Early Democratic Congressional Primaries in Ohio on Tuesday; DAPAC Candidates Need Your Help
The Ohio Congressional primaries take place at the same time as the presidential primaries on March 4th. DAPAC has endorsed two candidates in Ohio. The first is Victoria Wulsin in the 2nd district. She is facing some primary competition and needs your help. Please visit her website at www.wulsinforcongress.com. Recently she has announced multiple labor endorsements for the 2008 Democratic primary. A public health doctor board certified in occupational medicine, Vic has long worked with organized labor on workplace health and safety issues. Her background includes work at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health and as a uniformed officer in the US Public Health Service. She announced support from some of the largest and most active labor unions in the region and the nation, including:

• The American and Ohio Federation of Teachers
• The Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
• The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
• The United Auto Workers (UAW)
• The Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen

"Dr. Wulsin has demonstrated her commitment to working Americans," said Jerry Giesting, President of the NALC Branch 43. "We know that when she goes to Washington, her priorities will be in the right place."

“These unions are focused on finding solutions, from providing a safe work environment and respect on the job to ensuring a good education for every child and the basic services the public expects," said Wulsin. "When I’m elected to Congress, I’ll work with them and with everyone in my district to create good jobs and support our families.”

Wulsin has also been endorsed by The League of Conservation Voters, The Dayton Daily News, The Cincinnati Enquirer, the Feminist Majority, and many former political leaders in Ohio including the former governor Jack Gilligan and the current Cincinnati mayor Mark Mallory. Please help her campaign any way you can.

The Second DAPAC-endorsed candidate in Ohio is Mary Jo Kilroy who is running in the 15th district. Mary Jo ran for Congress in 2006 and narrowly lost by 1,055, or about half a percentage point. This cycle the Republican incumbent, Deborah Pryce, has announced her retirement, and having a wide open seat should help push Mary Jo to victory. She has been a Franklin County Commissioner for the last six years and previously was elected to the Columbus School Board for eight years. She is 100% pro-choice, as are all DAPAC-endorsed candidates, both male and female, and has been endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice America and the AFL-CIO of Ohio. She will work for fiscal responsibility and renewable energy if elected. Please visit her website at www.kilroyforcongress.com.

Please take the time to visit our website, www.dapac.org, as well. You can find more information about all of our endorsed candidates for the 2008 cycle, targeted districts, links to candidates' web pages, the latest news, and a quick and easy way to donate to our organization. Without your help we would not be able to bring you as many progressive candidates, and our help to them would not be as significant. Please donate to DAPAC today to make this country more progressive. We also accept contributions for candidates and will forward these earmarked contributions to their campaigns.

Weekly Update (2/22/08)

McCain Involved in Lobbyist Scandal
The New York Times ran a front page story breaking a campaign scandal involving Sen. John McCain and a female telecom lobbyist. Multiple unnamed McCain aides' have suspicions of a romantic relationship between McCain and Vicki Iseman. The allegations stretch back to 2000 when some advisers became extremely anxious because, "a female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, visiting his offices and accompanying him on a client's corporate jet. Convinced the relationship had become romantic, some of his top advisers intervened to protect the candidate from himself - instructing staff members to block the woman's access, privately warning her away and repeatedly confronting him, several people involved in the campaign said on the condition of anonymity."

McCain denies all allegations of a romantic relationship, “but to his advisers, even the appearance of a close bond with a lobbyist whose clients often had business before the Senate committee Mr. McCain led threatened the story of redemption and rectitude that defined his political identity."

The McCain campaign is fighting these allegations, calling the New York Times article a “smear campaign.” They are attacking the New York Times as a “thinly sourced piece of innuendo journalism,” and arguing that the Times' is a liberal publication. Expect far more on this developing story in the coming weeks.

Congress Allowed Expanded Wiretapping Law to Expire
Congress chose not to renew an eavesdropping law that many felt encroached too far on citizens' civil liberties. President Bush expressed his disappointment by saying that letting the law expire, “will make it more difficult to track terrorists and 'we may lose a vital lead that could prevent an attack on America."

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, responded by saying, "We know this president dislikes compromise, but this time he has taken his stubborn approach too far. He is whipping up false fears, and creating artificial confrontation." Clearly, Congress did the right thing in allowing this legislation to expire. The only way that this was accomplished was by having a Democratically controlled Congress. Help ensure that Congress becomes even more progressive with the upcomingA elections by donating to DAPAC today.

Weekly Update (2/15/08)

US House Holds White House Staff in Contempt
Yesterday, the House voted to hold White House Chief of Staff Josh Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers in contempt for their refusal to testify about the White House's involvement in the firing of US Attorneys. The vote total was 223-32 and the citations charge Miers with failing to testify and both her and Bolten of refusing Congress' demands for documents, including emails related to the firings.

The Washington Post notes that Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey "has told Congress that current and former White House officials who have refused to testify in a congressional inquiry probably did so based on the Justice Department's ruling that Bush's assertion of executive privilege was proper. That means that the Justice Department cannot now criminally charge someone for defying Congress based on its own previous legal advice, he said."

The New York Times says the vote "moved House Democrats closer to a constitutional showdown with President Bush." This is an important step for the Democratically controlled Congress to make. It demonstrates that Democrats can stand up to Bush and his administration in certain areas. If there were a greater number of progressive Democrats in the House then they could stand up to Bush in more areas as well. Help make this a possibility by donating to DAPAC today.

Democratic Presidential Campaign News
Two new polls out yesterday from Quinnipiac University show Hillary Clinton to be the early front runner in both Ohio and Pennsylvania—two of the three most important upcoming races. In Ohio, Clinton leads Barack Obama 55%-34%, while in Pennsylvania, Clinton leads Obama 52%-36%. Ohio women back Clinton by 56 to 30 percent, while men back her 52 to 42.

According to these polls, in general election trial heats Clinton also out-performs Obama against John McCain. In Pennsylvania, Clinton leads McCain 46%-40%, and Obama leads McCain 42%-41%. In Florida trial heats McCain tops Clinton 44%-42% and he tops Obama 41%-39%. Quinnipiac surveyed 1,009 likely Florida voters; 1,748 likely Ohio voters; and 1,419 likely Pennsylvania voters from February 6-12.

Obama does appear to have the momentum though, winning eight straight primaries and caucuses. In addition, he also just picked up the endorsement of the United Food and Commercial Workers, which should help him in the upcoming primaries as well. The UFCW has 1.3-million members nationally, and for the March 4th Primaries it has 69,000 members in Ohio and 26,000 in Texas. We, at DAPAC, are eagerly anticipating the results of the Democratic primaries, but remember, no matter who the Democratic nominee is, it is crucial that we get a greater number of progressive Democrats into Congress in order for the next President to be able to sign progressive legislation into law.

Weekly Update (2/8/08)

DAPAC Endorses Jared Polis
DAPAC is proud to announce its fifth endorsement for the 2008 Congressional election: Jared Polis. He joins Sam Bennett, Jim Himes, Mary Jo Kilroy, and Victoria Wulsin as DAPAC's endorsed candidates running for the US House of Representatives in 2008. Next year he will be fighting for an open seat in Colorado's 2nd Congressional district. He will need your help to push him through the competitive Democratic primary.

The seat is currently held by Mark Udall, who is relinquishing the seat to run for senate. Udall has held the seat for ten years and it will almost definitely remain in Democratic hands, but it is questionable how progressive that Democrat will be. By securing the primary election for Jared Polis we will ensure that the Democrat who takes over for Udall will be a progressive one; someone who we can be proud of.

Polis is a truly progressive candidate, supporting all of the issues we at DAPAC champion, such as being 100% pro-choice, supporting same-sex marriage, taking immediate steps to end the war in Iraq, supporting publicly funded, single payer, universal healthcare, and many others. He has pledged to vote for these issues once in Congress. DAPAC is proud to add him as a newly endorsed candidate.

Jared Polis was born to parents who were active in the anti-war movements in the 60's. They instilled in Jared the ideal that one should try to make the world a better place. He has worked in both the private and public sectors and in both has fought hard to ensure that all have access to education and healthcare.

In the private sector, Polis founded several high tech companies that created hundreds of high-paying jobs and always included strong healthcare benefits for employees. He also founded the Jared Polis Foundation in 2000 which improves and expands access to education.

He has been a strong advocate for public education for many years. He served on the Colorado State Board of Education for six years, and was the first Democratic Chairman in over 40. He co-chaired a successful $300 million bond initiative to make repairs and upgrades to learning environments, and to improve energy efficiency. He also co-founded the Academy of Urban Learning to provide homeless youth an opportunity to earn a high school diploma, co-chaired the Colorado Commission on High School Improvement, and Chaired a National Association of State Boards of Education study group.

Polis also has significant political experience. He served as a member of both the Colorado and Boulder County Democratic Party Executive Committees from 2000-2007, volunteered for many campaigns, including the Clinton, Gore, and Kerry presidential races, and he spearheaded a coalition of major donors in 2004 to win control of the state legislature for the Democratic party.

Polis takes a progressive stance on political action committees as well, stating that, “there is a place for political action committees in the democratic process, but I believe that we can demonstrate the power of the electorate by answering to no one but the people. Our campaign is not accepting donations from political action committees and is relying on the support of individual donors. I encourage all individuals, whether you’re associated with a PAC or not, to support my campaign and message focused on bold, progressive change.” We, at DAPAC, respect this stance and will support Polis in other ways, such as free advice on running more effective campaigns, how to respond to attacks, running successful Get-Out-the-Vote operations, giving him lists of potential progressive donors, and much, much more. It is therefore crucial that he receives his contributions from individuals such as yourself.

Please help support Jared Polis in his campaign by sending a donation made payable to “Jared Polis for Congress” to us at DAPAC where we can forward it along to him.

You can find more information about our endorsed candidates for the 2008 cycle, targeted districts, links to candidates' web pages, the latest news, and more on DAPAC's new website: www.dapac.org. Please take the time to visit, where you can find additional information about Jared Polis, as well as all of our other endorsed candidates.

Weekly Update (2/1/08)

Democratic Primaries in Illinois Tuesday; Last Chance to Help
In a few short days voters in Illinois will be going to the polls, not just to vote in the presidential primary, but in the Congressional primary as well. DAPAC has endorsed two candidates who will be facing tough opposition in these extremely early Congressional primaries.

The first is John Laesch, running for Dennis Hastert's former seat. Laesch was a 2006 DAPAC candidate running in Illinois' 14th district. He had a tough race, as he was running against former Speaker Dennis Hastert, but still made an impressive showing, winning 40% of the vote. Hastert recently retired, and Laesch is running an aggressive campaign for this open seat. Laesch is facing a wealthy Democratic opponent who has poured tons of his own money into the campaign. In 2006, 28 candidates put over one million dollars of their own money into their campaigns; of those only four went on to win the election. Help support Laesch in his proven grassroots efforts and as the candidate who truly speaks for the people. In addition, Laesch's opponent supports a preemptive war with Iran and national ID cards, both of which Laesch is strongly against. In addition, remember that for every dollar you contribute directly to us, we will help candidates raise 12 dollars more. Therefore, It is best to contribute both directly to us and to the candidate, please visit our website at www.dapac.org. For more information about Laesch, and a quick and easy way to contribute to his campaign, please visit his website at www.john08.com.

The second candidate is Jay Footlik, running in Illinois' 10th Congressional district. Footlik will be facing tough opposition in his Democratic primary from a more conservative candidate. It is crucial that Footlik wins his primary, so he will be the Democratic challenger in the general election. The seat is currently held by Mark Kirk, a Republican who has tried to portray himself as a moderate, while really rubber stamping Bush's policies. In the last two presidential elections, the 10th district voted Democratic, and this cycle a Democrat should take Kirk's place and bring progressive leadership to the district. For more information about Footlik, and a quick and easy way to contribute to his campaign, please visit his website at www.jayfootlik.com.

Both Footlik and Laesch are truly progressive candidates, supporting all of the issues we at DAPAC champion, such as being 100% pro-choice, supporting same-sex marriage, taking immediate steps to end the war in Iraq, supporting publicly funded universal healthcare, and many others. They have pledged to vote for these issues once in Congress. Both of these candidates are facing tough opposition and need your help today!