Vol. 36, No. 11 www.arlingtondemocrats.org November 2011 Final campaign checklist Here are eight things we all need to do in the or HQ to help out. final days before November 8. Look over this list. Tell us what you fancy doing by emailing Yard Signs - Now through Election Day [email protected] or calling If you have a yard, contact your favorite cam- Arlington Democrats’ HQ at 703-528-8588. (Please paign or the Joint Campaign and ask for a candi- be prepared to leave a detailed message.) See you date sign (or signs). If you don’t have a yard, con- on the trail! sider acquiring a sign for your window. Having signs Lauren Hall, Alan Howze, and Sally Baird on your property will remind your neighbors of 2011 Joint Campaign Co-Chairs Election Day and whom they should be voting for. This is a low visibility election with no federal or Door Hangers – Nov 5 through Election Day statewide office on the ballot, so reminders that there Abraham Lincoln GOTV (Get Out The Vote) weekend is the fi- is an election are important. nal Saturday and Sunday (and Monday) before Elec- tion Day with volunteers racing around precincts to Reaching High-Rise Dwellers: hang a reminder to vote on each door throughout In 2007, our most recent comparable election the county. You can contact your Precinct Captains continued on page three VOTE! Tues, Nov. 8 6 a.m.-7 p.m. After E-Day, it’s party time! And be sure In ACDC, we do count our chickens before they parking available in the Ballston Common garage. are hatched by scheduling TWO victory parties ev- There is also street parking available for those who to take a ery fall even before the first ballot is counted. don’t mind cruising for awhile. The party will party again this year both on The next day at noon, join recovering neighbor election night and at lunch the day after the election electionholics for an Arlington Democratic tradition (for those who did not party too much the preceding at the NamViet Restaurant in Clarendon. The Nguyen with you! night). family, which owns the restaurant, makes a full Viet- On election night, Democrats will gather at 7 namese buffet luncheon available for $14 a head. p.m. (the moment polling places close all over the The unique feature of this event is always the commonwealth) to watch the election returns and exchange of campaign stories among candidates and to celebrate with our candidates. volunteers—anyone who wishes to speak up to the This will be a strictly 20th Century-style event— crowd at the lunch. There are always some wildly no giant screens flashing the numbers electronically humorous tales and often some very moving stories in 47 hues with stadium pyrotechnics when our folks that illustrate why we all are so active in the politi- are declared winners. Instead, our star team of vol- cal process. unteers will post the results on big pieces of paper The Nam Viet is at 1127 North Hudson Street, as they come in from the website of the State Board just a hundred feet north of Wilson Blvd. and a short of Elections (SBE). trek from the Clarendon Orange Line station. Street Beyond the Arlington returns, our volunteer parking is very limited as this abuts Lyon Village statisticians will focus on how we do statewide in where new and strict parking restrictions have been retaining control of the state Senate. imposed. But there are lots of parking garages in The election night party will be in the Burgundy Clarendon. Room at Bailey’s in the Ballston Common. Entry For answers to any questions on the Victory is free. Bailey’s will provide draft beer for $2 a Luncheon, contact Mike Lieberman at glass all night. Guests under 21 are welcome. For [email protected]. Questions about the those for whom the 20th Century is so—well, 20th Election Night Party go to Gordon Simonett at Century—wi-fi will be available. [email protected]. It would be helpful, but is Bailey’s is easily accessible from the Ballston not required, to RSVP to the Election Night Party Orange Line station. After 6 p.m., there is discounted on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/acdcvictory2011 ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 2

Report from Chairman Mike Lieberman What’s at stake In less than three weeks, Arlingtonians programs – A majority of Republicans in by Republicans across the country in advance will go to the polls to elect 14 officials to rep- Richmond favor restricting access to the HPV of the 2012 presidential election, and is a sad resent us locally, and down in Richmond. This vaccine for girls in , despite attempt to restrict citizens’ rights to have their legislative year typically brings the lowest acknowledgement from their own member- votes counted. turnout in Virginia’s four-year election cycle, ship that these vaccination programs save Squandering of Taxpayer Dollars – which means that every Democratic vote cast lives. Using taxpayer dollars, Attorney General Ken makes that much more of a difference. Guns everywhere – Republicans in the Cuccinelli has initiated a costly appeal of As you consider whether to make your state legislature last year proposed legislation President Obama’s health reform bill, an in- voice heard, with only two votes in the Demo- to allow concealed-carry of firearms in, for vestigation to restrict a UVA professor from cratic state Senate separating Richmond from example, libraries and at state universities. researching and explaining the dangers of glo- complete control by Republicans Bob The tragedy at Virginia Tech is a clear example bal warming, and a new legal opinion that McDonnell, Ken Cuccinelli, and the Tea Party, of the cost that such reckless legislation might would permit discrimination against gay and I think it bears reminding what unchecked Re- bring. lesbian students at Virginia colleges and uni- publican control might bring: Cuts to critical education programs – versities. Such politically-motivated witch Restrictions on the right to choose – Last year, the House Republican budget at- hunts are expensive and destructive, and in This summer, Governor McDonnell enacted tempted to cut education spending in Virginia no way reflective of the progressive values through executive fiat so-called TRAP (tar- by $50 million. The Democratic Virginia we in Arlington hold dear. geted regulation of abortion providers) regu- Senate, by contrast, voted to increase this And the list goes on.… In fact, this list lations, which insist that abortion clinics be much-needed education spending by $100 could literally go on for pages and pages, but subject to the same regulatory regimes as hos- million. the takeaway is clear. Elections matter, and pitals. These onerous regulations are expected Restrictions on voting rights – The Re- if we do not do our part to maintain Demo- to effectively shut down nearly all of the abor- publican-controlled State Board of Elections cratic control of the Virginia Senate – and a tion clinics in Virginia, severely restricting enacted new regulations that increase the check on Republican wrong-headedness – the women’s rights and opportunities to control chance that absentee ballots will be thrown consequences could be dire. their own reproductive decisions. out for, for example, a sloppy signature. This The opportunity to prevent this outcome Restrictions on life-saving vaccination voter suppression tactic is being encouraged rests in our hands, and the solution is simple – all we have to do is vote Democratic, and make sure all of our friends and neighbors do the same. I’ll see you at the polls. Jerry Botland Computer Consulting Knock on doors, Troubleshoot and resolve computer and computer related problems. see The Doors! Perform upgrades, set-up wireless routers and print servers. Here’s a great offer for fans of The Doors Transfer old files, address book and emails musical group: knock on doors for Barbara Favola and then go and see The Doors. from an old computer to a new one. Delegate David Englin has two VIP Phone: (703) 933-0558 — [email protected] tickets plus backstage passes to see The Doors perform at the Birchmere on Halloween. He will give them to whomever knocks on the most doors to get out the vote for Favola be- tween now and Sunday evening, Oct. 23. Performing at the Birchmere will be Ray Published monthly by the Manzarek and Robby Krieger, who are origi- Arlington County Democratic Committee nal Doors, plus a stand-in for the late Jim 2009 North 14th Street, Suite #612, Arlington, VA 22201 Morrison. Morrison, not incidentally, was a Tel: (703) 528-8588 Fax: (703) 528-2321 three-time Arlingtonian. He lived in the http://www.arlingtondemocrats.org county—on South Glebe Road, North Ever- Chair: Mike Lieberman —(703) 408-3940 (h), [email protected] green Street and North 28th Street—during his Editor-in-Chief: Warren L. Nelson —(703) 243-7867 (h), [email protected] dad’s postings with the Navy at the Pentagon. Deputy Editor: Eric Wiener — (703) 524-6899 (h), [email protected] If you’re interested in knocking on doors Views expressed do not necessarily represent those of the ACDC to see The Doors, contact the Favola campaign unless expressly approved by an appropriate Committee Resolution manager at [email protected] Copyright ©2011, ACDC, All Rights Reserved right away. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 3

Here is the Next Monthly Meeting All Dems Invited final election Wednesday, November 2, 2011, 7:00 p.m. checklist NRECA Building, 4301 Wilson Blvd Corner of North Taylor and Wilson, just east of Glebe & Wilson continued from page one Free parking under building, enter from Taylor Street year, voter turnout in high rise precincts was a very low two-digit percentage. There are This month’s meeting is “Five Days to Victory” and will be many high-rise residential buildings in the filled with last minute news on candidates and campaigns— st 31 Senate district, so boosting turnout in these and especially with plans for the last minute get-out-the-vote high-rise precincts is especially critical. Live effort. In this last year of the four-year election cycle, turnout in an apartment building? We need YOU to is notoriously low and the effort to get our people out to the be our party’s liaison to the voters in that building. In this role, you could do any num- polls will be crucial to retaining control of the State Senate. ber of things that would help raise awareness about this year’s election with your apartment neighbors, including: hosting an event, post- ing literature on bulletin boards in common areas, and distributing literature to residents Cards and 25 Messenger newspapers were county. The quick turnaround necessary to as they come and go. given out to Arlington voters. Some voters, get poll signs up before voters arrive makes who had initially passed by, even turned this effort quite invigorating. If you thrive on Metro-Flyering: Go Where the Voters Go around to talk and take some material when being under-the-gun, Election Eve and GOTV – Now through Election Day they realized what they were missing. (Get Out The Vote) activities are for you. Folks who live in the high-rises right along the Metro lines usually do so because, Median Signs – Now through Election Day Election Day – Tuesday November 8th surprise, surprise, they’ll be using the Metro. It involves some running up and down After all the hard work leading up to Because we don’t canvass high-rise residents streets, but it’s not quite the Marine Corps Election Day, we all need to do our part to like we would voters in single-family homes, Marathon. Placing and maintaining our can- make sure that voters actually “touch that we need to reach these voters another way. didate signs in the county’s median strips may screen” for our Democratic candidates. To So we head to the Metro during AM and PM be just the ticket to get your juices flowing! help ensure this happens, we need you to vol- rush hour to talk with voters. A simple greet- unteer for at least one of these activities: ing of “Hello! Are you an Arlington voter?” Poll Signs – Election Eve, Monday Novem- • Work at your polling place as a greeter works like a charm. In a test hour during PM ber 7th, after 7pm handing out sample ballots or at a Metro stop. rush at the Courthouse Metro three weeks out On Election Eve, we must put signs up • Be a circuit driver delivering materials from Election Eve, 62 Joint Campaign Grip at all 52 precinct polling locales across the to poll greeters. • Drive voters to the polls. HQ has lists of those who need rides.

Correction Bumper Sticker The Voice committed journalistic homi- cide in its last issue, erroneously reporting that of the Month Ira Lechner, former state senator from Ar- lington and former husband of Susan Lechner, had passed away. Ira Lechner is, however, very much alive. The Voice apolo- gizes for this error. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 4 High school YDs sponsor Donkey Ears Listening to the doings candidate of Arlington’s Dems as overheard by forum event Dan Steen and Mädi Green The Yorktown High School Young Democrats and Teenage Republicans co-spon- sored a candidate forum October 11 featur- Rising in the ranks: Sheriff Beth Arthur was elected first vice president of the ing candidates for both legislative and local Virginia Sheriffs’ Association at its annual conference in Norfolk. About 247 office. sheriffs and deputy sheriffs from across the commonwealth attended. Sheriff The event was also sponsored by the J.D. Diggs of York County-Poquoson was elected president. Washington-Lee High School Young Demo- Bill’s back in town: Bill Clinton is coming to Northern Virginia to do a fundraiser crats. The two hour-forum, organized and run for the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus in its efforts to retain our two-seat solely by students, included candidates from majority in the State Senate. This is a high-dollar event at the home of Terry the 31st and 32nd State Senate Districts, the McAuliffe on Old Dominion Drive in McLean. Admission starts at $1,000. It’s 48th House of Delegates District, as well as at 2:30 p.m., Friday, October 28. For details and to RSVP, go to candidates for County Board. www.vasenatedems.com Questions to candidates were gathered Bravery under fire: Congressman was the keynote speaker in from both A.P. government students (who re- October at the annual banquet and training conference of the Council on ceived extra credit for attending), as well as American-Islamic Affairs (CAIR), a mainstream group that many on the far right general members of the audience. like to label as terrorist despite FBI statements praising its work. Many office- The forum began with County Board holders shy away from dealing with the group for fear of bad PR, but not Moran. Member Barbara Favola, the Democratic Welcome vegans and meatball eaters: An Arlington Dem who works near nominee for the open 31st District, informing Freedom Plaza has had to endure many a Tea Party rally there with a well- students about her background and her cam- amplified Sarah Palin. Now the Tea Party has been replaced by the Occupy Wall paign. Her Republican opponent, Caren Street movement. Our Dem decided to welcome them by delivering the Merrick, was unresponsive to multiple invi- leftovers from a recent Bob Brink fundraiser. She found a tent labeled “Food tations to participate and absent from the Not Bombs” and entered with her goodies. “I told the woman in the tent what event. was in the bag and said we kept the meatballs separate from the vegetables The last pairing of the evening featured nd because I knew a lot of the people were vegetarians,” she reports to Donkey the two candidates for the 32 Senate Dis- Ears. The woman responded, “Well, I’m not and I’m going to eat those meat- trict, including incumbent Democratic Sena- balls!” The woman sends her thanks to Arlington Democrats. tor . Senator Howell’s Fairfax- No comment: This may become Chapter One of our next volume in the series, heavy district recently regained several pre- “How Not To Campaign For Public Office.” It’s about Timothy McGhee, the cincts in western Arlington, including Yorktown Precinct. GOP candidate running against for the State Senate seat in South Yorktown High Young Democrats Presi- Arlington. McGhee, to his credit, accepted an invite to appear at a candidate dent Noah Habeeb thought the forum went forum held by the Arlington Gay and Lesbian Alliance. In his closing statement, very well. About 70 people attended, most of McGhee, apparently seeking to find an emotional link with his audience, said, them Yorktown students, which shows “their “I’m not here for your vote; I’m here for you. One does not have to look far to strong drive to be active and engaged in their know that you are a group of people who believe it is better to be hated for what community,” Noah said. He added he enjoyed one is than loved for what one is not…. Each and every one of you is a uniquely working with the Yorktown Teenage Repub- valuable human being created for a purpose. For some of you here this evening, licans to coordinate and execute the event. your frustrations go way beyond a State Senate candidate. Some of you are Noah is a senior at Yorktown and the son of beyond frustrated with God right now. Some of you refuse to believe in him Mark Habeeb, Yorktown Precinct co-captain altogether. You’ve asked the question or perhaps given up asking a long time and vice chair of the ACDC Membership ago, ‘Why? Why would God make me who I am and then tell me that’s wrong?’ Committee. May I put a question before you tonight? What if that’s exactly what God did? Both the Washington-Lee and Yorktown What if that’s exactly what God had to do to fully demonstrate who he is?” Young Democrats have been very active re- Passages: William Dobson, the brother-in-law of Janet Spence, who keeps the cently. Members of both organizations have ACDC books along with Pam Henriksen, has passed away after a long battle become involved in both AYD and ACDC with bone cancer. Janet’s sister, Eleanor Dobson, was in law practice with State activities and have volunteered with local Sen. Ed Holland for many years until she became a judge. She has been retired campaigns and helping at local party events. for some time. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 5

FAVOLA EBBIN BARKER MITCHELL The State Senate hangs in the balance by Although Sen. George Barker’s new thy. Voter turnout is crucial. Readers of The Control of the Virginia Senate hangs in the district has several precincts in heavily Demo- Voice hardly need a reminder – you are faith- balance on November 8. Unless we maintain cratic Alexandria, he has a contentious race ful voters. But be sure to remind everyone our narrow two-seat Democratic majority, the with a Republican endorsed by the Tea Party. you know, everyone you can canvass or call, future of Virginia will be quite different. An open seat in Loudoun offers another to vote on November 8. As Election Day approaches, we know interesting race to watch. Democrat Shawn It is time now to volunteer at the phone there are many hotly contested Democratic Mitchell, a businessman and Iraq veteran with bank, put a bumper sticker on your car or bi- Senate races across Virginia. Here in North- a young family, faces an ultraconservative cycle, a sign in your yard or a nearby median. ern Virginia, we have some vigorous races former delegate, Republican Dick Black. And write a check! Best bet is to send your close to home. Black is best known for having sent pink plas- contribution, large or small, to the Virginia Arlington’s own Barbara Favola is run- tic fetuses to the women senators in support Senate Democratic Caucus, P.O. Box 842, ning in the reconfigured 31st district. Her well- of his anti-abortion legislation before he was Richmond, VA 23218 so we can put the dol- financed Tea Party Republican opponent defeated for re-election to the House of Del- lars into the closest races where they will do comes from the new part of the district that egates. the most good. includes McLean, Great Falls and a portion Key to all these races will be voter turn- ————— of Loudoun. out in the more Democratic parts of the dis- Senator Whipple is retiring at the end of Delegate, and soon to be Senator, Adam tricts. the year. She is still chair of the Senate Demo- Ebbin is our candidate in the 30th district. The greatest enemy in these races is apa- cratic Caucus.

The Cooch tells us why! Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli urges all Democrats to get out there and work hard to keep a Democratic majority in the State Senate! Here’s what the GOP’s Cooch wrote on his blog recently: “The Democratic-controlled Senate is where conservative legislation [passed by the GOP-controlled House of Delegates] goes to die. They [Democratic senators] ef- fectively have veto power over everything they don’t agree with. That’s a powerful position to be in.” Those words are a real motivator! Dems hold only a narrow 22-18 majority in the Senate today. If the GOP can pick up just two seats, the breakdown will be 20-20 and GOP Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling will have the tie-breaking vote. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 6 Prisoner 21014 calls for ‘energized’ campaign in appeal at K-K dinner Prisoner 21014 addressed the 8th District Kennedy-King Dinner with a call to arms for Democrats to “energize” the campaign and roll back the . The speaker, Rep. Bob Filner of California, was one of the first Freedom Riders to enter the south 50 years ago this year. He earned his prisoner number when he was arrested in Jackson, Mississippi, just after stepping off a Greyhound bus at the terminal there. For stepping off the bus, he was charged with “disturbing the peace and inciting riot.” Filner, just 18 at the time, was a freshman engineering student at Cornell when he decided his time might better be spent trying to break down segregation barriers in the South. His efforts won him two months in a Mississippi jail because he and his fellow riders refused to post bail. Eventually the Supreme Court overturned their convic- tions. The Kennedy-King Dinner this year asked Filner to speak to honor the Freedom Rider movement of 50 years ago. He spoke stand- ing beneath a huge blowup of a photo of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. BOB FILNER and Sen. Robert Kennedy. . . . Freedom Rider in 1961 Filner said he first met King when he was 13 because his father was a major fundraiser for King from the very beginning of the Mont- gomery bus boycott in 1955. He said his father read about “some- everybody who’s discriminated against, you’re next.” body called King” in the newspaper and called him from Pittsburgh, Filner said his jail time was miserable. The prisoners were given where the Filner family lived, to ask how he could help. nothing to read and confined to their cells 24 hours a day. But he Filner said King explained that his time spent organizing was said the experience was on the whole stimulating for him and his limited because he was diverted by the need to raise funds. He told fellow Freedom Riders. “We came out of there with great optimism the elder Filner that if he could help raise money, King could devote for America.” He said the effort proved to him just what people could more time to orga- accomplish when they get together and organize for a cause. nizing. Within He noted that the Tea Party movement is where the focus lies weeks, Filner had today and told Democrats they had to organize to counter the Tea raised $100,000; Party with the better ideas of the progressive movement. “We need to those were 1955 dol- get energized to take things back when we see what’s going on to- lars! day,” Filner said. “We’ve got to challenge their assumptions. Let’s The elder Filner take them on.“ went on to raise Filner said the problem was that “we should be in a different funds for King’s debate then we are in now in Congress,” explaining that the discus- movement for years sion is basically all about how much to cut protections for the poor and King periodi- and basic government services. cally visited the He said the Tea Party movement fails to understand that people Filners in Pittsburgh. flew safely today because of the services provided by federal security C o n g r e s s m a n agencies and ate an unadulterated steak last night because of federal Filner said his father food inspections. developed the social Margo Horner, chair of the 8th District Committee, mounted consciousness he the podium after Filner to urge all Democrats to “board the bus for passed on to his chil- November 8,” Election Day. dren as one of the The Kennedy-King Dinner is an annual event to raise funds for US soldiers who en- Democratic campaigns wherever funds are needed around the state. tered the Nazi death The 8th District is Congressman Jim Moran’s district encompassing camps at the end of Arlington, Alexandria, Falls Church and adjoining Democratic bas- World War II. tions of Fairfax County. Filner quoted his The dinner, including a superb non-rubber chicken meal and wine, BOB FILNER dad as saying, “If was held at the Mark Center in Alexandria. It was chaired by . . . congressman in 2011 you don’t work for Arlingtonians Dan Steen and Charley Conrad. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 7 Beat the rush! Vote early There may not be a huge crush at the day? You can vote early. Driving through day hours: polls this year, which is always the lowest Seven Corners? You’re eligible. Thursday, Oct. 27, to 7 p.m. turnout of the four-year election cycle. But The registrar encourages early voting to Saturday, Oct. 29, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for many, it is easier to vote some other time. reduce the pressure at polling places on Elec- Thursday, Nov. 3 to 7 p.m. And in Virginia you can vote some other tion Day. Saturday, Nov. 5, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. time. The law only requires that you plan to You vote on the Third Floor of the You can go now. Early voting began be absent from the county for any part of Elec- County Building at 2100 Clarendon Blvd. September 23. tion Day to make you eligible to vote early. The hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday You only need to fill in a brief form and That’s relatively easy when you live in through Friday through November 4. There check a box for why you qualify—for ex- what is by far the smallest county in the en- is no voting on the Monday before Election ample, absent for personal business or vaca- tire country. Day. tion. Then you will cast your vote on the same Planning to shop in Falls Church that But there are some evening and Satur- machine used at the polls in November. Va. voters like divided General Assembly Virginia voters strongly endorse the umn the disapproval percentage. fied”—66 percent positive, while only 19 work of both Gov. Bob McDonnell and Sen. Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) 62 22 percent of Virginians felt the same way about , give a modest plurality of sup- Sen. Mark Warner (D) 61 24 the direction of the country as a whole. port to Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, but Sen. (D) 51 27 “By more than 3-1, Virginians are happy a raspberry to Rep. in a new poll. AG Ken Cuccinelli (R) 46 30 with what’s going on in the state compared to More voters also say they like the Gen- Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling (R) 35 17 the country and this optimism shows in their eral Assembly divided as it is with the GOP But the work of Rep. Cantor, the GOP views of state politicians. All statewide controlling the House and Democrats control- whip in the U.S. House of Representatives, elected officials, and even the State Legisla- ling the Senate than want either party con- was endorsed by only 23 percent and opposed ture, get thumbs up for their job performance,” trolling both chambers—a position they may by 24 of the respondents. said Peter Brown, assistant director of the help in the effort to keep the Democratic ma- These numbers raise questions about the Quinnipiac poll. “In these tough times that is jority in the Senate in the November elections. ability of either Cuccinelli or Bolling to ap- pretty remarkable.” The Quinnipiac University poll of 1,459 peal if either runs for governor in 2013. The General Assembly received a plu- registered voters showed the following job ap- Voters in the commonwealth approve of rality of support with 47 percent approving proval ratings for the five officials elected the direction the state is headed in, with 10 compared with 35 percent disapproving, statewide in Virginia. The first column shows percent saying they are “very satisfied” and which makes it the only state legislature cov- the approval percentage and the second col- 56 percent saying they are “somewhat satis- ered by Quinnipiac polls to receive a positive rating. The Connecticut-based university also conducts statewide surveys in Pennsylvania, , New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida and Ohio. With the General Assembly elections fast approaching, in which the GOP is making a massive effort to regain control of the state Senate, 38 percent of voters said they favor the current split while 30 percent of respon- dents favor Democratic control of both cham- bers and 27 percent would like to see both in Republican hands. While voters give McDonnell high marks on his job performance, they don’t ap- prove of his idea to put tolls on I-95 by a 52 - 42 percent margin. However, by 60-28 per- cent, they would rather see tolls used for trans- portation projects and road repair if the other option is raising the gasoline tax. The poll was conducted Oct. 3-9 using live interviews and has a +/-2.6 percentage point margin of error. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 8

Perriello staffer to run Obama campaign in Va Lise Clavel, who served as campaign manager and chief of staff for Rep. , will head President Obama’s re-election effort in Virginia. As state director, Clavel will manage the day-to-day operations of the cam- paign in this key battleground state that Obama won in 2008—the first Demo- cratic victory in a Virginia presidential race since 1964. Clavel, a Yale University graduate, managed Perriello’s campaign in 2008, when he ousted Republican incumbent Virgil H. Goode Jr., and then served as his chief of staff. She then managed his 2010 re-election bid, which he lost to Rep. Robert Hurt. The Quinnipiac University poll taken Sept. 7-12 showed Obama running neck and neck with two GOP presidential primary candidates, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, in possible 2012 matchups.

Here’s what GOTV is all about GOTV or Get Out The Vote is the politi- erly and handicapped voters to the polls, cal shorthand for work in the closing days phone calls to supporters in the final days of before an election to maximize the turnout by the campaign and calls made the afternoon of your candidate’s or party’s known support- election day to known supporters who haven’t ers. yet voted. The effort is especially important in low GOTV can be very important in a year turnout elections where few people vote and like this one, the lowest turnout year in the the marginal utility of each extra voter you four-year Virginia election cycle—presiden- can bring to the polls is high. tial, gubernatorial, off-year, off-off-year. We GOTV efforts include such initiatives as are now in that off-off-year election with no is usually dated to the 1945 British parliamen- last minute lit drops, a system for driving eld- federal or statewide position on the ballot. tary elections that saw Winston Churchill’s In this year, the GOTV effort is impor- Conservative Party surprisingly defeated by tant just to remind people there is an election. Clement Atlee’s Labourites. No one can forget when the presidency is on It was the Reading city Labour party and the ballot and all the media are shouting. But its candidate, Ian Mikardo, who are credited many busy folk this year will wake up with structuring the modern GOTV system. Wednesday morning and suddenly realize Reading was overwhelmingly Conservative they missed the vote if they are not reminded and Mikardo wasn’t given a chance. just ahead of the balloting. Mikardo’s campaign staff had spent the Ian At the simplest but most important campaign identifying and listing known grassroots level, GOTV can be as ordinary as Mikardo, Labour supporters. On Election Day, poll reminding your Democratic neighbor across workers identified each voter who showed up the the backyard fence that today is Election Day. and the central office staff then crossed each father GOTV has been around since the old of those names off the list. In the afternoon, th of ward heeler days of the 19 Century when Mikardo volunteers fanned out to buttonhole Tammany Hall and other such urban machines GOTV those who had not yet voted. The astounding had their block captains round up neighbors result became known as the “Reading Sys- in their tenement and walk them to the poll- tem” and was soon adopted throughout Brit- ing station. ain by all major parties. As a more formalized structure, GOTV It’s a lot easier today with computers. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 9

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For those who recall, the wine was great Dems attending this year’s second Gold bullet it stopped during the Battle of Cold meat, cheese and plenty of chocolate, what’s Card event, a wine tasting evocatively titled Harbor in Virginia. Some might call it a stop not to like! Maybe not the most ‘Cuisine “Cheers for Democrats,” got to try out eight watch. Nouvelle’ of layouts, but consistently tasty. I different varieties—although some didn’t Put any group of politicians in a room will award a medal to whoever came up with recall the eighth as well as the first. and you will have conversation. Put them in the chocolate covered potato chips. Exquis- The wine tasting was held September 30 a room with several bottles of wine and you ite!” at the home of former County Board member have a very animated conversation indeed. A “The wine?” he pondered, “Some of it and Delegate Albert Eisenberg and his wife, very good turnout of county officials and can- was very good. The one called Forum was a long-time Democratic activist Sharon Davis. didates, including Alfonso Lopez, Stephanie Pinot Noir/Cabernet blend that had all the best A more formal affair than the Chili Clifford, Theo Stamos, Walter Tejada and qualities of both wines. Smooth and very Cookoff, the first Gold Card event each year, Barbara Favola, as well as a roving gang of tasty. The Velvet Revolution Reserve turned the wine tasting featured the products of De- Young Democrats, swelled the throng. out to be very good match with a steak din- mocracy Vineyards, a winery in Nelson Kudos are especially due to the two hosts ner. Many Guests thought the apple wine was County to the south of Charlottesville. and to Cornelia Robinson for organizing the terrific. The Alabaster dessert wine was wor- Democracy Vineyards is owned and op- event. thy, and, as advertised, went very well with erated by longtime Arlington party stalwarts But, what of the wine? The tasting was cheese.” Susan Prokop and Jim Turpin. Jim was a generous sampling of eight wines, starting “On the whole,” he concluded “outstand- ACDC chair in 2004-05. with the lightest of whites, then delving ing, with the Forum being a very impressive The wine tasting was enhanced by mod- through the red palette, and ending with a wine for the price.” erate temperatures that were absent at the dessert wine. Of course, one felt obliged to When asked for any final thoughts, he Labor Day Chili Cookoff(!) and the comfort- try all eight of them, some more than once. added, “I’d give my right arm for some more able surroundings of the Eisenberg-Davis We wouldn’t want to offend the vineyard of those chocolate-covered potato chips.” home, a classic Arlington model with detailed owners, would we? Such was this reporter’s Turpin and Prokop contributed all the wood trim on the stairs. thinking, and, hence, this report is not as de- wines for the event to the Joint Campaign. Eisenberg has one of the finest collec- tailed as it could be. As Prokop said of the vineyard’s name, tions of Civil War memorabilia to be found, Such fuzzy recollection did not prevent Democracy Vineyards, “Democracy is all including a genuine Colt .44 cavalry pistol, The Voice’s resident vintner and critic, the about choice—in this case, red or white.” which he showed off to his guests. Eisenberg Grapeshot, from putting in his two cents’ The vineyard website is http:// also owns a pocket watch—complete with the worth on the varietals. “Fresh fruit, salty democracyvineyards.com. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 10 Messenger Day was drizzly for a change It was Messenger Day—but it rained. the following week, but almost all the routes gers on multiple routes all morning long and However, to coin a phrase, neither snow nor have now been completed then went out in the afternoon gathering peti- rain nor heat nor gloom of night stayed these Route packages were not distributed for tion signatures. couriers from the swift completion of their one precinct, Wilson, where new construction appointed rounds. necessitates a map overhaul. Messenger Day was Saturday, October The Democratic Messenger is a tabloid 1, and packets for more than 400 delivery newspaper delivered every fall to every door- Breakfast preps routes across the county went out the door to step in the county. Hand deliveries cover volunteers. houses and open apartment complexes. Mail The weather has been generous on Mes- deliveries go into the locked apartment build- for Election Day senger Day over the decades, but this time ings. The First Saturday Breakfast in Novem- the gods were not with us as a drizzle pre- The award for hardiest paperboy (or girl) ber will be on the first Saturday, November vailed throughout the day. of the year goes to Greg Zimmerman, who 5, just three days before the election. Many deliverers waited until Sunday or tramped through the rain delivering messen- The featured speakers are State Senator Janet Howell, Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy, Treasurer Frank O’Leary and School Board Member Abby Raphael— all of whom will light a get-out-the-vote (GOTV) spark on the final weekend before the election. Wasserman-Schultz The year-end December First Saturday Breakfast will be held on the second Satur- day, December 10, and the featured speaker pushes Get-Out- will be Congressman Jim Moran.

The-Vote in Arlington Democratic Values in Action The monthly ACDC meeting was moved forward one week in October so Democrats could attend a state party Bigger menu fundraiser featuring Democratic Na- tional Committee (DNC) Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, congresswoman from Florida. planned for As a result, the event, at the Clarendon Ballroom, was well attended, with a strong showing by the Arlington the holidays Young Democrats and party stalwarts. In recognition of the upcoming Thanks- Jim Moran gave an invigorating giving and Christmas holidays, Democratic speech that closed with a warm recol- Values in Action will be broadening its menu lection of Wasserman-Schultz’s early beyond the usual breakfast cereal collections. days in Congress and her great promise. In November and December, DVA will The DNC chair began with her own also collect canned sweet potatoes, canned appreciation of Congressman Moran’s cranberry sauce, stove top turkey dressing (or guidance to her in those early days, then stuffing, if you prefer), and canned vegetables gave a stem winder of a speech encour- for the Arlington Food Assistance Center aging all to hit the streets and get out (AFAC). the vote this year—and next. She gave In November and December, DVA will a shout-out to the Arlington Young start collecting gently used coats and new Democrats and they responded in kind. men’s work gloves for the homeless shelter. Congresswoman Wasserman- The cereal drive continues unabated. Schultz schmoozed and shook hands and WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ Cereal is the most basic food throughout the posed for pictures for nearly half an hour year, so please do not break the habit of bring- after the speeches. . . . hit the streets! ing in boxes to the monthly meeting. It’s easy to do and it truly helps many folks who are seriously in need of aid. ACDC Voice, November 2011, Page 11 GOP kills Webb criminal justice review by Sen. Jim Webb “For more than twenty years, the IACP This past week Republican senators has advocated for the creation of a commis- blocked an important opportunity to make our sion that would follow in the footsteps of the criminal justice system more fair and effec- 1965 Presidential Commission on Law En- tive. They filibustered legislation I introduced forcement and the Administration of Jus- to create a blue-ribbon, bipartisan commis- tice.… The IACP believes that it is impera- sion of experts charged with undertaking an tive that the National Criminal Justice Com- 18-month, top-to-bottom review of the mission Act be approved in a timely fashion. nation’s criminal justice system and offering For far too long our nation’s law enforcement concrete recommendations for reform. and criminal justice system has lacked a stra- Their inflammatory arguments defy rea- tegic plan that will guide and integrate public sonable explanation and were contradicted by safety and homeland security’s effort in the the plain language of our legislation. To sug- years ahead.” gest, for example, that the non-binding rec- ommendations of a bipartisan commission Chuck Canterbury, National President, threaten the Constitution is absurd. Fraternal Order of Police, 2/16/2011: But we have been here before: In 2007, “The recommendations made by the our soldiers and Marines were being deployed 1965 commission provided the basis for a leg- again and again, resulting in rising mental islative overhaul and modernization of the health problems and falling retention rates. criminal justice system... Law enforcement On two occasions, I offered legislation requir- has changed a great deal in the last few de- ing active-duty troops to have equal time at cades. We believe that establishing a national home as on deployment. On both occasions, commission...will only help law enforcement Republican Senators blocked this sensible, officers do their jobs more effectively, more, JIM WEBB time-honored policy. efficiently and more safely.” . . . unconstitutional?! We did not back down. We kept fighting and we changed the debate. Today proper Sheriff B.J. Roberts, President of National dwell-time rotations are a top priority at the Sheriffs’ Association (NSA), 2/15/2011: agement from Senator Webb’s efforts to date highest levels of the Defense Department. “Emerging issues in law enforcement, to reach out to elected officials on both sides Likewise, over the last five years we such as acts of terrorism and threats to home- of the aisle and to criminal-justice reform ad- have put the issue of criminal justice reform land security, make the creation of a national vocates across the conservative-to-liberal on the national agenda and changed the tone commission all the more necessary to ensure spectrum.” of the debate. When I first raised the issue in law enforcement…has the tools and knowl- 2006, it was believed to be political suicide. edge necessary to adapt to the continually Marc Mauer, Executive Director of The But after years of building the case for reform, evolving justice system. The NSA commends Sentencing Project, 4/20/2009: we have earned the trust and support of advo- Senator Webb on his leadership on this criti- “A new approach to crime prevention is cates across the philosophical and political cal issue and we look forward to working with necessary and the time for reform is upon us. spectrum, including the National Sheriffs’ As- him to pass S. 306 during the 112th Congress.” The commission created by this legislation sociation, the International Association of would establish an organized and proactive Chiefs of Police, the U.S. Conference of May- approach to studying and advancing programs ors, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Sen- CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTS: and policies that promote public safety, while tencing Project, the NAACP, the ACLU and overhauling those practices that are found to Prison Fellowship. Charles Colson, Founder, Prison Fellow- be fundamentally flawed… We strongly urge We will not back down. We will keep ship, 7/22/2009: passage of the National Criminal Justice Com- fighting for a comprehensive review of the “I write this from the perspective of a mission Act.” justice system, with the help of the thousands conservative who has always been comfort- of sheriffs, police, mayors and justice advo- able as a reformer… I don’t believe this is an Professor Charles J. Ogletree of Harvard cates who have joined us in pressing for re- ideological issue at all, but one on which Law School, 6/11/2009: form. people of good will, conservative and liberal “The comprehensive, timely, and impor- alike, could join forces to make prisons more tant bill proposed by Senator Jim Webb will What They’re Saying about the National effective, humane and successful… We will go a long way toward addressing some of the Criminal Justice Commission Act certainly give you all the help we can to build severe inequities in the criminal justice sys- support for your legislation.” tem. This effort should be pursued with great LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADERS: vigor to ensure that we not only hold offend- Brian W. Walsh, The Heritage Foundation, ers accountable, but that we implement crimi- Chief Michael J. Carroll, International 6/11/2009: nal justice policies that are sensible, fair, in- Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) “Reform experts who are serious about crease public safety and make judicious use President, 2/24/2011 criminal-justice reform should draw encour- of our state and federal resources.”