Flagler County Democratic Party e- Newsletter

Register to Vote Election Day November 6, Volume 2 , Issue 4 2012

April, 2012 Newsletter Volume 2, Issue 4

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

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Message from the Chairman

Chairman Speaks

Hi Fellow Democrats, The President's speeches over the last few days clearly indicates that he is in campaign mode. In support of his re-election the Flagler County Democratic Party, OFA and Women for Obama, are training and certifying people to register voters, phone banking and working to co-ordinate our activities. While OFA and Women for Obama will mainly focus their activities on the President's campaign, the Flagler County Democratic Party must focus on the President's campaign and focus on Local elections. Do not get me wrong, those of you working on the President's campaign must continue to do so. What I am asking is, if you are able to volunteer an additional hour or two that you volunteer to assist a Democratic candidate in a Local campaign. They really need your help. The races and the candidates follow below:

Location

Jefferson/Jackson

Healthcare FL. Senator M. Rubio Florida Attorney General U.S. Congressman

5 /6

8 9

Drug Free Workplace Act News form the Capital

10 11

Hire A Hero Eye on the Prize

12 13

Structure of Flagler County Democratic Party

14

Holiday Wishes

15

Volunteer Donate 16

POLICY

17

CHAIRMAN MSG. CONTINUE:

PAGE 2

Congressional District 6
Heather Beaven Steve Schonberg Vipin Verma

Florida State Representative - District 24

Douglas (Doug) Courtney

Sheriff
James (Jim) Manfre Karl Tozzi

County Commission - District 3

Barbara Revels - Incumbent

County Commission - District 5

George Hanns - Incumbent

Supervisor of Elections
Kimberele (Kim) Weeks - Incumbent

School Board Member - District 3

Collen Conklin - Incumbent

East Flagler Mosquito Control

Seat 1 - Julius (Jules) Kwiatkowski - Incumbent Seat 3 - Shawn Byrnes - Incumbent

See you on the Campaign Trail, Dan Parham Chair Flagler County Democratic Party (DEC)

Page 3

Flagler County Democratic Party e- Newsletter

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 meet the 2nd Monday of every month @ 7pm. This month the meeting will be held at Democratic 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) Next scheduled meeting will be Monday, April 9th , 2012. Invite a Friend

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

Our Democratic Women Club meets the first Saturday of every month @ 11am. Due to Easter/ Passover this weekend, the April Meeting has been cancelled . Meetings are held at Democratic Headquarters, One Hargrove Grade, Bldg A, Suite 1D. Regular scheduled meetings will resume in May. See directions above For more details contact Courtney Chaplin at: ( 386) 793-1561 Invite a Friend

Volume 2 ,

Issue 4

Page 4

SAVE THE DATE

I don't have to tell you that in this year's election, the stakes are higher than they have ever been. Florida is the battleground for the future of our country. And in order to win our state for President Obama, elect Democrats up and down ticket and fight back against the GOP's Tea Party extremism, we'll need your help. That's why we need you at the Florida Democratic Party's 2012 Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Florida, on Saturday, July 14th! Tickets go on sale April 30th -- click here to receive an e-mail when they become available, and be among the first to find out who our Keynote Speaker will be. See you there,

Rod Smith Chairman, Florida Democratic Party

Note : To obtain more information regarding Flagler County Democratic Party attendance at the Jefferson / Jackson Dinner Contact : Dan Parham, DEC Chairman ( 386 ) 283-4904 or flaglercntydem@gmail .com On the web: flaglerdemocraticparty.com

THE MORE YOU KNOW : Florida Attorney General fighting to take away your HEALTHCARE While keeping her State provided HEALTHCARE
Volume 2, Issue 4

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi front and center in fight against health care law

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WASHINGTON Blessed with sound bite sensibilities in an all-male scrum of long-winded gray suits, Florida
Attorney General Pam Bondi stood out in Washington this week as the unofficial spokeswoman for the 26 states that challenged the health care law to the Supreme Court. Elected in 2010, the former state prosecutor and former Fox News legal commenter inherited the lawsuit from former Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum. But she campaigned on the issue herself and has seized it as her own since taking office at the beginning of 2011. Beaming on Wednesday after the historic three-day arguments in front of the Supreme Court, Bondi said she thought it went "very well, once again." And she insisted that Florida's opposition to the signature achievement of President Barack Obama's administration is on constitutional, not political grounds. "As attorneys general, we keep going back to the constitutionality, because that's our job," she said. "We're not here to debate health care policy. It's all about the Constitution and following the law." Although Bondi has also tackled pill mills in Florida and a number of other initiatives, the health care case has consumed her staff since she took office. She served on the executive committee that chose Paul Clement to argue the case in front of the high court. As the case approached oral arguments, there were as many as three conference calls a week on its status. One deputy, Tim Osterhaus, was so committed to seeing the arguments that he bought a sleeping bag and camped out in a special line for attorneys the night before the justices tackled the question of individual mandates. Her predecessor filed the lawsuit in March, minutes after Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. Bondi helped persuade an additional six state attorneys general to join the suit. Bondi emerged naturally as their spokeswoman, in part because Florida was the lead plaintiff in the case, said South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, who, like his Florida counterpart, had a predecessor who took an early and aggressive interest in challenging the federal government on health care. Also? She's the best looking face of us all," Wilson noted. A registered Democrat from 1984 until 2000 when she switched to the Republican Party, she wasn't especially politically involved until running for office. Today, Bondi, 46, downplays suggestions that the health care lawsuit may have raised her profile and as a result, her future prospects in the Republican Party.
continue

THE MORE YOU KNOW

Take away HEALTHCARE con t

"I don't care about that," she said. "I care about defeating the health care mandate. That's all I care about." Constitution. And that's She repeated her talking points: the legal challenge was about the Constitution, not politics. "When we were in front of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, everyone kept saying it was about politics. 'You don't stand a chance of winning, because you have two Clinton appointees and one Bush appointee on your panel,' " Bondi said. "And we ended up with the best bipartisan decision in the country. So it's not about politics, it's about the what we firmly believe. Among fellow Republican attorneys general recapping court arguments with daily press conferences, Bondi served as emcee and chief spokeswoman. And Bondi had the politics nailed. She introduced Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning as "our next United States senator," and pledged that health care would have to go back to Congress for a rewrite. "When they do go back to the drawing board and I firmly believe they will have to I think everyone will read the law at that point. Seriously!" she said, in a dig at the 2,700-page legislation. "Next go-around, they're going to be much more thoughtful, much more cautious." Bondi doesn't discount the need for health care reform in the United States, however. Among her talking points on the issue is a standard disclaimer that it's an issue desperately in need of addressing. Just follow the Constitution, she says. "I would be the first one to say we need tremendous health care reform," she said. "But this is not the way to do it." Leaving a final news conference with several Republican senators, fellow attorneys and somewhat inexplicably, former presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., Bondi walked toward the car that was taking her back to the airport and her duties in Tallahassee. She stopped to take a wistful look at the Supreme Court building. "Can you take my picture in front of it?" she asked her staff.
By Erika Bolstad, Miami Herald Erika BolstadTampa Bay Times In Print: Thursday, March 29, 2012

Last modified: Mar 28, 2012 10:47 PM]

Jamelle Bouie is a writing fellow at The American Prospect.

WILL MARCO RUBIO WIN LATINO VOTE ? PROBABLY NOT

Republicans shouldn't bank their hopes for winning Latino voters on the young Florida senator.

Its obvious that the GOP is beginning to panic about their poor performance with Latino voters. The Hill, for example, reports that Senate Republicans are working on a watered-down version of the DREAM Act, in an attempt to win back some Hispanic support. Senators Jon Kyl and Kay Bailey Hutchinson are working on one variation, while the GOPs Great Latino HopeSenator Marco Rubio of Floridais working on another. Both are expected to be unveiled when Mitt Romney official wins the Republican presidential nomination. But given the degree to which Latinos are extremely disdainful of the GOPs five-year battle against comprehensive immigration reform, its routine attacks on immigrants, and its smear campaign against Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, it will take much more than an off-brand DREAM Act to build support. Theres a fair chance that Republicans will try to rehabilitate their brand by giving Rubio the vicepresidential nod, but even that relies on the assumption that Latinos value symbolic over substantive representation, and Im not sure thats the case. On the policies that matter to many Latinos, Rubio is just as right-wing as any other Republicanthe only difference is his last name. Whats more, putting Rubio on the ticket smacks of pandering in a way that might be distasteful to Latino voters. Indeed, early polling suggests that Rubio would have little effect on the GOPs share of the Hispanic vote. In the latest McClatchy-Marist poll, Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are evenly matched in a head-to-head match-up, 46 percent to 44 percent. The more important thing, however, is that Romney beats Obama among Latinos, 48 percent to 37 percent. That changes when you add Rubio and Biden to the ticket, respectively. In that scenario, Obama takes 50 percent of the Latino votea 13 point gainwhile Romneys performances drops by 2 percent. Of course, the usual caveats applyslight differences in sampling can result in big changes in poll results. Still, it says something that Romney loses support when Rubio is on the ticket. It should always be said that, at this point, head-to-head matchups tell us less about the publics mood that favorability and job approval ratings. On both counts, Obama is in decent shape. According to McClatchy and Marist, 48 percent of Americans approve of his job performance (compared to the 47 percent who disapprove), while 50 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the president (compared to 46 percent disapproval). By contrast, Mitt Romney has a net favorability rating of zero44 percent of Americans either like him, or dislike him.
To return back to my main point, all of this is to say that, while Marco Rubio seems like he was designed to be the perfect vice presidential nominee, his actual effect on the electionas is the case with most VPs would be small, and potentially counterproductive

Bondi drags state on crusade

OPINION BLOG

By THE PALM BEACH POST

Into the feverish fray over birth control and religious rights comes Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, never one to shy from a social crusade she can dress in legal garb. For no apparent reason save political advantage, Ms. Bondi has volunteered Florida as a foot soldier in the fight against the new federal requirement that employers' health care plans cover birth control, joining a lawsuit by six other states and several Catholic groups. This is a distracting battle that the state has no place waging. The Catholic Church has led the outcry over the requirements. Church leaders call artificial contraception sinful, and they argue that requiring Catholic hospitals, schools and universities to offer their employees health insurance that covers contraceptives violates their First Amendment religious rights. As a constitutional matter, this claim seems dubious. Courts long have recognized governments' ability to create general rules even when they infringe upon certain religious beliefs. The Supreme Court has ruled, for instance, that Mormons' religious rights are not violated by anti-polygamy laws, and that the requirement that workers contribute to Social Security does not violate Amish opposition to public support programs. It is true that federal courts also have struck down many laws as violating religious rights, but usually only when the law was unnecessarily restrictive and its public purpose was not "compelling." In this case, the public purpose of improving women's health is unassailable, and the law has been tailored narrowly to exempt purely religious institutions such as churches and synagogues. We disagree with the Catholic Church's opposition, but it is a principled one, and religious objectors are entitled to their day in court. Ms. Bondi's opposition, on other hand, is purposeless and opportunistic. This is a political battle the state of Florida should sit out. - Andrew Marra-

Allen West: Willing and ready to be vice president

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/ stories/0312/73660.html#ixzz1oSVtcQ3m

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Rep. Allen West said Tuesday he is always willing and ready to serve my country when asked about a potential vice presidential bid a job Sarah Palin recently said he should be considered for. As far as the vice president thing, you know, who knows what the future lies because it wasnt too long ago, you know, I was sitting in the desert of Kandahar, Afghanistan, and now Im here talking with you, the Florida Republican told CNNs Soledad OBrien. But, you know, I am always willing and ready to serve my country in whatever capacity that the American people would desire. On Saturday, Palin told Fox News the eventual Republican presidential nominee should look at West as a possible running mate. You know who Id like to see considered for the VP slot is Colonel Allen West, Palin sa id. In this very tumultuous time across our world, someone who has served in our military or at least has intimate knowledge of the way the military works and should work, perhaps by having a close family member serve, someone like that like Colonel Allen West, who went to the school of hard knocks. He should be one who should be considered seriously for VP. West also addressed Sen. Marco Rubio as a possible vice presidential pick, saying that the Florida Republican is someone who brings a new and vibrant energy to the GOP and also to the race. And I think he has a great vision for this country as well.

EXCERPTS FROM Allen West speech: Huffington Post Article

Speaking to a Lincoln Day Dinner in West Palm Beach for the Palm Beach County GOP, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla) fired off a humdinger of a line that within minutes drew recriminations from Democrats on Twitter; "We need to let President Obama, Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, (audience boos) and my dear friend the chairman of the Democrat National Committee, we need to let them know that Florida ain't on the table," West said. "Take your message of equality of achievement, take your message of economic dependency, take your message of enslaving the entrepreneurial will and spirit of the American people somewhere else. You can take it to Europe, you can take it to the bottom of the sea, you can take it to the North Pole, but get the hell out of the United States of America."
Following cheers, West added, "Yeah I said 'hell.'"

2/2012

FLORIDA CONGRESSMEN MENTIONED FOR VICE PRESIDENT ? ? ?

THE MORE YOU KNOW !

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 2, 2012

CONTACT: Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (850) 488-0965

Statement by Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda Regarding Her Vote Against HB 1205 -- Drug-Free Workplace Act

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. State Representative Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda (D-Tallahassee) issued the following statement after her vote today against CS/CS/CS/HB 1205 - Drugfree Workplace Act. The bill would require state employees to submit to random drug testing as a requirement for continued employment with the state. This bill is a waste of taxpayer dollars. I am saddened and concerned that this bill would impose unknown costs on our future budgets and take money from other worthwhile programs. There has been no cost-benefit analysis of the need for drug testing or to the disruption of the workplace and workforce. "There is no appeal process for false-positive tests, which is unfair and could cause great pain to a family. In addition, litigation on the constitutionality of this bill is anticipated and will cost taxpayers even more money. There has been no evidence to support a need to adopt such measures in the state workforce as there are already effective procedures in place to deal with employee discipline problems. "When you consider that state employees have not had a raise in what will be six years, this is one more measure of disrespect heaped on hard-working public servants. This bill is a solution in search of a problem!

The GREAT State of Florida !!

NEWS FROM THE CAPITAL

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 7, 2012 CONTACT: Office of Rep. Bernard (850) 650-6880
.

Rep. Mack Bernard Passes Measure to Cut Banks' Ties To Terrorists

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Florida House of Representatives today approved a measure sponsored by Rep. Mack Bernard (D-West Palm Beach) that cuts financial ties between Florida state-chartered banks and Iranian-financed terrorists The Financial Institutions Act will impose new rules on state chartered financial institutions to certify that their corresponding banks are not engaged in federally-prohibited activities with Iranian-linked counterparts. The financial restriction would also apply to any other terrorist organization designated by the United States. Compliance and reporting violations could reap civil penalties of up to $100,000 per incident. Rep. Mack Bernard offered the following statement regarding House approval of Senate Bill 796, sponsored by Senator Don Gaetz, the companion to House Bill 613 sponsored by Rep. Bernard:

"The Financial Institutions Act is needed to help guarantee America's security and to combat terrorism. I'm proud to sponsor this very important bipartisan legislation."

THE MORE YOU KNOW

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT !!!!
This information is posted on the Flagler County School Boards web site

1769 East Moody Blvd. Bldg. #2. Bunnell FL 32110 Phone (386) 437-7526 FlaglerSchools.com 2010 Flagler County Public Schools.

Hire A Hero
Submitted on Tuesday March 13th 2012 8:54:39 AM

It's not enough to simply say we support our local hometown heroes . . .it's time to do something to show our support and mean it. Palm Coast/Flagler County is coming together to offer job transition, search and placement assistance for our local military heroes. The Palm Coast Business Assistance Center and the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce are partnering to implement a new Hire a Hero program to encourage local businesses to employ local veterans and to guide new applicants through the intricate hiring process. With the unemployment rate for young veterans being a staggering 20%, our own government leaders and local business organizations want to take action and make a difference in the lives of our local hometown heroes, says Joe Roy, area Manager for the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center. The Center for Business Excellence, SCORE and officials from Flagler County, Flagler Beach and Bunnell are pulling together all of their resources to commit to this essential new initiative. If you are a local veteran who has been honorably discharged, reside in Flagler County and are eligible to go to work, contact the One Stop Employment Center at 386-323-7011 or the Flagler County Chamber of Commerce at 386-437-0106. Once you are registered, SCORE and the Palm Coast Business Assistance Center will assist you with creating resumes and practicing interviewing skills. Preference will be given to unemployed veterans, although ALL veterans are eligible for this program.

COMMENTARY

Eyes on the Prize?

After more than 200 years, America still strives to define itself. A country that has embodied (in disparate ways) people of varying hues, socio-economic status, and political bents is challenged to construct laws and social policies to accommodate these diversities. Ethnic and racial conflicts prevail; age, gender, class, and sexual orientation issues collide; concepts of one nation, liberty and justice for all equivocate. Often enough we have said, Our youth are our future, but President Franklin Delano Roosevelt cautioned us when he said, We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future. The Trayvon Martin tragedy suggests that many factors impact the safety of youth in our contemporary society. Funds for youth programs and facilities are inadequate; educational opportunities are inconsistent; substance abuse is prevalent. Where programs do exist, they may not be accessible to those with the greatest needs or they cater to special populations. In recent years, various legislatures have produced laws impacting on our youths daily existence. Concealed weapons laws have escalated. Zero tolerance laws, rather than focus on student retention, have increased suspensions, expulsions and incarcerations. Racial diversity is not adequately reflected in public school staffing / administration. Changes in voter registration laws are designed to deter youth as empowered citizens (especially those with criminal records). These situations do not reflect the bases for a bright future. Through our various affiliations, we must choose to embrace, love, educate, train, protect, promote, and encourage our youth. They must become aware of the pitfalls and deterrents designed to entrap them. They must assume responsibility for achieving and contributing. They must survive to lead. JL

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 Committeewoman 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

GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 6TH PASSOVER BEGINS AT SUNDOWN APRIL, APRIL 6TH

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL, 8TH

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 that will 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. 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 Available via web-site

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.

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