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Wendy Davis Endorses Clinton for President

By Patrick Svitek,    The Texas Tribune  Sept. 30, 2015

                                                                                                                 Photo by Patrick Svitek

      Wendy Davis, former Democratic candidate for Texas governor, endorsed Hillary Clinton for president Wednesday, saying the former secretary of state will be rewarded for her long history in Lone Star politics come Election Day.

"I know that Hillary holds Texas in a very dear place in her heart," Davis said, alluding to the Clintons' work registering black and Hispanic voters in the 1970s in the Rio Grande Valley. "What those of us know who've been around the Texas scene for a long time is that Hillary and Bill Clinton cut their teeth organizing communities in South Texas and creating the kinds of relationships that show they understand the real needs of people, not only in this state, but across these United States."

Davis made her endorsement official at an Austin coffee shop along with Sarah Eckhardt, the first female Travis County judge. Both Democrats expressed an affinity for Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator who has emerged as Clinton's chief rival for the Democratic nomination, but made clear they view Clinton as the most qualified candidate at the end of the day.

"I think Bernie Sanders is wonderful, and I love his message, but I do believe Hillary has shown herself to be the exemplary candidate in terms of the person who's best equipped to do this," Davis told reporters after her remarks, bringing up early polls that show Clinton with a "wide lead" in Texas. "She's been loyal to this state, and I expect that this state's going to be loyal to her."

Clinton had endorsed Davis for governor, releasing a robocall for her in the final week of her unsuccessful race last year against Republican Greg Abbott. Davis returned the favor two weeks after the gubernatorial election, emailing supporters an appeal to join Ready for Hillary, a group that worked to the lay the groundwork for Clinton's presidential bid.

Davis, a former state senator from Fort Worth, has been re-emerging on the public stage since Abbott easily defeated her last year in the gubernatorial race. Davis recently told Rolling Stone she would like to run for office again but does not have a specific position in mind.

"I hope that that opportunity presents itself to me again because I loved being in public service and I loved fighting for the things I was fighting for, " Davis told reporters Wednesday. "It may or may not happen in my future. If it doesn't, I'm going to keep my voice out there. I'm going to continue to work to make sure we're electing people that represent the values that I and so many others in this state hold dear."

Ahead of the event, Republicans were happy to revive memories of Davis' performance in the gubernatorial race. Calling Davis' bid for governor an "epic embarrassment for Democrats nationally," the Republican National Committee said Clinton could learn from Davis' campaign that the "'war on women' playbook doesn't work, especially in Texas." The Texas GOP, meanwhile, warned that Clinton could expect the same fate in 2016 that Davis faced in 2014, when Abbott even beat her among women.

    

    

    

 This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at http://www.texastribune.org/2015/09/30/davis-endorses-clinton-president/.

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Retired Army Officer Challenging Tea Party Incumbent Louie Gohmert for East Texas Congressional Seat

By Faith Chatham - Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC - September 3, 2015

Shirley McKellar officially kicked off her 2016 Campaign for Congress in the shadows of the Smith County Court House. Earlier this year, KLTV Tyler introduced Dr. Shirley McKellar as one of East Texas' Freedom Fighters. Joan Hallmark features area soldiers who serve in combat zones in the U.S. Military.

KLTV.com-Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville, Texas | ETX News

http://www.kltv.com/story/27989678/freedom-fighters-shirley-mckeller

"Shirley McKeller served 18 years in the U.S. Army as a nurse. Eighteen months of that time was during "Operation Iraqi Freedom" in an Iraqi Field Hospital that was under bomb threat every day and in a hospital in Germany where wounded soldiers were sent for further medical aid. 

An accident ended McKeller's Army career, and she found out firsthand how difficult it was for veterans to get into the system for medical aid.

McKeller has become an advocate for veterans, and in she 2014 ran for Congress in the 1st District on the Democratic ticket. Although McKeller lost the election, she hasn't ruled out a future run."  - KLTV Joan Hallmark

McKellar combines elegance with the toughness of an Army medical officer who has seen duty in the combat zone. A native of Tyler, McKellar's family tree leads back through generations of small business owners. Working, serving, solving problems, using logic and common sense and getting as much education as possible to be able to understand more, and to be more effective, is automatic to her.

She is a woman who is not easily deterred. When she knows something needs to be done, is convinced that something should be done, she goes into action, almost as though on auto-pilot, to see that it happens. Multi-tasking while giving personal attention to everyone she encounters is innate with Shirley McKellar. She has lots of titles, all earned, but does not see her PhD or retired status as a Major in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps or honoree of so many awards that it is difficult to list them, as anything that should set her apart from others. She says she lists the PhD and other titles to show that she has done "her homework" and is prepared to serve. Her focus is always on how to get things done to improve the lives of others and to make our community and nation an even better place to live.

As the number of women soldiers (and women veterans) increased, the U.S. Military and Veterans Administration lacked many of the medical services women need. McKellar was at the forefront, helping to establish medical services for women. She was instrumental in establishing the Breast Cancer Awareness program for the European Theater of the U.S. Military. She was one of 16 clinicians from around the world to travel to Berlin and establish, "The Best Clinical Practices for Treating Breast Cancer Around the Globe".  Baylor University Health Services named her their  "International Breast Cancer Advocate" for Europe, to represent America at the 4th European Congress at a conference where her speech on the "Healthcare Disparities Among African-American Women" was aired to over 250 Comprehensive Breast Cancer Centers in the world, including The University of Texas at M.D. Anderson in Houston. 

Once back in the U.S., it was natural for her to partner with UT Austin Health Science and launch the African American Breast Cancer Outreach Program and to serve as site manager for the program at UT Tyler. She served as the sexual harassment officer and EEOC officer in the military. In civilian life, she used her non-profit organization to employ social workers and nurse clinicians to provide sexual abuse and domestic violence services to women and children in 12 Texas counties.

McKellar did not intend to end her military career two years short of her 20 years of active duty. However, on the border of Iraq and Turkey, a fall down a flight of stairs abruptly changed her life. She spent over a year in Brooks Medical Center in San Antonio and some who knew her during that time reported that it was difficult to keep the patient, Shirley McKellar, from serving others. Some of her closest associates and most ardent volunteers today were other injured soldiers whom she met during those dark days while she was undergoing numerous surgeries and physical rehab.

Injured or not, she remained alert to the circumstance of others around her. She remained a thinker always looking for a solution. She was an "encourager".  She worked hard on her own rehabilitation, fighting her way back from injuries which often seemed insurmountable. She didn't fight just for her own recovery. Shirley was fighting for others, some of whom were too injured to fight for themselves.

Shirley has never been a person who fought just for herself. She is someone who always is extending an invitation to others "to get on the bus."  She has done that as an educator, as a founder/director of a Non-profit organization, as an military officer, as a wife and mother and grandmother and friend. "Until we all have succeeded-none of us have succeeded" and "Reach one, Teach one" are more than mottos for Shirley McKellar. 

Some solutions are "high tech" or require enormous co-operation and legal /legislative involvement.  However, there are some obstacles which deter people which can be solved with application of common sense and basic East Texas community co-operation when there is someone to lead. Frequently Shirley McKellar is the person who leads, who enlists others, who mentors, and who monitors until it is accomplished and implemented.

The US-TX First District has one of the state's highest rates of unemployment.
Shirley has worked consistently to create jobs and to enable people to get vocational training for available jobs. She problem-solves to remove obstacles preventing people from becoming or staying gainfully employed. As an R.N. she knew that there were jobs in the medical profession which were unfilled. She also knew there were jobs in the community working shift work or weekends. She heard the frustration of parents who needed work but did not have safe, appropriate child care for evening or weekends. Through her non-profit organization, she partnered with others to establish a 24/7 childcare center.  This fall she is launching a medical transcription school in Tyler to train people to fill some of those unfilled medical slots. These are things which she has accomplished as a private citizen. It frustrates her to see the Congressman from East Texas "grandstand for soundbites" and "neglect tackling issues which are truly life and death for East Texas families."  She is determined to change things for the better. She knows that she can do more for people as a member of Congress than as a private citizen.

Running for Congress has almost become a way of life in the McKellar household. Most candidates set-aside other community service and focus only on campaigning. McKellar campaigns while serving. She doesn't stop doing whatever she can to make things better. She doesn't stop meeting people and hearing their stories and viewpoints. She doesn't stop building and fine-tuning her campaign organization. She works the phone and internet as her driver shuttles her from one city to another, between places where she volunteers and serves on boards to campaign events and team meetings.

EDUCATION REALLY MATTERS

Education is a way of life in the McKellar household.  All children matter. Realizing that "education had to start earlier than the first grade and that much of the human brain is formed by age 3," Dr. McKellar and her friend,  Dr. Sally Sanders, RN, MSN, started an early childhood education school serving ages 6 Weeks-Kindergarten. They also launched an after school mentor-mentee program and provided care for children until midnight for the children of parents whose jobs required "shift work". It evolved into a different non-profit which employs social workers who provides service to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence in 12 counties.

McKellar's husband, Bro.  Danny C. McKellar,  is an educator who retired from the  Dallas Independent School Systems, and  now serves on the pastoral staff of a church in Tyler as Minister of Christian Education. Juggling children, community, military service, church, and education was a constant in their household. Somehow they pulled it off and frequently amazed people with how effortlessly it appears from the outside. From the inside, there is teamwork and mutual affirmation. She is about building, nurturing, healing, leading. Both of their children are grown; now they have five grandchildren.

She leads a multi-ethnic rainbow coalition and resonates with people of all ages. She has friends and associates that stretch back to her public school days in Tyler or University or years while she was serving in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Some related to her because she shares their ethnicity and understands their history. Other gravitate to her because she is   "delightful, intelligent, accomplished, human and caring." Her staff have variations in skin color but share her determination to make things better for everybody. Instead of talking about what needs to be done, she attracts people who do what they can wherever they are to make things better while evaluating what needs to be done next.   

She doesn't want to just end the discrimination that shoved people to the back of the bus, she wants to help people overcome there not being a "bus to get on."  It is important to understand who we are and where we come from in order to find our way to a better tomorrow. It won't be done with hatred and name calling. It must be forged with respect and hard work. Earlier this year, she took a bus load of folks from East Texas to walk across the Selma Bridge. It would probably have been easier for her to just go with a friend or two or by herself. But is not who and what she is. It was wonderful for her to be able to share the experience with many who probably would have been unable to go if she had not "instigate it."

CONTRAST BETWEEN MCKELLAR AND LOUIE GOHMERT

Instead of working to bring jobs to East Texas, the Republican Incumbent Louie Gohmert's positions frequently make it more difficult for employers to keep people working. For over two years he fought to close down the Export Import Bank. He called it "Corporate Welfare" even though not one cent of taxpayer money was required for its operation. In fact, the fees and interest charged foreign borrowers who utilized the bank's services to finance their purchases of goods and services produced by American businesses employing American workers generated a profit which was transferred to the U.S. Treasury. In 2014 over $674Bil went into the U.S. Treasury after all expenses were paid by the Export Import Bank. It made no sense for Gohmert and others (who frequently voted for tax breaks and subsidies for their pet industries) to target the Export Import Bank. Yet they did. One of the last acts on June 30th, before Congress adjourned for their break, was Gohmert, Jeb Hensarling, and others succeeding in blocking the renewal of the 81-year old Export Import Bank's charter.  There action is one which is causing American businesses to lose contracts to foreign competitors. It is  an act which,  in the short-term,  is costing the U.S. Treasury the millions of dollars a year in profits the bank earns on interest and fees and, if not rectified, will cost the American economy in the long-term. The immediate consequence was loss of several large contracts by American based manufacturers. Without these contracts, corporations are announcing lay-offs. Loss of one satellite contract is prompting Boeing to announce the cut of 3,300 American workers by December 2015. There are reports of similar job cuts in almost every state in the nation. Why? Because some members of Congress decided to end our nation's bank of last resort for exports.

This makes no sense to Shirley McKellar. She views it as "an unnecessary and illogical move. Instead of focusing on solving real problems and working to keep American jobs here, and working to create new jobs, Congressman Gohmert's position in the Export Import Bank is causing American manufacturers to have to turn to foreign governmental banks to finance their exports." These governments are requiring that their citizens are employed instead of American workers. Without jobs, people do not earn. Without earnings, people are not taxed. Without taxes, the government has greater deficits. It makes no sense to many people and it certainly makes no sense to this problem-solving, logical, intelligent, obstacle attacking former U.S.Army Nurse and Officer.


 CONTROVERSY NOT NEW TO GOHMERT
 Gohmert's time on the bench as a judge had been filled with controversy. Once he even overstepped his authority and ordered a couple to marry within 24 hours under duress. He promised to commute the man's sentence only if he married his girlfriend. McKellar saw a pattern of failing to follow the Constitution and failing to focus on solving the real problems facing people in East Texas from Congressman Gohmert.

2016  will be the third time she has challenged Louie Gohmert for the US-TX 1 seat in Congress. The first time, was a learning experience. The second time she was able to build a campaign organization. This time she is strengthening her organization and reinforcing her network.

She also is host or co-host of three radio shows per week. She recruits volunteers locally and nationally. Working from a virtual office in Kentucky, co-host Rhena Piegols is a key part of McKellar's campaign staff.  Traveling with her to many of her campaign events, Ellis County resident First Sargent (ret). Eddings is a familiar sight. They met in Brooks Medical Hospital, both injured soldiers who were helping others.


Her schedule is tight.  Between campaign events, she always sandwiches in service at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas. It is not unusual for her to drive from Tyler on Tuesday morning, serve at the V.A. Hospital in Dallas until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, make a meeting or two that afternoon, drive to East Texas and speak at a Club or Democratic or Community gathering in Tyler, Longview, Marshall, Carthage, Nacogdoches or Lufkin and return to Dallas on Wednesday to serve again at the V.A. Her newly redesigned campaign logo reflect the many hats and roles this multi-faceted human being brings to everything she does. She is the great great granddaughter of one of East Texas' noted rose growers. She described growing up on "500 acres of roses and cabbage" in an interview with Joan Hallmark of Channel 7-Tyler. Her family has been farmers in business in Smith County for over 5 generations. Several generations of her family owned and operated Mitchell Erwin Roses of East Texas, which was a major supplier for roses for Tyler's Rose parade. She says: "I learned from watching them. They started businesses and ran businesses and employed the family and other people."


She has a strong network of supporters in East Texas and a network that spans across the United States. From former military associates, to educators and medical associates, to leaders in numerous groups and associations, and listeners on her radio programs which are broadcast in the Tyler/ET market, and across then nation on Blog Talk USA, she engages people. As people grow to know her, her supporter base grows. She is an individual who does not accept what is "hard" as being "impossible." She sees working for improving things as a calling and refuses to be deterred. Every time Congressman Gohmert distorts the facts or lies to the media or the people of East Texas, it strengthens her resolve and energizes her to continue communicating with people, to continue doing what she can whenever she can to improve things, to continue treating people respectfully and fairly.

In July 2015 Gohmert addressed the Lions Club in Carthage and stated that "President Obama lied when he said no money would be transferred from Medicare to fund Obamacare." Gohmert continued, saying: "Over $70 Billion dollars over ten years was transferred from Medicare to pay for Obamacare." McKellar shook her head when asked about Gohmert's statement. No money was transferred form Medicare or Social Security to fund the Affordable Care Act. Gohmert knows this. He is probably counting   on retirees thinking that the rise in Social Security Supplement Insurance premiums in Texas is because "President Obama did something to cause it."

Dr. McKellar and others who have researched it know that Congressman Gohmert is misleading people. The rise in Social Security Premiums would be greater if the Affordable Care Act had not been enacted. It is based on the cost the insurance companies have to pay for medical services which are driven higher in proportion to the losses providers have to cover for service to uninsured patients. So where did Gohmert get the $70 Billion over ten years? It comes from an estimate of SAVINGS over ten years from improving the process which enables the government to detect Medicare Fraud. McKellar understand this, She knows her opponent. She knows health care. She understands the economic cause and effect of uninsured losses and the human costs of denial of access to medical care. She is appalled at the incumbent feeding the fear of senior citizens, his crass disregard for the truth, and his refusal to work to improve services which are lifelines for so many worthy Americans. She cannot change him. It merely makes her more determined to be better herself, to serve others, to respect our American process, to find solutions, and to Win so that she can do more for more people.

One difference between her 2016 Campaign and previous races is news coverage. She has continued building her coalition, strengthening her team, training and learning and teaching and sharing. Instead of contacting the media trying to get them to mention her, this year, the media contacts her. She has already been featured or included on more television interviews in the East Texas market this year than in her two previous campaigns combined. The January 2015 feature Joan Hallmark did on her for "Freedom Fighters" which aired on Channel 7 was excellent.  When Gohmert said he'd retire from Congress if the Iran Agreement became a Treaty she was interviewed again by Channel 7. "Skeptical. Of course I'm skeptical. He's just saying that to get news coverage." she said. "He doesn't intend to not run. I do agree with one thing he said. No one wants him in Washington anymore." She was referring to Gohmert's alienation of the Speaker of the House and G.O.P. party establishment. He is no longer chair or member of any important committees. When you challenge the Speaker of the House and lose, you become less effective at getting the job done for the people in your district. Gohmert only got 3 votes when he ran for Speaker in 2015.  He lost much more than he gained and with his decline, went opportunities to make substantive improvements for his district. His attempt to defund Homeland Security earlier this year led to the Republican American Action Network, the sister PAC of the Republican Congressional Leadershp Fund, spending $10K on digital advertising in his district. This was he first time that organization has advertised against one of their own party's incumbents.

The Longview News ran a story March  3, 2O15:
"After a week of legislative chaos over funding the Department of Homeland Security, a Republican group is taking aim at U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert, R-Tyler, in his East Texas district over his opposition to a DHS funding plan.
American Action Network, which calls itself a "center-right" advocacy group, has bought $10,000 worth of digital advertising in the district in the hope of building support for a congressional bill that will fund the Department of Homeland Security.
"Global threats against our security are increasing … and some in Washington are playing political games with our national security," the ad says. "Tell Congressman Gohmert: Fund Homeland Security."...

AAN and its sister Super PAC, Congressional Leadership Fund, have unofficial ties with House GOP leadership. Former leadership staffers work for AAN and CLF, and House Speaker John Boehner participated in a CLF fundraiser in 2013, according to Politico.

Both organizations are capable of spending millions during campaign season. This is the first time either group used negative advertising against sitting members of the GOP."

The 2016 Campaign in East Texas will be interesting to watch. It is a rematch between the multi-term far right of center incumbent who has alienated the leadership of his own party and a highly decorated retired East Texas female soldier who considers getting fewer votes than her opponent on election day as "not as a defeat but as preparation for when I come back and win it."

Shirley McKellar:
Born: Tyler, Texas
Married: Danny C. McKellar
Parents of a son and a daughter and five grandchildren

Education: R.N., Nurse Clinician, PhD

Bachelors, Texas Women's University:  

Nursing and Chemistry

Masters, University of Texas, with honors: 

Community Health Nursing
Criminal Justice  
Organizational Speech Communications
Community Minority Business Advancement 

Doctorate, Columbus College of Public Health and Administration: 

Nursing Management with Dissertation on "Spiritual in breast cancer patients" written at the UT Health Science Center, Tyler, TX  

Military Services: U.S. Army Nurse Corps, Major (ret.)

• Served 18 years active duty
• Deployed overseas for 18 months in support of, "Operation Iraqi Freedom," and "Operation Enduring Freedom," serving in combat zone medical units in Iraq and at the U.S. Military Hospital in Stuttgart, Germany.
• Served as Major (rank 66 H-8A,MOS for the 94th Combat Support Hospital, Seagoville, TX. 
• Served as the Officer-in-Charge of Combat Life Saving School,
  Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC),
  Consideration of Others 
• Served as Unit Sexual Harassment Team Officer

Member or serves with:

American Biographical Institute Research AssociatioAmerican Business Women's Association
National Black Leadership Initiative on Cancer
National Black Nurses Association
The Intercultural Cancer Association 
National Sisters Network, (cancer awareness for black women)
American Biographical Institute Research Association
American Business Women's Association
Texas Democratic Women
North Tenneha Church of Christ
Numerous Veterans organizations

Other:

Radio Talk Show Host:
          Radio KGLD 13.30 AM  at Thursday noon , "A View From The Top," covering local and national topics

         "Marvelous Monday's with Dr. Shirley J. McKellar" on Blog Talk USA, Monday from  8 to 10 pm CST

          RGLO Baltimore, MD , co-host "Wellness Wednesdays with Donny Walker",  8 a.m. CST.


Two Texas Democratic women have declared their candidacy for U.S. Congress in 2016. The Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC has an appeal for funding for these two candidates. With one click a donor can contribute directly to these two candidate's campaign and assist the Federal multi-candidate PAC in its assistance to non-incumbent progressive Democrats who are challenging Republican/ Tea Party congressional incumbents in Texas' currently red Congressional Districts. Donors can use debit or credit cards or pay pal securely on-line. https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/6ormorenow

To contribute to the McKellar for Congress campaign from her website:

  http://votemckellar.com/

To contribute to the two women (McKellar and Caiden) running in Texas and to the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC (which supports them and other progressive challengers running against incumbent Republicans for Congressional Seats in Texas with one click:  https://secure.actblue.com/...

(Note: the part that is given to the candidates using this form does not count against the $5000 per candidate cap per election the PAC can give to them).

To contribute to the two former officers (McKellar and Cozad) running for Congress in Texas and to the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC with one click:  https://secure.actblue.com/...

Stop Republican Men from Determining Our Priorities and Setting Our Nation's Agenda

'

Donate to the two Democratic women who have declared their candidacy for U.S. Congress in Texas for 2016: Shirley McKellar and Tawana Cadien.
Contributing through this link will split your donation between the two women candidates and the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC ( a Federal Multi-candidate PAC which supports non-incumbent progressive Democrats challenging G.O.P. Incumbents on the ballot in Texas for U.S. Congress.
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/mckellarcadientxwomenforcongress

Actress Melissa Gilbert to Run for Congress in Michigan

LANSING, Mich. — Aug 10, 2015,  By DAVID EGGERT Associated Press 

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/actress-melissa-gilbert-run-congress-michigan-33000009

Former "Little House on the Prairie" star Melissa Gilbert announced her candidacy for a Michigan congressional seat on Monday, saying "fresh voices" are needed to help improve the economy for people who have fallen behind.

The 51-year-old Democrat, who moved to Howell from California two years ago after marrying actor Timothy Busfield, will run for the 8th District, which stretches from the northern Detroit suburbs to the state capital of Lansing and has been in GOP hands for 15 years. First-term Republican Rep. Mike Bishop of Rochester won last year after then-House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers decided not to seek re-election.

"I'm running for Congress to make life a little easier for all the families who feel they have fallen through the cracks in today's economy," Gilbert said in a statement. "I believe building a new economy is a team effort, and we need to bring fresh voices to the table to get the job done."

Gilbert, who has never held public office, campaigned for Michigan gubernatorial candidate Mark Schauer in 2014. She was president of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001-05 after playing Laura Ingolls on "Little House" in the 1970s and 1980s.

She and Busfield recently moved from Howell, which is 45 miles northwest of Detroit, to another unspecified area of Livingston County.

Bishop campaign spokesman Stu Sandler called Gilbert a "tax cheat," noting that she owes $360,000 in back taxes to the U.S. government and $112,000 to California.

"Melissa Gilbert can afford to have a stylist for her dog, but cannot pay her taxes," he said in a statement. "Her values our out of whack with the district."

Gilbert has blamed the tax debt on a stalled acting career, the economy and divorce. She told The Detroit News in June that she had negotiated a payment plan with the IRS.

Women Can Change This!

By Faith Chatham - August 6, 2015
Faith Chatham is founder and CFO/Treasurer of the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC, a Federal Multi-candidate Political Action Committee focusing on equipping progressive Federal candidates competing in Texas for seats occupied by G.O.P./Tea Party Incumbents

Recently, while digging through data for a report this HARD COLD FACT jumped out at me. Being the graphic artist thinker that I am, I expressed it this way:

Then I looked more closely at the data.  This jumped out at me!

I started drilling down into the Democratic and Republican delegations to Congress and concluded that there are not enough women in the Republican Delegation for women to have much clout there. On really close votes, or to get legislation out of committees where a woman is highly placed, the "boys" may include women in the back room negotiations. However, when 91% of the Party's delegation is "good ole boy" Republican (largely white) men, they can ignore and discount the women, even after the majority of the constituents in a District have elected her to the U.S House of Representatives.

Even though there are more women in Congress now than ever before, by and large, Federal Legislative Policy is still determined by WHITE REPUBLICAN MEN.

Currently, where women have influence over Federal Policy in Washington is in the U.S. Senate. Specifically, women have the most influence within the Democratic Senatorial delegation.  Democrats elect a higher percentage of women and ethnic minorities to Federal Office than Republicans.  In the 114th Senate 32% of the Democrats are Women. There are a few Republican Women who are Senators but they are noted for their anti-choice, anti-pay day fairness, anti women's rights positions.

Within the Democratic Senatorial Delegation, women are strategic in setting policy and passing (or blocking0 legislation.

My conclusion is that women have the power to change the status quo "good ole boy" realities in the U.S. Congress. The first step is WAKING UP and realizing that in 2015 we still let "Good 'Ole Boy Politics" determine the legislative priorities and policies which govern women in society, in the workplace, in government, in the military, in research and healthcare, in the judiciary,  in education and at the voting booth!

The Second Step is shattering the misconception of many women that American Women are represented already! Just because we know of a few high profile Congresswomen or we see Nancy Peloski rise to power in the House of Representatives does not mean that Women have sufficient representation to determine our own fate legislatively!

The Third Step is to confront the misconception that Women of both party's work equally to further the circumstance of American Women. Following the issues and seeing how Women of both party's vote clearly shows that the voting records of the women Republicans elect to Congress  rarely improve the situation of American women and their families.

The Fourth Step is to recruit and equip more progressive Democratic women to successfully compete for seats occupied by Republicans in the U.S. House and U.S Congress. 

In Texas, Congresswoman Kay Granger is the only woman in the Republican Federal Delegation. One woman out of a delegation of 27 does not have very much influence. Of the 11 Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, there are two women. Three women out of 38 members of Texas' Delegation leaves women sadly under represented in Congress. It is very easy for the Republican controlled delegation to wage a war on women's rights, women's health care, equitable financing for research for women's health care, pay day equity and other key programs that impact the lives of women and girls in this nation.

There is a sufficient population of women and of progressive men in Texas to change this! The Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC is a multi-candidate Federal PAC focusing on changing the composition of Texas' Federal Delegation.

In 2016 neither of the two U.S. Senators from Texas are up for re-election. (One is running for President but he does not have to resign his Senatorial Seat to be on the ballot for President). Sen. Cruz' seat is not up for re-election until 2018.

This is the goal that has been set by the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC for 2016.

Looking beyond 2016, here is what we need to do

We can change the current reality.

It will take work. It will take the investment of a few dollars by MANY Democrats who are struggling to make ends meet. It won't take big investments. If every Texan who voted Democratic in the 2008 Presidential Election were to contribute at least $5 to Democratic non-incumbent Congressional Candidates running against G.O.P. incumbents in Texas during the 2016 Primary and at least $5 again during the 2016 General Election that would infuse 20 times the funding into these races as was raised by non-incumbents in 2014.  In 2014 Democratic candidates competing against GOP incumbents for Congressional Seats on the ballot in Texas only raised and spent a combined half a million dollars. That came to an average of about $13K per primary and per general election campaign. 

I was Chief of Staff in 2014 for one of those campaigns. I can assure you that $13K is not sufficient to communicate and mobilize voters in a Congressional District. The David Cozad for Congress campaign stretched $14K as far as was humanly possible but we did not have a budget sufficient enough to even run a few print media ads in newspapers in the district. He got the highest percentage of votes of any non-incumbent Democratic Congressional Nominee in Texas in 2014. Even an additional $10K would have made a considerable difference in the number of progressive voters in the district who would have learned enough about him and his positions to realize that there was a progressive candidate competing with the 30 year G.O.P, incumbent. That would have allowed us to hammer home Joe Barton's deplorable attendance record and his failure to pass more than 8 bills during his entire tenure in Washington.  It would have allowed more women to understand Cozad's pro-women positions which attracted fed-up, disgusted female activists like me and Linda Brooks and Harriet Irby and Beth Dawson to working long hours and donating to his campaign.  Sweat equity and contributions by women supporters in '14 are attributed as enabling him to stretch his small campaign war chest far enough to attract the highest percentage of voters in an election year when there was not a "coat tail" to ride from the top of the ticket.

Voting for someone just because of gender is not a good thing. We must go for people who are pro-women, pro-children, pro-education, pro-workplace fairness.  When the Joni Ernst's or Konni Burton's emerge, we need to fight them because their warped ideologies are obstacles to other women!

It will take work but it can be done. It will mean:

We must bridge the communication divide of 20 different media markets in Texas and learn about Progressive Democratic Federal candidates running in districts throughout the state. One vehicle for this will be the Texas Blue Seed E-mail News Letter and blog posts and social media posts.

Another challenge is mobilizing more volunteers and to funnel early money to challengers so that they can organize.

The Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC is determined to do everything it legally can to support Progressive challengers running for Federal Offices on the ballot in Texas in Districts occupied by Tea Party/G.O.P. incumbents.

Some Blue Seed initiatives include:

• Instigating the formation of the Texas Federal Progressive Candidates Council
• Forming State and Regional Steering Committees to raise funds for and communicate cross district about Texas' Progressive Federal Candidates
• Creating communication tools to help Texans understand and find solutions to the obstacles confronting Democrats challenging G.O.P. incumbents for  Congressional seats.
• Establishing a volunteer referral service for Progressive Federal Candidates so that people can volunteer virtually from their homes by phoning, entering data, writing, editing, doing research, helping with polls.
• Establishing a Federal Candidate's Directory with contact information  on the PACs website.
• Raising money to distribute to Progressive Federal Candidates on the ballot in Texas and raising money to spend on independent messaging in support or opposition to candidates.
• Keeping progress issues and values prominent through use of social media and t-shirt and other campaigns.

We had to start somewhere. The PAC is only a few months old. Everyone who joins now is still considered a "founding member". We have openings, on our regional steering committees and four of our State Steering Committee members will rotate off the board in November. If you, or someone you know, has a solid record promoting progressive candidates and issues in Texas, and are interested in being more than just a "member in name only", we would like to hear from you. Most steering committee meetings are by conference call.

If you are maxed out, but understand the importance of helping Texans build the political infrastructure necessary for Democrats to reclaim seats occupied by GOP/ Tea Party incumbents, please go on line and donate SOMETHING today.

Anyone contributing at least $25 online or by check who is a registered voter (in any state) becomes a Founding Member of the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC and can vote on which candidates the PAC supports monetarily.   In 2016 it is anticipated that the PAC will contribute to 9 Congressional Challengers during the primary and will select 9 of the Democratic Congressional Nominees to support during the General Election. Each dues paying member will get one vote.  The F.E.C. allows an individual to contribute $5000.00 per year to a Federal Multi-Candidate PAC. We will not reject contributions from deep-pocketed donors. Those who have "maxed out" in donating to Congressional candidates' campaigns for the 2016 primary can give up to $5000 to the PAC in 2015 and another $5000 to the PAC after January 1, 2016.

We welcome large donors to help us distribute money earlier to challengers. Whether a $5000 donor or a $25 dollar donor, each member will have an equal voice in selecting the Congressional Races and the Presidential Candidate who gets financial support by the PAC.

At the last State Steering Committee the Board voted to consider taking advantage of the F.E.C. rule which allows a Federal Multi-candidate PAC to assist other groups which are not Federal PAC in fundraising for Federal Candidates. The board voted to consider on a case-by-case basis requests from groups desiring to host fundraising events for Progressive Federal Candidates in Texas. The event would become a Texas Federal Blue Seed event and would be reported financially through our PAC to the FEC. The groups would have to agree to comply with F.E.C. regulations. All honorees would have to be candidates who were (or are) on the Democratic Primary ballot in Texas. Democratic incumbents could be honorees as long as at least one non-incumbent Democratic Federal Candidate is also an honoree. Candidates who benefit from these fundraisers do not have to wait until the PAC votes on which candidates to support and do not have to be selected by the PAC as candidates to be supported. The host committee (partnering group) gets to determine which candidates get support and the PAC agrees to distribute money to them from the proceeds of the event within a month of the close of the event.

Without a Federal Multi-candidate PAC, it is illegal to raise money for more than one Federal Candidate at an event. In the past 20 years the number of Federal PACs supporting Democratic candidates in Texas has dwindled significantly. Only a few of Texas'  County Democratic Party's or Democratic Clubs have Federal PACs. Therefore, most Congressional candidates running on the Democratic ticket have little assistance from groups which support Democratic candidates.  When considering a request from a potential fundraising partnering group, the board will consult with the campaigns of the preferred honorees. We will ask: "Are you interested in a fundraiser in your behalf hosted by this group with the Texas Blue Seed PAC honoring you and these other candidates?"  "Will any of the proposed dates and venues be acceptable to your and fit into your calendar?" "Do the proposed host committee have any known associations which could create problems for any of the proposed honorees or the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC? (Racists, sexist, criminal, etc.)  "Does the Host committee has a capable team to do the work on this event and to work with the PAC in ensuring that there is compliance with F.E.C. rules?" If those conditions are met, then we are willing for the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC to be used to leverage the fundraising capacity of Progressives who do not have Federal PACs. Last year there was a potential host committee in Tarrant County who proposed an event to raise money for all the U.S. House Candidates running in Districts in Tarrant County. It was impossible to stage the event because the group was not a Federal Multi-Candidate PAC and there was no Federal PAC associated with the County Party at the time.

A Federal Multi-Candidate PAC (such as the DCCC) can take small donations from many people and channel them to the districts where there is the greatest chance of winning additional seats or where there is the greatest danger of losing existing seats. Now we have a vehicle to do a similar thing in Texas. Giving any amount to the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC will enable us to pool our resources and channel them to the districts where we have the strongest challengers. Just because most of Texas' Districts do not rank among the bluest in the nation, does not mean that they are not purple enough to be worth investing in challenger races. There are many districts where the G.O.P. has had a free ride for decades, where no Democratic challenger has had sufficient funding to communicate with the voters sufficiently for progressives to understand that there was a good alternative to the incumbent.

To Join the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/foundingmember

To give $6, $16, $60 or $600:  https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/6ormorenow?refcode=6now&amount=16.00&recurring=12

To volunteer visit the Contact Page on the Blue Seed Website or phone 682 220-9711

Follow us on Twitter: @txfedblueseed

Please share this information with your friends!

Women Can Stop Republican Men from Determining Our Federal Policies and Priorities

By Faith Chatham - August 6, 2015
(Originally published on Daily Kos as: "Mid Year Status: Texas Congressional 2016 Spotlight")Faith Chatham is the founder and CFO/Treasurer of the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC, a multi-candidate Federal Political Action Committee which focuses on equipping Progressive challengers running on the Ballot in Texas against G.O.P. /Tea Party Congressional Incumbents.

REPUBLICAN MEN MAKE THE DECISIONS FOR TEXAS WOMEN IN WASHINGTON.  

Despite over 51% of the Texas Population being female, less than 8% of Texas' federal delegation to Congress is female. Texas Women can change that, but inertia and decades of crumbling, insufficient investments in U.S. House District campaign infrastructure by Democrats, adds fuel to the incumbent advantage enjoyed by most of Texas' G.O.P. U.S. House and Senate members.

Texas' partisan slide away from Democratic Federal Incumbents began before Republicans controlled the State Legislature and got control of the redistricting process. To be successful in retaking a significant number of Congressional seats in the Texas delegation, it is important that Democrats stop using gerrymandering as an excuse for sitting on our hands, doing too little or nothing, to equip  Democratic challenger to build the political infrastructure to successfully compete against Republican incumbents. During the first half of 2015 Democrats invested less than 1/4 of what Republicans invested  in Congressional campaigns in Texas districts.

Partisan rankings like Cooks cannot adequately gauge true partisanship when there is not enough investment for both party's to convey their position and message to the voters in the district. Few Texas Congressional Districts with G.O.P. incumbents have seen Democratic congressional campaigns with funding levels adequate to finance staff, vigorous walk and phone teams and advertising. For several election cycles, citizens with progressive viewpoints in most U.S. Congressional Districts in Texas have not learned enough about the challengers to understand that they had a serious alternative to the incumbent.

Gerrymandering is frequently cited as an excuse for not supporting Democratic Congressional challengers in Texas. There are more factors at play than just the maps which favor G.O.P./Tea Party incumbents in Texas.

There are reasons to be guardedly optimistic for 2016. However, for success, there are some changes which Democrats must make. We must move beyond the status quo Democratic response which looks much too similar to this:

All of the Democratic Incumbents from Texas in the U.S. Congress, other than Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, were initially elected to Congress in Presidential Election Years. Democrats are more likely to turn out to vote in Presidential Election years than in Mid-Term years in Texas. Texas Democratic State Executive Director, Crystal Perkins, stated in Fort Worth earlier this year that the State Party was "regrouping for 2018."  Waiting until a mid-term election year to invest in Democratic campaign infrastructure in Texas is a repetition of the State Democratic Party's multi-election year failed strategy. Instead of building and investing to go with the wind (higher presidential election year Democratic turn-out) they propose waiting until a mid-term election year in a state where Democrats have not turned out a Democratic majority statewide since the election of Ann Richards as Governor!

As I see it, the problem is not that the DCCC and House Majority PAC are wrong to focus their resources toward winning the bluest districts in the nation. The problem is that too many Texans refuse to donate to Texas Congressional Candidates.  We should continue supporting the DCCC to help Democrats compete in the bluest districts in the nation. Then we need to do our part here at home. It isn't that the DCCC is not doing their part. They allocate their resources to the strongest races in the nation. The problem is that we have been sitting on our hands for much too long, refusing to do anything in Texas U.S. Congressional Districts unless the DCCC is also targeting these districts.  The problem is not what the DCCC is doing. It is that we need to do more. We need to assess our situation in Texas and create winning strategies to retake a majority in our State's Federal Delegation. This is the job of Texans and we welcome help from friends outside our state. However, it is ridiculous to expect others to come in and "do it for us" when we refuse to step up and do what we can ourselves!

CITIZENS SHOULD'T WAIT FOR DEEP POCKET DONORS TO LEAD THE WAY!

Instead of backroom deals relying on financial control by a few deep-pocketed donors, we have the quintessential opportunity where many of us doing a little can lead those who are financially able to do a lot beyond the same old failed non-strategies which have promoted Tea Party wins! Texans now have the vehicle to raise money and channel it to progressive (Democratic) Federal Races. The Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC was founded earlier this year to focus on doing in Texas what the DCCC does in the nation. We should look at the strongest Democrats running in U.S. House Districts in Texas and donate a few dollars early and volunteer a few hours when we can. We have districts where the electorate is much more progressive than the incumbents. We have districts which have changed demographically. We have districts which, even though they aren't ranked as blue as many others in the nation, are still purple enough to be worth investing in political infrastructure to enable Progressive candidates to campaign vigorously against G.O.P./Tea Party incumbents.

The lack of resources of challengers in Texas' purple districts gives s too many G.O.P. incumbents a free ride. A free ride allows incumbents to transfer funds to candidates in more competitive districts, lending fuel to the struggle of good progressives in other districts.

THE TEXAS  20 MEDIA MARKET DIVIDE

We must stop viewing Texas from only the vantage point of only being concerned with  the Congressional District where we live; instead we need to look at all the Districts in Texas. Building bridges across Congressional District Lines to support good progressive candidates running against Red Incumbents is how we can change the Congressional math in Texas. To do this, we must bridge the  20 media markets divide  and communicate throughout the state about Democratic challengers and their campaigns.  All of our candidates needs to become household words of Democratic activists throughout the state.

It is in our own best interest to become informed and active. Just as the vote of every member of the U.S. House and Senate has as much impact on citizens throughout the United States as the vote of each person's U.S. Representative, the activism of citizens throughout the state (and nation) can also impact the outcomes of Federal elections.
I must vote in the U.S. Congressional District where I live. However, I can volunteer, donate, do research, encourage others to donate, write, blog and communicate about races in Districts where I do not reside. When candidates have slim war chests, volunteers and cross district donors, can make the significant difference which can mean the difference between a win or loss on election day.

Many people live in remote areas where there are no campaigns on the ground needing volunteers. Every Congressional race can use volunteers working virtually on-line or by telephone from their homes.  Instead of spending time driving to go phone bank, those with an hour or two a week can volunteer in virtual phone banks from their own homes if they have cell phone minutes or home telephone all distance callings. Every campaign can use data entry folks and that can be done on a home computer via internet.  The Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC is establishing a Texas Congressional Volunteer registry/referral service to match volunteers with needy campaigns.
Some may volunteer in their own precincts or counties and also volunteer an hour or two virtually for candidates in other parts of the state.  We must stop thinking of "my Congressional District" and come together to view all of Texas' Congressional Districts as key to our survival. Continuing to lay down and let the Koch Brothers decided who will and who won't set our national policy must stop.

There are ample resources in Texas for Progressives to build effective infrastructure to win, but progressives must pull together, be realistic in assessing the obstacles,  work together to find solutions, communicate effectively throughout the state about all of the Federal Campaigns in all of Texas' Districts,  and maximize the use of social media networks. Laying down and wringing the hands and moaning and using gerrymandering and incumbency as excuses for doing nothing must stop. Incumbents build an organization and improve it for the next election. Democrats must build an organization and improve it even if the outcome of the election is not a full blown win. We must take what we had and improve it for the next election. Abandoning the struggle the day after the General Election and leaving the next challenger to have to start from scratch without knowledge or benefit from the investment in the prior campaign keeps challengers perpetually reinventing the wheel while the incumbents organizations become more refined and effective.

Even if the strategy of fighting to save the Democratic seat in US-TX 23 had been successful, it would not have changed the math enough In the Texas Delegation in 2014 there were 12 Democrats and 24 Republicans in the House. After the loss of UX-TX 23 in the last General Election, the math is now 11 Democrats to 25 Republicans in the U.S. House and two Republicans (including good old Teddie Cruz) in the U.S. Senate.  The eleven remaining Democrats in the U.S. House are in relatively safe districts. Challengers in the remaining 24 House Districts currently occupied by Republican/Tea Party incumbents, were starved for funds, starved for volunteers, starved for resources for research, polling, GOTV.

In 2014 Democratic Nominees in six U.S. House Districts had no income and made no expenditures. Despite having a Democrat's name on the ballot, the Republican incumbents in those districts were virtually unchallenged. No investments were made by Democrats in those districts. Of the Democratic non-incumbents challenging Republican incumbents, only six out of 22 had contributions of at least $60,000.00 and spend at least $60,000.00.  The only non-incumbent Democrat who spent at least $1Mil was Tom Sanchez and he was challenging an Incumbent Democrat in the Primary, not a Republican in the General Election. When income and disbursement from his Primary race in U.S.-TX 33 are deducted, the total receipts for all of the non incumbent Congressional Democrats running on the ballot in Texas in 2014 comes to slightly over half a million dollars. That makes an average of $25,736 per Democratic Non Incumbent Nominee for the combined Primary and General Election! Texas Democrats have the resources to fund these campaign, but the more vigorous Democratic Congressional Challenger races in 2014 received (and spent) on average less than $13K during each of the two campaign cycles (Primary and General)  in 2014!

The current strategy of donors refusing to support candidates unless they are in DCCC targeted Red to Blue Districts is a roadmap to failure. There is a better way to do it. And it does not depend upon the DCCC or any national PAC changing their strategy. It is not dependent upon one of more "sugar daddy" deep pocketed billionaire donors "seeing the light" and becoming altruistic in funding challenger campaigns. It is dependent upon "ordinary"  low and middle income Texans giving what we can and doing what we are able to help progressive challengers. It is dependent upon many people doing something instead of almost everyone doing nothing! I think some of the deeper pocketed progressive donors will get on-board when they see support flowing into these challenger campaigns.

MODEST CONTRIBUTIONS BY TEXAS’ PRESIDENTIAL VOTERS WOULD CHANGE THE STATUS QUO IN TEXAS’ FEDERAL HOUSE DISTRICTS

If each Texan who voted Democratic for President in 2008 gave at least $6 to U.S. Congressional challengers competing in G.O.P occupied Texas-U.S. House Districts, it would infuse over $20-Million into challenger campaigns.  Twenty million split between Democratic Congressional candidates running in the 25 G.O.P. occupied districts in  Texas would build a lot more political infrastructure than the meager half a $Million contributed in '14  split 25 ways!  

Six dollars from every  Democratic Presidential voter in Texas in 2008 would come to apx. $846,871 per district and that would force G.O.P. incumbents to spend their war chests, reducing the  number of incumbents who are able to raise money and transfer it to state races or Federal campaigns in other districts. There would be advertising budgets large enough to communicate the candidate’s messages to the voters and sufficient to run a campaign organization. Seeing Democrats step-up and donate to other Democratic challengers would help attract future candidates to fill out he Democratic Primary tickets and give us a better chance of drawing more voters to the polls. As it stands, few counties have contested Democratic Primaries. Many reason "Why bother when we already know the outcome!"

If each Texan who voted Democratic for President in 2014 gave $5 during the Primary and $5 during the General Election, that would infuse over $33Mil into Texas U.S. Congressional challenger races. That would give an average budge of $1.34 Mil per challenger in the 25 districts occupied by Republicans. If Democrats in Texas really want to win U.S. Congressional seats, the resources are here without depending on deep pocketed donors! If only half of those who voted Democratic in 2008 gave $6, it would still increase the money available to Democratic challengers  11 times what was donated and spent by Democratic Congressional Challengers in Texas in 2014!

Here is the Federal Landscape in Texas. 

There are several 2016 U.S. Congressional Campaigns on the ground in Texas. 2014 Democratic Nominees David E. Cozad (US-TX 6), Dr. Shirley McKellar, PhD. (US-TX1), Tawana Cadien (US-TX 10), Michael Cole (US-TX 14), James Cargas (US-TX7) and Pete Gallego (US-TX 32) all have campaign organizations working. They can each use some help! There is speculation that Solomon Ortiz, Jr. may run against Blake Farenthold. He is "considering it" and many are hopeful that he'll take up the challenge.

We still have about 4 months before filing deadline. It will be interesting to see who else declares. Knowing that there are Texans out there who are organizing to help could encourage quality candidates to join. We urge you to join your voice with that of other Texans through membership and activism in the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC. To join visit https://secure.actblue.com/..     or go to http:/www.txfedblueseed.com
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