October 2020 DWC NEWSLETTER

DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S CLUB OF MANATEE COUNTY FLORIDA WWW.DWCManatee.com

We will have a October 13th DWC Meeting via Zoom at 11:30 am! Our speakers will be Alison Morano DEC Clubs and Caucuses Coordinator and Adrienne Bogen, Coalition Director of Women for Biden.

Alison Bogen Adrienne Bogen

Due to the pandemic our meeting will be conducted by Zoom. Each member will be emailed an invitation to join the meeting. In the email will be a link that to join the meeting. Click on the link in the email to join the meeting, and you will be taken to the meeting. Please remember our President, Erika, will have to connect you once you have clicked the join meeting link.

If this is the first time you have ever joined a Zoom Meeting, I have included a brief “how to” video which will give you a great overview of how to join the meeting. It really is very easy.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH “HOW TO JOIN A ZOOM

Early Voting Starts October 19th to Sunday November 1st 8:30 am to 6:30 pm at six locations

Florida Dept. of Transportation Office Supervisor of Elections Office Rocky Bluff Library 14000 SR 64 600 301 Blvd W 6750 US 301

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Manatee County Utilities Office Palmetto Library 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd. 4410 66th St W 923 6th St W

1 OCTOBER PRESIDENT’S LETTER

“Take a deep breath and speak calmly.” RBG. My heart sank, along with the collective America, when we heard of the unfortunate passing of all women’s icon, the notorious RBG as she was affectionately known. She was the woman of all women and was first to create many roads into areas where women were simply not welcome. Ruth Bader Ginsburg became the second female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Born in 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, Bader taught at Rutgers University Law School and then at Columbia Universi- ty, where she became its first female tenured professor. She served as the director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union during the 1970s, and was appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 1980. Named to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993 by President Bill Clinton, she continued to argue for gender equality in such cases as United States v. Vir- ginia. Americans have long been inspired by Justice Ginsburg and her work advancing equality and op- portunity. Her passing has left many feeling a great sense of loss. The future of the Supreme Court has also made the stakes in this election blatantly clear. Even she knew the ramifications of her death, as her last request was for her seat to only be filled with the next president. Of course, the orange president dishonors her by appointing another hard-core conservative to fill her position on the SCOTUS. She knew, as we all do that the next few months will determine if our democratic system endures, or if we live the rest of our lives in a dictatorship, with Trump as President forever. I leave you with these awe-inspiring words: “I asked no favor for my sex, all I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” RBG Honor her legacy, VOTE Erika Lundquist, DWC of Manatee President

WE'VE HAD ENOUGH Lincoln Women,’ Led By Prominent GOP Women Current and former Republican women stand against four more years of Donald Trump Aug 24, 2020 – After four years of blatant misogyny, civil unrest, and failed leadership from President Trump, today The Lincoln Project continues our crusade to abolish his chances of reelection by announcing the first wave of fierce women to lead our Lincoln Women coalition. This coalition is comprised of current and former Republican women who have had enough of this president and will actively encourage other Republican women to vote him out of office on November 3. “President Trump’s weakness and incompetence have caused immeasurable damage to our country. His failure at managing the pandemic response has cost over 175,000 lives. His failure to preserve the economy has inordinately hurt women and cost millions of jobs. His assaults against women, immi- grants, and minorities demean the Presidency and the American people.” said Jennifer Horn, co- founder of The Lincoln Project. “Women will decide the outcome of this election. The coalition is dedicated to uniting all women who recognize the threat this President poses to the future of our Republic and turning them out to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. The future of our families, our communities, and our country lie in our hands.” Source: The Lincoln Project

2 Here’s An Excerpt From a Recent MSNBC In- terview with Steve Schmidt Over the weekend, Republican Steve Schmidt, who ran John McCain's 2008 campaign for president, was interviewed on MSNBC. In response to a very general question regarding the Trump Presidency, Mr. Schmidt spoke for two solid minutes and gave the most insightful and brutally honest response of what the Trump Presidency has done to our great country.

“Donald Trump has been the worst president this country has ever had. And, I don't say that hyper- bolically. He is. But he is a consequential president. And, he has brought this country in three short years to a place of weakness that is simply unimaginable if you were pondering where we are today from the day where Barack Obama left office. There were a lot of us on that day who were deeply skeptical and very worried about what a Trump presidency would be. But this is a moment of unpar- alleled national humiliation, of weakness.”

"When you listen to the President, these are the musings of an imbecile. An idiot. And I don't use those words to name call. I use them because they are the precise words of the English language to describe his behavior. His comportment. His actions. We've never seen a level of incompetence, a level of ineptitude so staggering on a daily basis by anybody in the history of this country whose ever been charged with substantial responsibilities.”

"It's just astonishing that this man is president of the United States. The man, the con man, from New York City. Many bankruptcies, failed businesses, a reality show, that branded him as some- thing that he never was, a successful businessman. Well, he's the President of the United States now, and the man who said he would make the country great again, and he's brought death, suffer- ing, and economic collapse on truly an epic scale."

"And, let's be clear. This isn't happening in every country around the world. This place. Our place. Our home. Our country. The United States. We are the epicenter. We are the place where you're the most likely to die from this disease. We're the ones with the most shattered economy. And we are, because of the fool that sits in the Oval Office." Cindy McCain joins board of Biden transition team Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Sen. John McCain, has joined the board of Joe Biden's presidential transition team. Why it matters: McCain, who endorsed Biden last week after allegations in The Atlantic that President Trump had denigrated members of the military, joins former Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald as the second registered Republi- can on the transition board. The big picture: Other high-profile members of the transition board include New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, former 2020 presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, former national security adviser Susan Rice, and former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, according to the Wall Street Journal. What they're saying: "This transition is like no other, preparing amid the backdrop of a global health crisis and struggling economy, which makes Mrs. McCain’s experience as a business woman, philanthropist, and longtime advocate for issues impacting women and children all the more valua- ble," said transition co-chair and former Sen. Ted Kaufman. "Diversity of ideology and background is a core value of the transition, and today’s announcement is another step demonstrating the importance of unifying the country under a Biden-Harris administra- tion.” By: Axios

3 What is National Coming Out Day? October 11th is National Coming Out Day, a day tion foster greater well-being and mental health. dedicated to raising awareness of civil rights for They define coming out as "self-awareness of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender com- same-sex attractions; the telling of one or a few munity. people about these attractions; widespread dis- closure of same-sex attractions and identification LGBTQ advocacy group the Human with the lesbian, gay and bisexual community." Rights Campaign (HRC) said National Coming Out Day is meant to help create an environment The three stages of coming out, according to the where living openly and honestly is possible. HRC, are opening up to oneself, coming out and living openly. "Coming out is one of the This is my coming out story. It is the most courageous acts any Coming out can be a difficult most personal video I have ever LGBTQ person makes, and time for many in the LGBTQ on this National Coming Out made. I don't know what else to say community, advocates say, Day that courage remains es- here so I'll just let the video do the and many organization offer sential to our continued pro- talking.— Ray Stauffer counseling and support. gress toward full equality," HRC President Chad Griffin "National Coming Out Day said in a statement. "As has become an important hol- LGBTQ people across the na- iday for LGBTQ youth. Each tion and around the world year around this time we continue to come out, opposi- speak with a great deal of tion to equality will continue to young people weighing crumble. Sharing our stories whether or not to come out to is a key way each of us can their loved ones. As many fight back against attempts to folks who have done so can turn back the clock on LGBTQ CLICK HERE TO WATCH tell you, coming out is a deep- equality." RAY’S STORY ly personal experience, and it’s different for everyone. We The idea for the day was the work with each individual call- culmination of four months of momentum where er who is seeking support on the issue to make more than 100 activists were gathered in Manas- sure that if they do feel ready to come out, they sas, Virginia, near Washington D.C., according to have a plan to do so safely. We help them ex- the HRC, conceived by psychologist Richard Ei- plore friends and family who may possibly be a cherg and activist Jean O’Leary on Oct. 11, support system for them. We want to make sure 1988. Their meeting followed the second march that young people aren’t coming out just because on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights on they feel pressured to do so by a holiday, but are Oct. 11, 1987, in which half a million people par- doing so because they themselves have made ticipated and the AIDS Quilt was displayed. the choice best for them," Amit Paley of CEO and Executive Director of The Trevor Project told In the 1980s, AIDS and HIV disproportionately ABC News. affected the gay and lesbian communities in the U.S., but many felt the epidemic was not being The Trevor Project, which provides crisis inter- researched because of discrimination against vention and suicide prevention services to that community. LGBTQ youth, has counselors to help LGBTQ community members come out. The American Psychological Association said positive feelings about one's sexual orienta- BY: Lindsey Jacobson , ABC News

4 $16 million contribution to help pay Florida poll tax panics Republicans into calling the FBI

Despite that constitutional amendment vote, Florida Repub- lican lawmakers passed a law requiring the returning citi- zens to pay off fines and other court debts before they could vote. A district judge struck down that obvious poll tax, but an appeals court restored it. So advocates have been raising money for them, an effort that got a big boost when Bloomberg brought in $16 million. That money is intended to reenfranchise Black and Latino people who owe less than $1,500 and already registered to vote—more than 31,000 of them. Moody and other Republicans are hanging their complaints about the Bloomberg money on laws against paying people to vote. But the money is not going to the individuals. It’s going to pay their fines and fees so that they can vote if they so choose. Since they already registered to vote, it seems likely they will choose to do so, but the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition is not offering incentives. It’s offering help obtaining a legal right. Florida Republicans are terrified that the people disenfranchised by a racist criminal justice system will get the legal right so long denied them. Again and again Republicans have thrown up barriers to voting. They added a poll tax to the constitutional amendment restoring the right to vote. They went to court to protect their poll tax. And now, faced with the prospect that the poll tax will be paid for even a small fraction of the 775,000 people they’re trying to prevent from voting, Republicans are calling in the FBI on an obvious pretext, pretending like paying someone’s court debts is the same as directly paying them to vote. It’s ridiculous—but as we’ve seen, Republicans have rigged the system enough to get their way on a lot of ridiculous things. BY: Laura Clawson, DailyKos

Black Employees Say Fox News Has Created A White Supremacist Cell Black employees at Fox News have grown enraged over the network’s overtly racist coverage and they are calling out on and off-air racism.

One employee was especially angry, saying, “They created a cell—they created a white supremacist cell inside the top cable network in America, the one that directly influences the president… This is rank racism excused by Murdoch.”

Fox News has an apparent racism problem, and it’s not just the network’s critics who notice it. Anger over the cable giant’s shoddy coverage of racial issues is also increasingly coming from inside the build- ing.

Over the past month, the network’s Black employees, including on-air talent, have begun to openly con- front management over Fox’s anti-Black rhetoric—especially that of the network’s biggest stars, Laura Ingraham and Tucker Carlson.

None of this is surprising as Fox News long ago left behind the mantle of conservative journalism and embarked on a symbiotic relationship with Trump. Fox News’s primetime stars have the ear of the Presi- dent Of The United States. Carlson, Hannity, and Ingraham are more widely listened to by Trump than his own advisers. BY: Jason Easley, Axios

5 All the President's Profiting Total payments to Trump properties $22,842,988

No modern president has jumped so directly From Trump-related committees: $17,892,343 from the world of business to the presidency as Donald Trump. And in so doing, Trump From the Republican party: $2,802,086 has refused to do as his predecessors have done: sever ties to the companies or finan- From Republican candidates, cial interests that may pose, or present the appearance of, a conflict of interest. By Elected officials and leadership PACs: $1,297,927 keeping his assets in a family-managed trust, which he can revoke at any time, From Democrats: $38,847 Trump and his family are in the unique position to profit directly from his public service. Note that these profits do not include payments to Special interests in Washington have Trump properties by the United States Government. caught on. Those seeking to curry favor with Trump are not only donating to his reelection campaign but holding fundraisers and galas at his re- sorts, private clubs and hotels – the proceeds of which benefit him and his family. By: Open Secretes

How Much Has the Government Spent at Trump’s Properties? It Won’t Say “He’s paying our money to himself,” the Washington Post’s David Fahrenthold told “Trump, Inc.” “There must be so much more we haven’t seen.” This month, The Washington Post detailed lots of previous- ly undisclosed government spending at the president’s properties. For example, the Secret Service has paid $650 per night to stay at Mar-a-Lago, despite Eric Trump’s statement that his father’s compa- ny would provide rooms “for free — meaning, like, cost for house- keeping.” The Post’s figures — adding up to $471,000 — are far from complete because government agencies have resisted disclosing their spending at Trump properties. “He’s paying our money to himself,” the Post’s David Fahrenthold said in our latest episode of “Trump, Inc.” “There must be so much more we haven’t seen.” While the president has visited his properties on nearly a third of his days since he took office, the Se- cret Service has not listed its spending on Trump properties in a public database of federal spending. And some of what has been disclosed has been misleading. The Post discovered that the nearly doz- en payments listed as “Trump National Golf Club” were actually made to Mar-a-Lago, which is not a golf club. The White House did not respond to the Post’s questions about the payments. The Secret Service said it always “balances operational security with judicious allocation of resources.” It did not explain why it hadn’t disclosed the spending in the government’s public database. And the Trump Organiza- tion said it’s not currently charging the Secret Service $650 per room per night. There are still plenty of questions. For one: Why has the Secret Service spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at the Trump hotel in Washington, D.C., even on days when the president was not visiting? Fahrenthold and his colleagues asked the government about that. They haven’t gotten an answer. BY: Ilya Marritz, WNYC

6 tutional law. And both Remembering did it incrementally, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, through careful, pains- taking work, aimed at 1933–2020 appealing to those not already with them. As Ginsburg said, “Fight Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as the first director of for the things that you the ACLU Women’s Rights Project, per- care about, but do it in suaded the Supreme Court that women and a way that will lead men, long treated differently under the law, others to join you.” must be accepted as equals. In the last years of her life, Ginsburg became With the exception of Thurgood Marshall, no Su- an unlikely celebrity. preme Court justice did more to realize the Con- RBG T-shirts, mugs, earrings, bobblehead dolls, stitution’s promise of “equal protection of the law” workout gear, and books all became best-sellers. than Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday. In 2018, both a documentary, RBG, and a Holly- Where Marshall, as director-counsel of the wood feature film, On the Basis of Sex, ap- NAACP Legal Defense Fund, succeeded in dis- peared, to popular and critical acclaim. Chief Jus- mantling Jim Crow segregation, Ginsburg, as the tice John Roberts quipped, at the unveiling of a first director of the ACLU Women’s Rights Pro- portrait of Ginsburg, that his children asked him ject, persuaded the Supreme Court that women why he, too, didn’t have a rapper’s moniker. She and men, long treated differently under the law, deserved every bit of the praise. One of only nine must be accepted as equals. women in a class of about five hundred at Har- vard Law School, she broke many barriers, and Neither acted alone; they carried the torches of her work made it possible for young women to- the civil rights and women’s rights movements, day to take for granted that they cannot be de- respectively. Their courtroom arguments were nied admission, jobs, or other benefits simply be- buoyed by broader political currents. But both cause of their sex. That’s radical. achieved far-reaching, historic changes in consti- By: David Cole , ACLU Legal Director

Fox News Poll: More Americans Leader Mitch McConnell has already Trust Biden on Choosing a New announced that he would like to bring SCOTUS Justice President Trump’s nominee to the Senate According to a new Fox News poll, more Ameri- floor for a confirmation cans trust President Donald Trump’s rival Joe hearing and a vote. In Biden to appoint a new justice to the Supreme 2016, McConnell infamously denied Merrick Gar- Court to fill the vacant seat left by the late Justice land, former President Barack Obama’s nominee Ruth Bader Ginsburg. for the Supreme Court, a hearing, arguing that it The poll found 48 percent of registered voters in would be inappropriate for a president to appoint Ohio, 51 percent in Pennsylvania, and 50 percent a new justice during an election year. in Nevada believe Biden would do a better job of Democrats have reportedly compiled lists of Black women nominating the next justice. 42 percent of regis- for Biden to nominate should he win November’s general tered voters in Ohio, 42 percent in Pennsylvania, election. Among the names being floated: Ketanji Brown and 39 percent in Nevada signaled Trump would Jackson, a D.C. district court judge who was on do a better job. former President Barack Obama’s shortlist to re- place the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Biden has Democrats have railed against what they’ve said not indicated who he might appoint. is the Republican hypocrisy of rushing to appoint a new Supreme Court justice. Senate Majority BY ALAN RYLAND , Politicus USA

7 There’s Still Time To Put Your Name In The Hat

"GOOD NEWS" says Mary Duda, Chair of the Nominating Committee that searched for the new DWC Officers to serve as President, Treas- urer and 1st Vice-President for 2021-2022. One candidate for each office has stepped forward to run for that office. If other DWC members are interested in running for any of the three offices, they can still do so by emailing Mary at [email protected] by October 6th. Mary will announce all the candidates' names as our Octo- ber 13th meeting and they will be voted upon at our November meeting.

Check out what Trump’s “Personal Pastor” Is Saying Paula White, Trump’s “personal pastor,” also works in the Office of Public Liaison, the division of the White House that puts out propaganda meant to drum up support for the president’s initiatives and solidify his base’s support. White was already named as a member of Trump’s Evangelical advisory board before his 2016 inauguration and believes God personally assigned her to be his spiritual advisor.

She has “warned of consequences from God for those who don’t stand with the president” stating that those who oppose him are “fighting the hand of God.” She also says that she has personally “anointed” the White House into “holy grounds” through “the superior blood of Jesus.”

Source: LGBTQ Nation

Our first video is a commercial put out by The Lincoln Project entitled ”WAKE UP” that is directed toward Republicans. The second video is a revision of the Beatle’s son “HELP” by the Founders Sing called “HELL”. This video was created in honor of all people of color who have been so griev- ously wronged throughout our country's troubled history.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH CLICK HERE TO WATCH “WAKE UP” “HELL”

8 DEMOCRATIC WOMEN’S CLUB OF MANATEE COUNTY OFFICERS/LEADERS 2018-2019

ELECTED OFFICERS OTHER OFFICERS President Fund-Raising Pat Benson Erika Lundquist [email protected] [email protected]

Hospitality/ Sandra Gander 1st VP (Programs) Calling [email protected] Jami Heye [email protected]

Candidate Vicki Waters 2nd VP (Membership) Search [email protected] Mary Young [email protected] Parliamentarian Fay Murphy Recording Secretary [email protected] Patti Boynton [email protected] Web Master Jeanne Yeagle

[email protected] Treasurer

Joanie LeBaron [email protected] Newsletter and Brian Heavrin Directory [email protected] Regional Representative Kayla Simms [email protected] Environmental and Ricki Mazzullo Legislative Liaison [email protected]

Website Links Corresponding Vicki Wayman DWC of Manatee County Website Secretary [email protected] Manatee County Democratic Website Bylaws Chair Fay Murphy Democratic Women’s Club of Florida [email protected]

Manatee County Democratic Women’s Club PLACE 6403 Heritage Lane STAMP Bradenton, FL 34209 HERE

FOR IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER

Most Democrat Clubs and Caucuses have canceled their meetings. To check status, times, and dates of events and club meetings, please visit our Manatee County Democratic website at www.ManateeDemocrats.com.

The Democratic Headquarters is currently closed.

Elected Officials

CONTACT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS OUR FLORIDA SENATORS PRESIDENT Bill Galvano (R-Distr. 21) 850-487-5026 Donald Trump (R) 202-456-1414 [email protected] 941-741-3401 www.whitehouse.gov (switchboard) 202-456-1111

OUR FLORIDA REPRESENTATIVES U.S. SENATORS

Rick Scott (R) Wengay Newton (D-Distr. 70) 941.727.2042 [email protected] (202) 224-5274 [email protected] Marco Rubio (R) 202-224-3041 www.MarcoRubio.senate.gov 813-287-5035 Will Robinson (R-Distr. 71) 941.708.4968

[email protected] U.S. REPRESENTATIVES Vern Buchanan (R-Distr. 16) 202-225-5015 www.Buchanan.house.gov 941-747-9081 Tommy Gregory (R-Distr. 73) 850-717-5073 [email protected] GOVERNOR Ron DeSantis (R) 850-717-9337 www.flgov.com/email-the-governor/