htm Design/Layout: Kristen Lohnes Johnson Be an active member of the PDC and GET e-mail: [email protected] web site: www.peninsulademocrats.com INVOLVED to help the Opinions expressed in signed columns represent Democratic Party win the views of the author and are not necessarily official elections in November!! positions of the PDC. Visit the PDC website or For advertising rates contact FaceBook page and make [email protected] sure to read upcoming The Peninsula Democratic Coalition (PDC) is issues of this newsletter to chartered by the Santa Clara County Democratic find out how you can get Central Committee, and affiliated with the California involved! Sign up online: Democratic Council (CDC) www.cdc-ca.org www.peninsulademocrats.com The Peninsula Young Democrats (PYD) is a group within www.facebook.com/groups/144436228947606/ the PDC for members under age 36; the PYD is affiliated with the California Young Democrats.