FLAGLER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY ENEWSLETTER JULY, 2012

Volume 2, Issue 7

IN THIS ISSUE

Message from the chairman Ambassador Club Fourth of July Location Florida Education Department Florida Democratic Party Florida Voting Law The More You Know Jefferson/ Jackson Dinner Healthcare Reform Watch Structure of Flagler County Democratic Party Donate / Volunteer Policy

Page 2. Page 3. Page 4. Page 5. Page 6. Page 7. Page 8. Page 9. Page 10. Page 11. / 12. Page 13. Page 14. Page 15.

ONE HARGROVE GRADE, BLDG A, SUITE 1D, PALM COAST , FLORIDA 32164

Flagler County Democratic Party

GET INVOLVED SUPPORT PRESIDENT OBAMA AND OUR LOCAL DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES

Register to Vote Election Day November 6, Volume 2 , Issue 7 2012

Message from the Chairman

Hi Fellow Democrats,

We are now about six weeks out from the Primary Election. We have several races in which we have Democratic Candidates competing. I encourage you to choose to assist the Candidate of your choice. But to keep in mind that we must be respectful of our opponent especially our Democratic opponent. We do not want to damage our Democratic Candidates during the Primary to the point that they will be unable to win the General Election. We must be suspect of rumors and we must do our own homework in reference to rumors. Having said all of that, I believe that all of our Primary Candidates are elect able during the General Election. Lets continue to keep it clean. The race for County Judge is a non-partisan Election. Basically all that means is that the Candidates are not identified on Ballot with their Party affiliations or whether they are NPAs or INDs. It also allows all County Registered Voters to vote in the Primary Election. IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE CANDIDATES ARE NONPARTISAN. With the above statement in mind and because I have received so many inquiries I have researched the Party Affiliations of the Judge Candidates: 1. Don Appignani Dem 2. Craig R. Atack Rep 3. Josh Davis Rep 4. Marc Dwyer NPA 5. Sharon Feliciano IND 6. Melissa Moore Stens Dem 7. W. Scott Westbrook Rep

As you can see, there are two Democrats in the race. Therefore, I can not give a recommendation as to who to vote for. I can say, that one of those two Democrats is the person I feel is most qualified to become our County Judge. We should all be elated today due to the decision by the US Supreme Court relating to the Health Care Act. The Presidents key note legislation has been upheld as Constitutional. It now allows for the President and Congress to tweet the Act. Of course we know that the Republicans and their far right factions will do everything they can to prevent the efforts to improve the Act. That will be especially true until after the Presidential Election. We should not become discouraged by the House of Representatives holding Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt. It is in reality just a lot of noise. It will not go any place, nor will it proceed to any type of Impeachment. It is just a distraction. See you on the campaign trail. Democratically yours, Dan Parham Chair Flagler County Democratic Party (DEC)

Ambassador Club
Dear Fellow Democrats, The Flagler County Democratic Party wishes to thank you for your response to our appeal for donations to meet our immediate financial needs. Your continuing financial support makes it possible for us to maintain our office and to help our Democratic Candidates who are running for elective office. Our primary fundraising program is the Ambassador Club. Ambassador Club Members are requested to donate $120 per year. This may be paid in total, or in payments of $10 per month. However, any amount, large or small, will be greatly appreciated. You can donate in various ways: Mail a check to: Flagler County Democratic Party (DEC) P.O. Box 350928 Palm Coast, FL 32135 By Pay Pal to: http://flaglerdemocratic party.com. By Telephone: 3862834904. We will arrange to receive your donation. Visit our office: Flagler County Democratic Party 1 Hargrove Grade Building A, Suite 1D Palm Coast, FL 32137 Thanks again for your support, Dan Parham, Chairman Flagler County Democratic Party

Flagler Beach Fourth of July Parade

page 3

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY

Fellow Democrats, We will be participating in the Fourth of July Parade in Flagler Beach on Wednesday, July 4th, 2012 and we will also have a booth. Volunteers are needed to staff the booth in 2 hours or more segments. To Volunteer: Please call the office (386) 283-4904. or ( 386) 871-0303 .The hours are 9 am - 9 pm. Thank you!

Connie ********************************************************************* ********************************************************************* * COME OUT AND CELEBRATE WITH FELLOW DEMOCRATS.
* INVITE FRIENDS AND FAMILY. * LOOK FOR YOUR FLAGLER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY BOOTH . * GET INPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING UPCOMING ELECTIONS *SIGN-UP TO BE A PRECINCT CAPTAIN AND ORGANIZE YOUR PRECINCT. ( Precinct captain training available )

Page 5

Flagler County Democratic Party

LOCATION
One Hargrove Grade Building A, Suite 1 D, Palm Coast, Florida, 32164 Mailing Address : P.O. Box 350928 Palm Coast, Florida, 32135

Dates and location of DEC and Club Meetings

Our Democratic Executive Committee meets the 2nd Monday of every month @ 7pm. Next schedule meeting will be July 9th, 2012 . Meeting are held at Flagler Democratic Party Headquarters, One Hargrove Grade, Bldg A, Suite 1D. ( Palm Coast Pkwy SW to US1, make right on US1, approx. 500 ft. make first left on US 1 onto Hargrove Grade) .Invite a Friend Our Democratic Women Club meets the first Saturday of every month @ 1pm . the next scheduled meeting will be July 7th, 2012. This month the meeting will be held at : The Windsor of Palm Coast, 50 Town Court, Palm Coast, Fl. 32164 Directions
From U.S. Highway 95 South:
Turn Right on Highway 100. Turn Right at second light, which is Town Center Boulevard. Turn Right onto Town Court. The Windsor of Palm Coast will be on the Right.

Our Democratic Club meets the fourth Tuesday of every month @ 7 pm. The next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, July 24th , 2012. Location : TBA. For more information : Call ( 386 ) 586-3601 Invite a Friend

From Belle Terre and Highway 100 : Turn left onto Highway 100. Go 1.7 miles to Town Center Boulevard. Turn right onto Town Court. The Windsor of Palm Coast will be on the right. Guest speaker is Patricia Gill, Chairperson of the St. John's League of Women's Voters

( 386) 793-1561 OR THE OFFICE ( 386) 283-4904 Invite a Friend

FLORIDAS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 5, 2012 CONTACT: Mark Hollis (850) 488-9622

QUIT MISUSING THE FCAT, PROPERLY FUND PUBLIC SCHOOLS Statement by House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- House Democratic Leader Ron Saunders (D-Key West) issued the following statement in response to today's Florida Department of Education announcement of results of student performance in the reading and mathematics segments of the 2012 FCAT:

"While the FCAT may be helpful as a diagnostic tool, it is being misused as a measuring stick for how we assess student progress and how much we pay our school teachers. Florida House Democratic Caucus members continue to stand in strong support of our students and teachers and in opposition to the current use of the FCAT."

###

FDP News Clips Below:

AG "Roars Back" on voter purge [Miami Herald] "The states program is too 'faulty' and comes too close to election time to not endanger the voting rights of thousands of lawful U.S. citizens, Perez wrote. He said Flori da has repeatedly ignored Homeland Securitys warning that the departments database, known as SAVE, isnt designed for the noncitizen hunt on which Florida embarked. 'The significant problems you are encountering in administering this new program are of your own creation,' Perez wrote. 'Your claim that the Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security have worked in concert to deny Florida access to the SAVE Pro gram is simply wrong,"

FDP CHAIR ROD SMITH CALLS ON ROMNEY TO APOLOGIZE Florida Dem Chair Calls On Romney to
Apologize While Hes In Orlando Today [FLDemocracy2012] "As Mitt Romney stumps in Orlando Tuesday, Florida Dem ocratic Party chair Rod Smith issued a statement decrying the Republican candidates recent comments on cutting fire fighters, police, and teacher jobs."

OTHER NEWS WE THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Jeb Bush Questions G.O.P.s Shift to the Right [New York Times] "Speaking at a breakfast with national reporters held by Bloomberg View in Manhattan, Mr. Bush questioned the partys approach to immigration, deficit reduction and partisanship, saying that his father, former President George Bush, and Reagan would struggle with 'an orthodoxy that doesnt allow for disagreement.'

In Florida, Republican trials and tribulations [Tampa Bay Times column] "But what could be viewed as a fairly simple, run-of-the-mill case of greed has evolved into much more. Greer has argued that highly placed party officials such as Crist, state Sen. John Thrasher, House Speaker Dean Cannon, Senate President Mike Haridopolos and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio were all aware of what he was doing and nobody raised a peep of protestIt's not Charlie Crist's sexual orienta tion that should be scrutinized. It's his decision to hand over the keys to the state Republican Party to a walking Gilli gan's Island." David Bergstein, Deputy Communications Director Florida Democratic Party, 850 222-3411

Reactions to court decision on Florida voting law.

By: Jeremy Wallace, Hearld Tribune/ Thursday, May 31. 2012

Here are what some are saying in reaction to the decision: Deirdre Mcnab, President of the League of Women Voters of Florida:

Lee Rowland, counsel for the Brennan Centers Democracy Program, one of the attorneys who argued the case to block the provision:

For over 72 years, League volunteers have faithfully and successfully helped to register eligible Florida voters. We are hopeful that this ruling will enable us to continue this important work. Floridas anti-voter law creates impassable roadblocks for our volunteers, who are simply trying to bring fellow citizens into our democratic process. We are grateful the court recognized that the Constitution does not tolerate these types of barriers to civic participation and voter registration.

Todays ruling is a clear victory for Florida voters. The Florida legislature has tried repeatedly to stifle access to voter registration opportunities. By halting onerous provisions of the law, the court has stood up for voters and for civic groups across the state helping Floridians register to vote

Florida Democratic Party Chairman Rod Smith:

As we have stated from the beginning, the GOPs voter suppression law is nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to keep Floridians from making their voices heard at the polls. Under Gov. Rick Scott, Florida Republicans have led an unprecedented assault on voting rights a basic right of all Americans and it must stop. Todays decision is a victory for the people of Florida and a defeat to the extremist GOP leadership in Tallahassee.

Republican Party of Florida chairman Lenny Curry:

Based on initial reports about the ruling, we are pleased that the majority of the law was upheld, as these are common sense procedures that will help protect the integrity of Floridas elections. This law ensures that third party voter registration groups are held accountable and that citizens are registered in a timely and proper manner. However, we are disappointed that the modest requirement of a 48-hour turnaround for registration applications was rejected. This would guarantee that new voters know with certainty they have joined millions of legal voters in being able to participate in our great democratic process. RPOF will continue to monitor the progress of this new law, andas alwayswe will support efforts to ensure that every legal voter in Florida is allowed to cast their ballot and have it accurately counted.

THE MORE YOU KNOW

WASHINGTON A bill that would pave the way for women to more easily litigate their way to pay equality failed to clear a procedural hurdle in the Senate on Tuesday as Republicans united against the measure for the second time in two years. As Lilly M. Ledbetter, the woman whose name was attached to a 2009 law that ensured equal pay for women, watched from the gallery, the Senate voted, 52 to 47, to open debate on the legislation, 8 votes short of the 60 required. Its a very sad day here in the United States Senate, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, said after the vote.

This is why we need to Re-elect President Obama. So he can finish what he started.
Flagler County Democratic Party Newsletter , Editor

Listed below are some of the

Presidents Achievements

Signed into law an economic plan that saved America from a depression, restored growth, and created or saved as many as 3.6 million jobs. Signed into law landmark health insurance reform that holds insurance companies accountable, gives people and small businesses greater control of health care, and improves the quality of health care for all Americans. Fought against Wall Street lobbyists to sign into law historic consumer protections and financial reforms that shield American families from unfair lending practices from credit card and mortgage companies, rein in the excesses of Wall Street, and work to prevent future financial crises. Reformed the college loan system by ending subsidies to banks and using the money to make college more affordable. He also invested in community colleges that are providing Americans with the skills they need to succeed in today's economy. Rescued the American auto industry, which saved millions of American jobs and helped GM and Chrysler become profitable again while repaying taxpayers. Repealed Dont Ask, Dont Tell, which makes it possible for individuals to serve in the military regardless of their sexual orientation. Helped women get the equal pay they deserve by signing into law the Lilly Ledbetter Act. Ended the war in Iraq, initiated a responsible drawdown of forces in Afghanistan, and ordered the operation that killed Osama bin Laden.
Find many more achievements at : www. Barack Obama. gov

Dan -

Today I'm excited to announce that the Chair of the Democratic National Convention Committee and Mayor of Los Angeles Antonio Villaraigosa will headline the Florida Democratic Party's 2012 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

As a rising star in the Democratic Party, Mayor of the 2nd largest city in the country, leader in the Hispanic community and the Chairman of the National Convention, Mayor Villaraigosa's presence underscores the importance of Florida's 29 prized electoral votes. Purchase your tickets today to join Mayor Villaraigosa at the 2012 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. Here in Florida, we know the importance of Democratic Mayors. Heading into 2012, Democrats were energized by mayoral victories in key cities across Florida. From Tampa to Jacksonville to the heart of Orlando and South Florida, Democrats are building the largest grassroots operation Florida has ever seen. Together, we'll re-elect President Obama, Sen. Nelson and elect our outstanding Democratic candidates up and down the ballot. We hope you can join us July 14th at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood as we prepare for one of the most important elections of our lifetime. Look forward to seeing you there! Rod Smith Chair of the Florida Democratic Party
Paid for by the Florida Democratic Party and not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee

The Miami Herald > News > Florida

- By Lesley Clark - McClatchy Newspapers

posted on Thursday, 06.28.12

The Supreme Courts health care ruling boosts President Barack Obamas re-election campaign, but could energize Mitt Romney and Republicans.

WASHINGTON

The Supreme Courts decision to uphold the most significant achievement of President Barack Obamas first term delivers a major boost to his legacy and political fortunes. It comes with a price, however: the risk of galvanizing conservative critics who rose up in the aftermath of the laws passage, delivering the first tea party lawmakers to Congress. Obama was careful not to gloat Thursday as he hailed the ruling from the East Room of the White House the same room he used for a triumphant bill-signing ceremony in March 2010. Instead, he extolled what he said are the laws benefits and cautioned against rehashing the fight over health care. What we wont do what the country cant afford to do is refight the political battles of two years ago, or go back to the way things were, he said. His remarks came minutes after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney vowed to repeal the health care law, declaring, If we want to get rid of Obamacare, were going to have to replace President Obama. Republicans say they expect the ruling to energize their ground troops to repeal the law at the ballot box in November. By early afternoon, Romneys campaign said it had raised more than $1 million off the ruling and Republicans were honing a new line of attack, seizing on Chief Justice John Roberts Jr.s contention that the requirement that individuals pay a financial penalty for not obtaining health insurance may reasonably be characterized as a tax. Florida Republican Sen. Marco Rubio took to the Senate floor to envision a world in which the Internal Revenue Service would chase you around for payment. Guess who you have to prove to that you have insurance? Your neighborhood, friendly IRS, Rubio said. Senior White House officials disputed the Republican charges, saying the penalty would only apply to people who could afford health insurance but chose not to buy it. They said estimates show that 1 percent or less of the public would qualify. And they contend that the law will result in a tax credit for most middle-class Americans to help them purchase insurance. The politics are complicated for Romney, who was criticized by his fellow Republicans during the contentious primary campaign for championing legislation as governor of Massachusetts that the White House says served as a model for Obamas legislation.
Cont. next page.

Cont. from page 10

Obama campaign officials charged Romney with looking to run away from the law, and Obama himself noted that the requirement that individuals carry insurance once had support from Republicans, including the current Republican nominee for president. Polls suggest a public divided on the health care law, with Republican opposition more fierce than Democratic support. Conservatives view the law as a massive and costly expansion of government and emblematic of everything they despise about Obama. Winners celebrate and losers mobilize, said George Edwards, a presidential scholar at Texas A&M University. This puts health care back in the center of the debate where it hasnt been since it passed, and thats not necessarily good for him. But the ruling vindicates Obamas decision to pursue the controversial health care law, even against the counsel of some of his closest advisers. It buoys his base and gives Democrats hope that they can better sell the laws benefits to independent voters, hoping it gains popularity much as Social Security and Medicare did generations ago.

. Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/28/2873326/court-ruling-buoys-presidentbarack.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

Flagler County Democratic Party

Democratic Executive Committee

Dan Parham, Chairman

One Hargrove Grade, Suite 1D Palm Coast, Florida, 32164

Konnie Rea, Vice Chair Connie Parham , Secretary Melba Mc Carty, Treasurer Melba Mc Carty, State Committeewoman Dan Parham, State Committeeman Donald Hoskins, Parliamentarian

Phone : ( 386) 283-4904

flaglercntydem@gmail.com
Working Together AS ONE

We are on the WEB

www.flaglerdemocraticparty.com

Office Hours
Monday Friday 11:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.

CLUBS AND CAUCUS

Democratic Club
Merrill Shapiro, President, Diana LeBrun, 1st. Vice President Ronale Bowman, 2nd. Vice President Roxanne Convery, Recording Secretary Konnie Rea, Correspondence Secretary Ivory Johnson, Treasurer

Democratic Womens Club

Courtney Chaplin, President Connie Parham, Secretary Audrey Gore Marcus, Treasurer

Young Dems

NEWSLETTER STAFF
Mamie Godfrey, Editor Andrea Levy, Associate Editor Connie Parham, Associate Editor

DONATIONS

NEEDED

The main office located at One Hargrove Grade, Palm Coast, is where democratic voters, and democratic candidates meet to develop a strategy to elect, and re-elect candidates who will support the Presidents agenda in order to move the country forward in a successful manner for all Americans.

Your help is needed to maintain the office and assist in electing Democratic candidates. Did you know, donations made at the National or State level do not trickle down to us ? We depend solely on You. To join our annual Fundraising campaign. See AMBASSABOR CLUB on page 3. Please donate by mail, or at our website. Any amount is welcome and as always we appreciate your generosity. Did you also know we are all volunteers ? Please consider donating some of your time !

Mail Contributions :

Flagler County Democratic Party, ( DEC ) P.O. Box 350928 Palm Coast, Fl. 32135 ( 386 ) 283-4904
http://www.flaglerdemocraticparty.com

PAY- PAL

POLICY
The Flagler County Democratic Executive Committee ( FCDEC ) is Responsible for discharging Florida Democratic Party affairs within Flagler County.

We welcome your views/comments. All stories/ comments will be posted at the discretion of the Chairman and/ or Staff. This information is being sent to those parties who have requested newsletter, meeting dates and information from the Flagler County Democratic Party.

Paid for by and authorized by Flagler County Democratic Party.

Register to Vote
Primary Election
Tuesday, August 14th, 2012

General Election
Tuesday , November 6th, 2012

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