September 2007

Undoing the Damage

Right is Wrong

Famous last words

Ever since George W. Bush talked about the importance of putting food on your family, tracking "Bushisms" has become a sport about as challenging as shooting fish in a barrel. Sometimes nonsensical, sometimes bewildering, sometimes just plain scary, Bush's words can nonetheless still inspire — just not the way he wants them to. Here are a few recent utterings from our soon-to-be ex-president.

"People have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room."
(07/19/07; Boston Globe)

"Amnesty means that you've got to pay a price for having been here illegally, and this bill does that."
(6/26/2007; CNN)

"I know you're a kind, open-minded fellow, but you suggested holding the attorney general accountable for something he did wrong."
(8/9/07; whitehouse.gov)

"...the reason there is tax preferences in the first place are there are powerful interests that have worked to get the preference in the code."
(8/9/07; whitehouse.gov)

"...we filled a lot of space together."
On former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (5/17/07; slate.com)

"One of my concerns is that the health care not be as good as it can possibly be."
On health benefits for military personnel (4/19/07; slate.com)

"...make sure the rug says 'optimistic person comes to work.'"
On choosing a rug for the Oval Office (4/19/07; slate.com)

"I'm a strong proponent of the restoration of the wetlands, for a lot of reasons. There's a practical reason, though, when it comes to hurricanes: the stronger the wetlands, the more likely the damage of the hurricane."
(3/01/07; slate.com)

"Karl Rove is moving on down the road ... I'll be on the road behind you here in a little bit."
On Karl Rove's resignation, before the two flew off to Texas together on vacation (8/14/07; Washington Post)

Also in this issue:

  • What's Cooking
  • Editorial by Ellen R. Malcolm: Taking Back our Country
  • Candidate Spotlight

Restoring goverment after Bush-Cheney

Since Democrats regained control of the House and Senate, a bright light has finally started to shine on the Bush White House, confirming our worst fears about the administration's misguided, unethical, even nefarious practices. The next president is going to face a daunting challenge upon taking office. She or he will need a very steady hand to begin undoing the damage of the previous eight years — and strong Democratic majorities in Congress to support a progressive agenda that will bring true change to government.

A government by Republicans, for Republicans

"Just when it seems this White House has hit rock bottom, they find a way to make things worse," says Ellen R. Malcolm, president of EMILY's List.

Right after Karl Rove tendered his resignation to the president last month, the Washington Post reported on Rove's top-to-bottom effort to turn the federal government into one giant Republican campaign. According to the Post, Rove led a "highly coordinated effort to leverage the government for political marketing." His deputies delivered PowerPoint presentations targeting Democrats in congressional elections to employees at as many as 19 federal agencies or departments, including the Peace Corps, the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the State Department.

"Every aspect of the federal government was seized on as an opportunity to boost the GOP," Malcolm says. "From day one, Rove executed a detailed strategy to institute his dream of a permanent Republican majority."

While Americans are just now learning the full extent of Rove's efforts, the Bush administration has always been brazen in using government to further their extreme political agenda.

For example, Americans knew from the start that Bush was putting executives from the coal and nuclear industries in charge of environmental policy; appointing lobbyists from the mining industry to work at the Department of the Interior; and selecting people with ties to the lead industry to sit on the Center for Disease Control's Advisory Committee on Childhood Lead Poisoning.

Bush chose a woman who had actively opposed the Violence Against Women Act to head the National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women, and nominated a physician who had refused to prescribe contraceptives to unmarried women to chair the Food and Drug Administration's Reproductive Health Drugs Advisory Committee.

Administration flunkies routinely posted misinformation on government web sites and removed credible information that didn't jibe with right-wing views on stem cells, contraception, abortion, global warming, or endangered species.

"So many foxes guarding so many hen houses," says Malcolm. "All to advance a radical agenda, line the pockets of corporate allies, and elect more and more Republicans willing to continue the cycle ad infinitum."

This list doesn't include the more egregious examples, those so familiar they need little explanation. Scooter Libby. Illegal wiretapping. Abu Ghraib. Guantanamo Bay. Hurricane Katrina. Walter Reed. Firing federal prosecutors who didn't toe the GOP line. And of course, the war in Iraq — a war predicated on falsehoods, a war that has increased the profits of defense contractors like Halliburton while ruining the lives of thousands of families who have lost sons and daughters.

"Americans have paid a high price for this administration's greed, pettiness, and incompetence. And, if Congress were still under GOP control, we would probably never learn the full extent of this White House's effort to remake the federal government to reflect a radical conservative agenda," Malcolm says.

The road ahead

By the time Bush exits the stage, there will need to be a complete overhaul of domestic and international policy. After years of Republican neglect, it will be up to Democrats to restore integrity and fairness to government.

The next president will have to have a keen understanding of the intricacies of the federal government. He or she will need to know how government works in all its complexities and how to communicate with and secure bipartisan support from Congress and state leaders to meet shared goals.

The next president will need to understand the ins and outs of every single government agency — how they interact, where they overlap, the vital role of experienced civil servants, and the importance of truly independent review boards.

And the next president will need to have a clear plan to lead the country in a new direction — and plenty of Democratic support in Congress to effect the change we so badly need.

A Democratic president and Congress will bring an end to the war in Iraq; restore our credibility with our global allies so we can work toward peace; develop new sources of energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil; and implement the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to protect Americans from future terrorist attacks.

A Democratic president and Congress will address the nation's health care crisis and find a way to cover the nearly 47 million Americans who don't have health insurance. They will ease the tax burden on working families and insist that the wealthiest individuals and corporations pay their fair share. They will expand access to higher education and vocational training for more students.

And they will do all this while restoring fiscal responsibility to the federal budget and begin paying down our debt.

"Democrats have made some headway in bringing change, but with narrow majorities and Bush's veto pen, they cannot turn this ship around," Malcolm says.

In 2008, pro-choice Democratic women are leading the charge to enlarge Democrats' margin of control in Congress and, with presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton, take back the White House.

"Only then can we begin to undo the damage of the Bush years and build a progressive America," Malcolm says.

Congressional women work for progress

Pro-choice Democratic women on Capitol Hill are working hard to undo the damage of the disastrous Bush agenda — but with Bush still in the White House, it's always two steps forward, one step back. Recent legislative victories and subsequent Bush vetoes reaffirm why we are all working so hard to elect a Democrat to replace him in 2008 and to help Democrats solidify their fragile hold on Congress.

Stem cell research

Colorado Rep. Diana DeGette has been fighting for years to pass legislation securing federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, which Bush banned by executive order in 2001. Since the Democratic takeover of Congress, DeGette's Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act passed both chambers with bipartisan support. Not surprisingly, Bush vetoed this legislation for a second time — ignoring the overwhelming evidence that embryonic stem cells will help scientists develop treatments for catastrophic illnesses and injuries. DeGette promised to "keep bringing it up until we have a pro-stem cell Congress and president."

Energy policy

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein championed the energy bill, which would significantly increase fuel efficiency standards for all cars, trucks, and SUVs — saving 1.2 million barrels of oil per day, according to the Sierra Club, and reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil. The bill passed in the Senate 65-27. The House passed its own energy bill, which will be reconciled in conference committee. Bush has threatened to veto the final legislation.

Reproductive rights

Maryland Sen. Barbara Mikulski and New York Rep. Nita Lowey are leading the fight to reinstate federal funding for contraception for international organizations that provide abortion counseling. The Reagan-era ban, known as the Mexico City policy, was lifted by President Bill Clinton in 1993. One of Bush's first acts after taking office in 2001 was to reinstate the ban, which has led to a global shortage of contraceptives, a surge in sexually transmitted diseases, and an increase in unsafe, high-risk abortions. Mikulski and Lowey are advancing legislation to increase access to contraception and family planning services, reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions and saving women's lives. Bush is expected to veto this, as well.

These pro-choice Democratic women in the House and Senate are doing exactly what we had hoped they'd do when we helped elect them: fighting for progressive policy that improves the lives of American families. And, because of our hard-won Democratic victories in 2006, they are finally making progress. But unless we strengthen the Democratic hold on Congress — and elect a Democratic president — we won't see these bills become law. The only way to make that change happen is to send in reinforcements — and that means raising more money for women candidates, helping them build strong campaigns, and getting women out to vote.

What's Cooking

Fans of former New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen are hoping she will take on U.S. Sen. John Sununu in 2008 ... Sununu narrowly beat Shaheen in 2002, a victory since tarnished by the guilty pleas of GOP operatives who admitted they jammed Democratic phone lines on election day ... one poll shows Shaheen with a 28-point lead over Sununu ... his support for Bush and the war in Iraq have eroded public confidence ... over 1,000 New Hampshire residents have signed a petition urging Shaheen to run ... one who wants to see a Shaheen-Sununu rematch is her husband, Bill ... but, he told the Concord Monitor, "I'm not even allowed to dream that way" ... Shaheen is expected to make an announcement in September.

Whatever became of Dino Rossi? After losing the 2004 Washington governor's race to Christine Gregoire by 129 votes, Rossi formed a nonprofit "foundation," which pays him to travel around the state giving up to five speeches every week ... he says it's not a campaign, but Rossi — whom the GOP badly wants to challenge Gregoire in 2008 — spends an awful lot of time criticizing "those in Olympia," the state capital ... hmm, could he be talking about the governor? ... Rossi's tax-exempt foundation can raise unlimited money without ever having to say from whom ... the state Democratic party has filed a complaint ... it's not a fair fight, since Gregoire can't raise campaign funds during the state's legislative session ... but her record will help her weather the attacks ... she reversed a $1.8 billion budget shortfall, while increasing education funding and expanding health care benefits for uninsured children ... Forbes Magazine named Washington one of the top five states for doing business.

GOP Rep. Sam Graves hasn't faced a serious challenger since winning his Missouri House seat seven years ago ... looks like his free ride is over ... his 2008 Democratic challenger is former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes ... Barnes earned kudos as the architect of Kansas City's remarkable economic revival ... the Washington Post calls her "one of the Democrats' prized recruits" ... Graves votes with President Bush — whom he once called "a deep thinker" — 94 percent of the time ... Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and House Minority Leader John Boehner all have plans to visit Graves's district ... they're concerned because Barnes outraised Graves in the last fundraising quarter ... this is a tough seat for a Democrat, but if anyone can do it, it's Barnes.

Florida Democrat Christine Jennings has been called "the patron saint" of election reform ... Jennings would have been declared the winner in Florida's 13th congressional district, but malfunctioning computers in the Democratic stronghold of Sarasota failed to record 18,000 votes in this race ... millionaire Vern Buchanan ended up with 369 votes more than Jennings ... he now sits in Congress ... Jennings helped pass a state law eliminating touch screen voting machines in Florida ... she's done more for Floridians since losing the race than Buchanan has since winning ... while a congressional task force investigates the 2006 outcome, Jennings is moving full-steam-ahead in her 2008 race against Buchanan.

Writing for Larry J. Sabato's "Crystal Ball" email newsletter, political pundit Rhodes Cook calls women voters Hillary Clinton's "ace in the hole," noting that in 1992, women cast 53 percent of all Democratic primary ballots ... "As the first major female presidential candidate, the historic nature of her candidacy is self-evident," he writes. "And she has underscored the importance of her own gender by making this vote-rich demographic a central emphasis of her campaign. That is smart politics" ... polls show Hillary is gaining support, while her opponents drop back ... California Sen. Dianne Feinstein has endorsed Hillary ... said Feinstein, "The position of America today really warrants someone in her shoes, and the fact that her shoes maybe have an inch or two of heels doesn't matter."

Who knew that a presidential rally was a "no free speech zone"? ... thanks to a subpoena from the ACLU, the Bush administration was forced to release a confidential White House manual outlining how to stifle protesters when Bush appears in public ... staffers were instructed to "shout down" protesters with positive Bush messages and eject those who could not be drowned out ... and to make sure those nearest the stage were "extremely supportive of the administration" ... the manual came to light thanks to a lawsuit filed by a couple who were tossed out of a presidential rally, handcuffed, and thrown in jail because they were wearing anti-Bush t-shirts ... upholding the Constitution has never been a Bush White House strong suit.

The newest pro-choice Democratic woman in Congress is Laura Richardson ... Richardson won the August 21 special election to replace the late Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald in California's 37th district ... Richardson will be sworn into office on September 4.

Taking Back Our Country

by Ellen R. Malcolm, EMILY's List President

Now that Karl Rove is free from the constraints of working in the White House (not that he ever observed them anyway), he can dedicate himself to anointing Bush's successor. Until Republicans choose a presidential nominee, however, Rove has made it clear that his number one target is Hillary Clinton. In fact, Rove spent the better part of his "farewell tour" attacking Hillary's credibility.

There's a reason for that. Republicans believe Hillary is the strongest candidate on the Democratic side. That's why Rove is trying to tear her down — or, ideally, to convince Democrats to choose a candidate who would be easier to defeat.

Rove's gambit is coming at a time when Hillary's numbers are on the rise, while her nearest competitors are sliding backwards. She is ahead of the GOP frontrunners and leading in primary polls. In Iowa, according to a Zogby International/NewsMax poll, Hillary has edged out former Sen. John Edwards, with 30 percent of likely Democratic caucus voters saying they support Hillary, followed by Edwards at 23 percent and Sen. Barack Obama at 19 percent. Hillary gained six percent since the May Zogby/NewsMax poll, while Edwards and Obama each lost three percent.

This upswing shows that her strategy of talking directly to voters at the grass roots is working. The more Americans see of Hillary Clinton, the more they like her. She is shining in debates, radiating the presidential quality that is giving Americans confidence in her leadership and putting her firmly at the front of the pack.

At the same time Hillary is on the rise, voters are moving towards Democrats on key issues like Iraq, health care, taxes, and the deficit, according to an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll conducted in late July. Even Republican advantages on terrorism and homeland security are beginning to disappear.

According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, "The era of conservative values ... is coming to a close." Voters are unhappy with Bush failures and finally rejecting the right-wing agenda he and his congressional allies have tried to cram down their throats.

Campaigns are engaged earlier than ever for the 2008 election cycle, so it's easy to forget that the election is more than one year away. Polling numbers will fluctuate depending on current events. But there is no denying that Democrats have a real chance to effect massive change in 2008.

As always, that electoral change will depend on women voters. As early as May 2003, our EMILY's List Women's Monitor poll showed that women were beginning to reject the political ideology of the right and policies of the GOP. Women voters led the way for Democratic victory in 2006 and will do so again in 2008. EMILY's List WOMEN VOTE!®, with your continued support, will make sure that women elect a Democratic Congress — and the first woman president — to start undoing the damage of eight years of Bush-Cheney!

Candidate Spotlight

Members of both parties admire Colorado Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald's open management style and keen political judgment. The first woman Senate president in Colorado history, Fitz-Gerald has helped toughen the state's environmental standards, improve its educational system, secure civil rights for gay and lesbian citizens, and protect reproductive freedom. As chair of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee — the first woman — she helped elect nearly 350 new state legislators nationwide, turning control of ten chambers over to Democrats. Now she is running for Congress in Colorado's second district, an open seat. She spoke recently with EMILY's List about her political history and values.

Did you imagine when you were growing up in New York City that you would someday run for Congress?

Absolutely. I got hooked on politics at a rally for JFK in 1960 and thought it was the most exciting thing that had ever happened to me in my 12 years on the planet. And I thought this would be the most exciting, most productive thing you can do for a living.

How did your childhood influence your political values?

I grew up believing that this country was about opportunity and fairness, and that as long as you studied and worked hard, you could succeed. My political philosophy has been shaped by the belief that this country will prosper as long as people have the tools to succeed.

What do you see as the biggest challenge in your congressional campaign?

I have two well-funded primary opponents. If this race is about the issues and experience, I'll be in good shape. But there is potential for it to become a very different kind of campaign, and I will need more money to compete and get my message out.

What do you hope to achieve in Congress?

I would like to bring a sense of urgency to Congress. They've gotten complacent about not getting the job done. We've got to get out of Iraq. We've got to make health care more affordable. We've got to make sure that everyone who wants to go to college can afford to go without graduating deeply in debt. And we've got to get the deficit under control.

Who are your role models?

My mom, who raised three children and always looked ahead. She never said, "if only this had happened." It was always about the next day and the next opportunity.

I became politically aware around the Kennedy administration, which was all about the potential of this country and the kind of example we wanted to set for the world. There was a real awakening of the American spirit. John and Bobby Kennedy were major motivators for a lot of young people to see public service as an honorable profession.

Geraldine Ferraro and I both went to Marymount Manhattan College and, like me, she had gone to Fordham Law School at night and was raised by her mom. I was very proud when Mondale picked her as his running mate in 1984.

What does leadership mean to you?

It means having a clear vision about where you want to go and how to best serve the public. It means being able to balance the pressure of every issue that comes before you and to stand firm for the things you believe in. It means taking care of the people in my caucus and making sure the Senate runs with dignity and respect for members on both sides. You have to work across party lines and compromise when it's appropriate. But there are some things that should never be compromised, like the Constitution of the United States. There is always a rationale for compromising that document, but there is never a good reason.

How would you describe the state of reproductive freedom today? What can you do in Congress to preserve and expand reproductive choice?

Women's health and reproductive rights are very much hanging in the balance. The Supreme Court has made itself sole arbiter of women's decisions, when women are capable of making those decisions themselves.

The right wing is chipping away at the right to choose piece by piece with language that sounds reasonable. We need to talk through the issue with everyone who is on the fence until they understand that this is a tactic of the right wing. I've persuaded members of my caucus. I've walked through real-life scenarios. And if they still cling to the vote because they are afraid of a backlash at the polls, I ask them to look in the mirror and say, is this so important that you are willing to go against your conscience? If you are shaping a portion of the world, is that how you want to leave your imprint, casting a vote because you were afraid of losing your seat?

I hope that in this next Congress we have more pro-choice members. And I hope they have the sophistication not to be taken in by these methods.