By Faith Chatham - Nov. 7, 2016
Donald Trump is obnoxious, but I didn't go vote against him. I went and voted for the person who is the most qualified, most ethical, most compassionate, who will do the best job. I voted for Hillary because I know her. I know what she cares about. I know what she fight for. I know what she gets done. I know what we need and I voted for her because I know she knows what we need.
I get it that many in the media aren't that cozy with her. I suspect because she has learned to keep many of them at arm’s length, many of them mistakenly assume that everyone else in America is cool to her. They assume that those who support her are choosing the lesser of two evils. I think they are wrong. I don't see evidence to substantiate that.
The pundits talk about how divided the nation is. Hillary's race for President has drawn us together. We’ve come together in GOTV efforts and in Social Media Collaboration. My Facebook network alone has grown to 4,315 “friends”. However, every day for months I've seen 30 to 100 "friend requests" and most of them come from people having from 100+ to 300+ mutual friends. That says there is a lot of agreement among lots of folks about what kind of world we want, who we respect, and what values matter.
I don’t think my social network has grown from a couple of thousand to over four thousand in a year because of my good looks or winning personality. It has grown because folks know that I am a staunch Hillary Clinton for President Supporter. It has grown because folks know that I work to get decent, smart deserving Democrats elected to Congressional seats in Texas. It has grown because other folks share some of my dreams, frustrations, and determination to make this a better place without destroying what we hold dear. It has grown because we have much more work to do. It has grown because we are not nearly as divided or apathetic as we made out to be.
I suspect that everyone reading this has also gained “new contacts” on social media because of your support of Hillary Clinton. I have heard several say they support her as the lesser of two evils. However, most of the folks I know support her because of who she is, the work she’s done, the preparation she always brings to the table when something important is being considered. We may not be the “rah, rah, jump up and down and scream crowd” that photographs great at rallies.” Frequently one of more of us has to have a chair to sit part of the time when we participate In “Visibility events”, but that doesn’t diminish how enthusiastic we are about her. Yes, we are TIRED of this election. Many of us are worn out, but that is not the same thing as being unenthusiastic about Hillary.
I've always known a few folks who volunteered or were on staff with national campaigns. This year I KNOW A LOT OF FOLKS who have left their homes and jobs and gone “on their own dime” to volunteer for Hillary. These are not affluent folks. One is a retired school teacher. She's been to Iowa, NY, and CA and now she is in Ohio. I'm still paying off my credit card bill from National Convention in Philadelphia. That was no "cheap trip" and she was there too. She's dipped into her retirement and savings to get Hillary elected because she BELIEVES IN HER THAT MUCH. I have another friend who is a self-employed single woman whose business makes no income when she is out of town. She's been on the campaign trail as much as she's been in her office this year. That is because she knows Hillary and believes in her. I know several women who have maxed out as donors for Hillary whose major income is our Social Security checks. Pundits say Baby Boomers are cool toward Hillary. Not all of us, not by a “long shot.”
HILLARY DRAWS FOLKS TOGETHER FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS
I've seen a JP friend and an attorney friend travel to Swing States to volunteer. On my Social Security income, I've done what I can here in Texas. We are not alone. There are lots of others with us. We may not be the "rah rah crowd" but we are persistent. We are determined. We didn't wait for a national campaign staffer to come organize us. We organized each other. We didn't wait for the campaign to ship yard signs, stickers and posters for us to use for GOTV efforts. We scrounged around and got what we could, ordered what we needed, pooled resources and saw that other folks had what they needed for rallies, house meetings, visibility events, etc. We went to Club Meetings, Democratic Party Meetings, Volunteer Fire Department Meetings, Rallies, House Party’s, Back yard Meet and Greets, Convention, parades. No one was paid to organize us. We cared enough to see the bases were covered no matter what!
A lot of us work for her differently than we did for other candidates when we were younger. I hope we are working smarter. We do what we can, when we can, however we can. Understanding how critical it is this year, propels us to push persistently and to cover bases without waiting for official staff to be deployed to our state or neighborhood by “the campaign”. We haven’t waited for the campaign to buy us signs or stickers or banners. If they are available, we use and share them. If not, we create and find money somehow to pay for them. We’ve done this before. We know what it is like to come up short on Election Day and we are determined not to experience that again this year. We didn’t wait around for the campaign to release advertising with our Vote For Hillary Democratic Message. We wrote our own and distributed it on social media, in posters, postcards and flyers. We incorporated what they supplied when we got it if we liked it. We talked. We phoned. Those who could walk, walked. Others of us rode shopping carts through big box stores giving out campaign buttons which were icebreakers allowing us to get in a 30 second or one minute elevator speech.
I think the media has missed the real story this year. The real story is about the school teachers I had lunch with Saturday. They taught all week and showed up at the polls to volunteer for Hillary Saturday and Sunday at early voting sites.
It’s about those Texans who live far away from the nearest Clinton Field Office, and who didn’t have a staffer around to organize rallies or phone banks in their neighborhoods. They didn’t let that stop them. They did it themselves. In Marshall, Texas there is no Clinton HQ but they have met every Monday night all year and held phone banks. They organized rallies on the Court House Square and they made sure that notices got into the paper. In Longview, the women came together and opened a Headquarters. They invited Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez to come speak and held a rally. Another group organized a rally at the Gregg County Court House which inspired groups in neighboring counties to organize their own rallies. In Smith County, and in other communities, the churches chose a Sunday and arranged buses and car pools to transport their members to Early Voting after Church. They called it “Souls to the Polls.” Throughout East Texas, men in pickup trucks circled early voting places with big signs in the back of their pickup trucks. On one side was “Vote for Hillary Clinton /Tim Kaine”. On the other was “Vote for Shirley McKellar for Congress”. This is the real story. These folks weren’t paid. They were determined and enthusiastic for Hillary. They are doing what they can to get a better person elected to Congress!
I’ve seen and heard of neighbors walking other neighbors through the process of registering to vote and helping first-time voters get familiar with the process before they vote for the first time. Instead of going to vote alone, lots of folks made an event of it and invited friends to go vote and have lunch together afterward. Voter Registration Teams have registered High School and College Students, shoppers at box stores, and newcomers in the neighborhood to vote. We’ve seen a record turn out for Early Voting nation-wide this year, and I don’t think the surge is the same ole same ole Republican voter.
Tuesday night, the TV pundits will continue saying that ’Hillary was elected by people who really didn't want to vote for her.” They'll be wrong. She is being elected by people who know that she is the best person for the job. Every person who pulls the lever for her is voting for her. Don't be misled by pundits who are still miffed because she didn't entrust her message to them so that they could filter what she said. Instead this time she went direct to the people using social media more than large media events controlled by TV and Newspaper chains. She is a smart woman. She has learned more than a thing or two in the years she's been in the public's eye.
I have too. I don't swallow everything others tell me. I look around. If what I see doesn't mesh with what I hear, I question what I hear. I'm seeing people who are thrilled that Hillary Clinton decided to run for President. I am seeing people who are thrilled that they got to vote for her for President. I'm seeing people who care enough not to stop working, who care enough to give sacrificially, who don't stop even when tired, and who check out the facts and share them.
This is truly a different kind of election cycle. Yes it has contained the Trump side show. But I think the real story is with the Clinton folks. It's about folks who truly care and who don't wait for others to do what is necessary to get her into the Oval Office. For everything done by her campaign, there will be thousands of other things done by volunteers all over this nation. They aren't expecting anything in return. They aren't in line for staff positions or contracts. We are working our hearts out because we have seen her work her heart out.
Yes, she learned that money is necessary in politics. When she left the State Department she went on the speaking circuit and earned as much as they'd pay. She had millions of dollars of campaign debt in '08 when she suspended her first presidential campaign. She was smart to create a cushion this time. She was smart to find something which was LEGAL which could generate substantial income during the short time between when she left the State Department and when she’d have to file for a place on the ballot to run for President. Why is it that the same folks who think Trump is OK because he appears to be a tycoon criticize her for earning speakers fees when she was no longer in public office! The warped standard applied to her inspires us to work harder, to stand stronger, to be relieved each time we see the projections of the number of electoral votes she'll probably get tomorrow.
FLASH: If you don't like her, speak for yourself. If you aren't enthusiastic, own your own feelings. Don't project them onto the rest of the world. Most of us are too busy working to have room to carry around your emotional baggage. We have our own and ours probably doesn't match yours. However, we aren't alone. This year my social media network has grown by over 3000 new friends and they came because of Hillary. We are a bigger, more connected network. We are drawn together by shared values. We are not nearly as divided a nation as FOX NEWS, CBS and CNN keeps saying that we are.
I'm looking forward to what we continue doing together after Tuesday. Tuesday night's election returns is only a starting point.
Yes, I know a some people are motivated to vote because they despise Donald Trump. I know many more who are voting for Hillary Clinton because we really want her in the Oval Office. Some are glad that a women will finally win. More of us are excited that HILLARY CLINTON will finally be the woman who will win!
I know there is a lot of discontent in our nation. There are things I don’t like which are going on in this nation. There always has been and always will be. But that is not why I am enthusiastically, without reservation, supporting Hillary Clinton for President. I support her because there are things I love and cherish here in American and I respect her to pull us together to improve what needs improving without destroying what is precious and necessary. The growth in most of our friends list alone is evidence that she inspires people to come together. I suspect when you look at the growth in your “friends list”, many of your new additions are folks who are there because you both support Hillary for President. When that many people come together because of one woman, there has to be a lot more consensus than most of the media acknowledges. We aren’t nearly as divided here in American as the pundits make us out to be!
Wise Women Won't Wait Any More
Monday, November 7, 2016
Sunday, November 6, 2016
Faith's Venting
By Faith Chatham Nov. 6, 2016
I am disgusted with cloaking public policy in religiousity. Neither the so called "pro life anti abortion" camp nor the "pro choice" camp are black and white positions. Making abortion illegal does not prevent abortions. It is probably more of a position in favor of returning to the world of 'coat hanger abortions" than it is an abortion prevention reality. Only a very small percentage of those who support "a woman's right to choose" are actually "pro abortion."
Very few of those who call themselves "pro life" actually support public policies which help children after they are born, so they are not, in my opinion, truly "pro life."
Hearing folks who consider themselves "Christian" call women who have spent their lives fighting for Civil Rights, Women's Rights, and for better education for children, and fighting childhood poverty as "babv killers" is distasteful and inappropriate in society, let alone in "Christian circles."
In Tyler last month I encountered a volunteer in a Roman Catholic booth at the Smith County Fair who claimed that "Hillary Clinton had killed thousands of children!" I'm very Catholic in my religious expression. I was an Anglican Franciscan Oblate Sister for 15 years. I was appalled with this encounter in Tyler. What children has Hillary Clinton killed? How many has she saved? I suspect she is responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in various ways. Such a bigoted and unsupportable statement coming from a volunteer who thinks she is representing Christ troubled me.
In the 105 Texas House Race in Grand Prairie/Irving, Rodney Anderson's canvassers are calling Terry Meza a "baby killer" because Meza, like many women in American, favors funding Planned Parenthood. Family planning and screening services by Planned Parenthood have contributed to the health of hundreds of thousands of women. The best way to prevent abortions is informed fact-based access to birth control. Terry Meza is my friend. I know that she still mourns the loss of the daughter she miscarried almost 30 years ago. Baby Killer? Absolutely not. Those who are spreading these inflammatory claims on the campaign trail think that they are being "Christian". I think they are practicing misguided cruelty.
In 2014 we witnessed Wendy Davis being dubbed "Abortion Barbie." Wendy has a tubal pregnancy which cost her a child she dearly wanted. Another child had a serious neurological deformity. Wendy deserved to be able to keep both losses private. Eventually she shared them because the name calling escalated to such proportions that it negatively impacted her children. Many of those who hurled the accusations at Senator Davis thought they were expressing their religion. I think it distorts religion rather than expresses it.
When a legislator votes against food stamps, education, health care or job training and claims to be "pro life" for voting against funding for Planned Parenthood, I do not see them as truly being "pro life."
Religious supported hospitals which have policies which require saving the unborn even when it costs the life of the mother are not "pro life." Difficult choices are usually not "one size fits all." They should not be dictated by politicians. They should not be imposed in top down policies which override the decisions of physicians and their patients.
My mother had a very difficult pregnancy with me. Many doubted that she would safely carry me full term. Speculation was that the baby would be greatly deformed because of her participation in a medical trial before they knew she was pregnant. More than one physician considered terminating her pregnancy. My parents were not given the facts and allowed to make a decision. I think they should have been. Obviously, I am thankful that I am here, but i do not think that saving the unborn baby's life should have outweighed saving the life of a 30 year old mother of three small children.
This is nothing new on the campaign trail. When Dick Army was running against Congressman Tommy Vandergriff in the 1980s Army's campaign released a coloring book calling Vandergriff a baby killer for his pro choice position. Vandergriff was a Sunday School teacher at First Methodist Church in Arlington, and the accusation cut deeply and was unfair. Army won the election and rose to Speaker of the House, but those of us who knew Tommy Vandergriff remembered that coloring book and Army never gained our respect.
Is saving one life more "pro life" than saving another? I don't see a black or while clear line here. Grey's count too and hurling names at people is not compassionate or constructive.
I am disgusted with cloaking public policy in religiousity. Neither the so called "pro life anti abortion" camp nor the "pro choice" camp are black and white positions. Making abortion illegal does not prevent abortions. It is probably more of a position in favor of returning to the world of 'coat hanger abortions" than it is an abortion prevention reality. Only a very small percentage of those who support "a woman's right to choose" are actually "pro abortion."
Very few of those who call themselves "pro life" actually support public policies which help children after they are born, so they are not, in my opinion, truly "pro life."
Hearing folks who consider themselves "Christian" call women who have spent their lives fighting for Civil Rights, Women's Rights, and for better education for children, and fighting childhood poverty as "babv killers" is distasteful and inappropriate in society, let alone in "Christian circles."
In Tyler last month I encountered a volunteer in a Roman Catholic booth at the Smith County Fair who claimed that "Hillary Clinton had killed thousands of children!" I'm very Catholic in my religious expression. I was an Anglican Franciscan Oblate Sister for 15 years. I was appalled with this encounter in Tyler. What children has Hillary Clinton killed? How many has she saved? I suspect she is responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of children in various ways. Such a bigoted and unsupportable statement coming from a volunteer who thinks she is representing Christ troubled me.
In the 105 Texas House Race in Grand Prairie/Irving, Rodney Anderson's canvassers are calling Terry Meza a "baby killer" because Meza, like many women in American, favors funding Planned Parenthood. Family planning and screening services by Planned Parenthood have contributed to the health of hundreds of thousands of women. The best way to prevent abortions is informed fact-based access to birth control. Terry Meza is my friend. I know that she still mourns the loss of the daughter she miscarried almost 30 years ago. Baby Killer? Absolutely not. Those who are spreading these inflammatory claims on the campaign trail think that they are being "Christian". I think they are practicing misguided cruelty.
In 2014 we witnessed Wendy Davis being dubbed "Abortion Barbie." Wendy has a tubal pregnancy which cost her a child she dearly wanted. Another child had a serious neurological deformity. Wendy deserved to be able to keep both losses private. Eventually she shared them because the name calling escalated to such proportions that it negatively impacted her children. Many of those who hurled the accusations at Senator Davis thought they were expressing their religion. I think it distorts religion rather than expresses it.
When a legislator votes against food stamps, education, health care or job training and claims to be "pro life" for voting against funding for Planned Parenthood, I do not see them as truly being "pro life."
Religious supported hospitals which have policies which require saving the unborn even when it costs the life of the mother are not "pro life." Difficult choices are usually not "one size fits all." They should not be dictated by politicians. They should not be imposed in top down policies which override the decisions of physicians and their patients.
My mother had a very difficult pregnancy with me. Many doubted that she would safely carry me full term. Speculation was that the baby would be greatly deformed because of her participation in a medical trial before they knew she was pregnant. More than one physician considered terminating her pregnancy. My parents were not given the facts and allowed to make a decision. I think they should have been. Obviously, I am thankful that I am here, but i do not think that saving the unborn baby's life should have outweighed saving the life of a 30 year old mother of three small children.
This is nothing new on the campaign trail. When Dick Army was running against Congressman Tommy Vandergriff in the 1980s Army's campaign released a coloring book calling Vandergriff a baby killer for his pro choice position. Vandergriff was a Sunday School teacher at First Methodist Church in Arlington, and the accusation cut deeply and was unfair. Army won the election and rose to Speaker of the House, but those of us who knew Tommy Vandergriff remembered that coloring book and Army never gained our respect.
Is saving one life more "pro life" than saving another? I don't see a black or while clear line here. Grey's count too and hurling names at people is not compassionate or constructive.
Friday, May 13, 2016
Prospects for Democrats Regaining Congressional Seats in Texas
By Faith Chatham - CFO Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC - May 13, 2016
LINK to donate: bit.ly/5forTX
Democratic Nominees are running in 29 of Texas' 36 U.S. House Districts this year.A state where less than 8% of the Federal Delegation women but is over 51% of the population is female, Texas voters have the opportunity to add five more women to their Congressional delegation.
THE WOMEN
The Texas female Democratic Nominees who are challenging GOP incumbents for seats in Congress include:
Shirley McKellar PhD.
Dr McKellar is a retired officer in the US Army Nurse Corp A nurse clinician, McKellar led in the implementation of women's health services for the US Military in the European Theatre. Shirley is challenging GOP incumbent Louie Gohmert for the 1st Congressional Seat.
Tawana Cadien, RN. Tawana is also a nurse clinician nursing administrator. She is one of the first graduates of the Thurgood Marshall School of Public Affairs to earn a Masters of Public Administration. Tawana is challenging GOP incumbent Mike McCaul for the10th District seat.
Jan McDowell, CPA. Jan is a community activist who understands the dollar and cents value of clean air and water. We need someone in Congress who can read a balance sheet and has understands the difference between short term cuts which cost more in the long run. Jan is challenging GOP incumbent Kenny Marchant for the 24th District Congressional seat.
Ruby Woolridge is challenging GOP incumbent Joe Barton for the 6th Congressional District Seat. Ruby is an ordained (Methodist) Minister who is currently serving at the Potter's House and is a public school teacher. She is a strong advocate for veterans. Her son Troy was injured on active duty in the middle east when he was in his twenties. He died of his injuries last year after years of rehab and disability. Ruby was his caretaker.
Kathi Thomas is a business owner and former county chair. She is challenging GOP incumbent Roger Williams for the 25th District Congressional seat.
Democratic Incumbents Congresswomen Shelia Jackson Lee (District 18) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (District 30) are running for re-election in "safe Democratic majority districts."
To donate directly with one click to the campaigns of these women congressional challengers and Hillary Clinton and the federal pac which supports progressive candidates running for Federal offices on the ballot in Texas go to: www.bit.ly/5forTX. You can also choose to give more or nothing to some and less to others. You are given the option of making a one time donation or splitting you gift into monthly installments
Link to Donate: www.bit.ly/5forTX…
THE LANDSCAPE
Texas is frequently dubbed a “red state” but demographically, it is much more blue than is reflected in the election results. A combination of apathy, savvy marketing/outreach by deep-pocketed special interests, and gerrymandering with an abandonment of the fight by most progressive donors has enabled some of the most obnoxious Texas politicians to win and retain seats in the state and federal government. Being under indictment for fraud, bribery or political corruption seems to be a plus for many of the State’s GOP incumbents. Yet there is a bright ray shining through the darkness in the Lone Star State.
Democrats turn out in higher numbers during presidential election years. All of the 11 current Democratic US House members except Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson were initially elected in Presidential election year. Texas has 11 districts that are majority Democratic and one truly swing district (23). Most of the other districts have had no serious resources devoted by progressives in Congressional challenger races for many election cycles. In 2014 on average apx. 2 ½ cents per voter was all the funding received by non-incumbent Democratic nominees who were challenging GOP/TeaParty incumbents for Congressional seats in the primary and general election combined. For 2 ½ cents it is impossible to even effectively communicate with those who already know they want to vote for you, let alone convince others that you are the best candidate. Most GOP incumbents in Texas have gotten a free walk to re-election for decades. They amass large war chests and use them to help fund down-ticket candidates. The outcome of most election in Texas have little to do with “merit” or “integrity” and more to do with non engagement from the left and business “as usual” from the right.
Democratic "normal GOTV efforts" in Texas
Examination of voter rolls shows that as Democrats stop running in contested Democratic primaries for state and local offices, Democratic voters stopped voting,. Most did not become Republicans. As spending and outreach ceased by progressives, apathy won and more and more Texans appeared on the rolls as folks who used to vote but do not any more, In presidential election years more will show up than in other election years. The state Democratic Party has a long history of focusing more attention on internal party affairs than on prioritizing winning General Elections. However, there are some encouraging developments this year.
2016 is a year of opportunity for reclaiming seats from GOP incumbents in Texas. It will require funding. In 2015 Republican candidates for Congress in Texas received $4 to every $1 donated to Democratic Congressional Candidates, During the FEC financial report ending March 31, 2016 the gap had narrowed. Republican received $2.82 dollars for every dollar donated to Democratic candidates. The gap is still deplorable, but the trend is headed in the right direction. The quality of the Democratic Nominees is substantial. Their challenges can be addressed by generosity from donors — large and small. Outside money will not come gushing in to Texas Congressional races. However, Texans have the resource to fund these races. Small donors and deeper pocketed donors uniting with the unique synergy of the 2016 Presidential race and the impact of both of the top of the ticket candidates on the electorate can realistically turn additional districts blue.
Source: FEC.gov
Factors for Optimism
1. A push on increasing Democratic turnout for by mail ballots paid off in the 2016 Democratic Primary. Significant increases in Democratic voters by mail occurred in the counties which invested in the BY MAIL campaign. Historically, Republicans have had by mail margins high enough to claim numerous seats in Texas. This improvement removes the GOP/Tea Party’s advantage in several of Texas’ largest counties.
2. Texas State Law was changed allowing the State Party to hold primaries in counties without Democratic County Chairs. Glen Maxey worked tirelessly to get legislation passed which allowed every registered voter in Texas to vote in a Democratic primary this year even if there were no county chair in their county. Once the law was passed, Glen faced the monumental task of getting the paperwork filed and to recruiting workers and polling places in counties without a chair, Although the actual number of voters involved is rather small, the change is enormous. At the last SDEC meeting several new county chairs were sworn in who stepped up and volunteered to serve from counties where they previously had been unable to vote in a Democratic Primary. It is a constructive beginning. For decades Democrats have ignored most of the rural counties. Cumulatively, rural voters determine the outcome of many elections. To overcome the GOP incumbent advantage, reaching out and increasing Democratic turnout in rural counties is essential.
3. Demographic shift in population, age and income impacts the state. Texas’ white majority is dwindling. The Republican base is aging and dying off faster than the Democratic base in Texas. The percentage of Latino and Black Texans is increasing. Both Democratic and Republican parties try to enlist Hispanic voters. Republicans have skillfully used social issues to depress Hispanic voter turnout. In the 2014 Governor’s race many Hispanics were conflicted between their religious beliefs regarding abortion and the Republican hardline anti-immigrant posturing. A percentage of them simply stayed home. In 2016 Republican rhetoric repels and motivates many who stayed home to get involved. Blacks and Texans of Hispanic lineage are among Hillary Clinton’s most enthusiastic supporters. With Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket, it will be much easier to engage Tejano, Hispanic, Muslim and Black voters in Texas.
4. Hillary at the top of the Democratic ticket will draw more minority voters that Sanders. During the primary in Texas, despite the large number of older white women which remain a strong part of Clinton’s base, larger numbers of Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians turned out as delegates for Clinton at senatorial conventions than for Sanders. In the Tarrant (largest part) of Senate District 9, in the Clinton delegation:
60% minority; 40% whlte
60% female; 40% male
11% under age 36
14% LGBT
in the Sanders Tarrant Senate District 9:’
74% white; 26% minority
59% male; 41% female
24% under age 36
18% LGBT
This is a snapshot of 3/4th of one urban Senate District (Tarrant 9). (Dallas Senate 9 did not break down their delegates demographically.)
Hillary attracts more minorities and women than Sanders. Hillary attracts young voters but Sanders attracts twice the number of younger voters. Hillary’s following among women is 1/3 larger than Sanders. Sander’s following among men is 1/3 larger than Clinton’s. Both resonate with LGBT voters. Hillary has fewer problems with minority voters than Sanders (74% for Clinton and only 26% for Sanders.)
With Clinton at the top of the ticket, the large minority population of Texas should place more races in play in the state if the “coat tail effect” carries over to down-ticket (especially Congressional) races. The party is working to enlist younger and minority voters into the Party. Older female voters remain the most loyal dependable voting block of Democratic voters. The majority of this “most loyal” voter demographic group are Clinton supporters. This is a good sign for down ticket candidates, especially for older, educated, highly qualified candidates who are challenging GOP incumbents.
Despite the spin that “Sanders is defining the issues”, there is solid evidence that Clinton delegates have more education than the majority of Sanders or Trump voters. Clinton supporters value “problem-solving” and pragmatic incrementalism. They trust her experience, the through vetting given her, and appreciate her ability to get policies and programs implemented. Many of Clinton’s supporters do not think that Bernie has changed Hillary’s positions substantially. They see her as a progressive political leader who has always worked to increase minority voter participation, fought for accessible affordable health care, denounced discrimination by championing the rights of women, minorities, LGBT and handicapped individuals throughout the world.
National Pattern
In the Primaries and Caucuses held thus far this year, more Republicans turned out in their primaries than Democrats in theirs in states where Sanders had more votes than Hillary. In the states which Clinton carried, she got more votes than the leading Republican and more Democrats turned out to vote than Republicans overall. This is a very good sign because she has carried more states than Sanders and she has carried larger states than Sanders. It is unlikely that she will carry Texas in the General Election. Having Cruz off of the ticket is beneficial. If she selects a young, Latino favorite son from Texas as her running mate, that may bring Texas into play. A Clinton/Castro ticket may not turn the state blue enough to garner the electoral votes from the Lone Star State, but the activity may be a shot-in-the-arm for some Congressional races and help Democrats gain a few additional seats in Congress in Districts the national pacs are not targetings as Red to Blue.
THE MEN
Texas has also nominated several strong, highly qualified Democratic men for Congress this year. In addition to the 8 Democratic Congressmen who are running for re-election, there are men running in 12 of Texas’ Congressional Districts. One district is a truly Democratic majority district (15). Congressman Hinojosa is retiring so that is an “open” seat in a majority Democratic District. Vicente Gongalez and Juan "Sonny" Palacios are in a run-off for the Democratic Nomination for US-TX 15 Congressional District on May 24th.
Former Democratic Congressman Pete Gallego is challenging far right-wing Tea Party incumbent Wm. Hurd for the seat in Texas’ only truly swing district.
The 23rd Congressional District has more land mass than any district in Texas. The land mass of 9 states will fit into this incredible Congressional District which runs from the outskirts of San Antonio to the outskirts of the City of El Paso. It includes National Parks and most of the Texas/Mexico border. Gallego has continued as a private citizen to work to further the interests of the people of the district.
Hurd has focused only on divisive religious positions and has ignored the economic and environmental needs of the District. Gallego, as a private citizen, is credited with bringing passenger air service back to a poorly served part of the district. Despite Gallego’s deplorable vote on the Three State Nuclear Waste pact while he was an incumbent, Gallego is much more of a champion for the District's National Park (Big Bend) than incumbent Hurd. Gallego has proven to be much more responsive to the needs of the people of the district than incumbent Hurd. This race is targeted by the DCCC as a Red to Blue District and will probably be the only non-incumbent challenger Congressional race in Texas to receive funding from the DCCC and the Democratic Majority PACs.
James Cargas qualifies as an environmental/developmental rock star. Cargas is one of our state’s leading pragmatic visionaries. An Oil and Attorney, James worked on Capitol Hill as an intern as an undergraduate and returned, after he graduated from the University of Michigan, during the Reagan administration while Jim Wright was Speaker of the House to serve as Press Secretary to a Michigan Democratic Congressman. He graduated from The American University’s Washington College of Law where he served as President of the Environmental Law Society and Article Editor of The American University Journal of International Law and Policy and The American University International Law Review) in 1992. During law school, he was law clerk to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Admitted to practice law in Texas, West Virginia, Washington D.C, and Michigan, he represented large interstate pipeline companies before leaving the private sector to join the Clinton administration on the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, promoting clean wind and solar energy, hybrid vehicles and sustainable resource development. He left to work on the Gore Presidential campaign and returned to serve under Energy Secretary Bill Richardson. He was hired in 2008 by former Houston Mayor Bill White as the City of Houston’s energy counsel, and continued as counsel to Mayor Parker. During his stint with the City of Houston, Cargas has negotiated energy contracts and helped the City of Houston become recognized as the governmental entity that has purchased the most sustainable energy in the nation, exceeding the purchases of the DOD and EPA. Cargas is married to a medical research scientist doctor and is especially cognizant of the roadblocks facing medical research in the USA. Cargas is the Democratic Nominee challenging GOP incumbent John Culberson for Texas' 7th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bill Matta, PhD is challenging GOP incumbent Bill Flores for the 17th District US Congressional Seat. Matta is one of three Democratic Nominees in Texas who are retired military officers with doctoral degrees. A navigator in the USAF, Matta served with NATO in Bosnia, at the US Air Force Academy and at the Pentagon. A graduate of UT Austin, Matta has pursued a dual career track, blending his military service with teaching. Currently he is the chair of the Linguistics, Speech and Engilsh at McLennan County Community College.
Mark Gibson JD is a retired Colonel and Brigade Commander with the US Army. He earned is Juris Doctorate from South Texas College of Law, and his Master’s in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He earned his BBA in Management Information Systems from University of Houston, As a Senior IT Manager and small business owner, Mark Gibson, understands the challenges facing business owners. He fights for veterans and military families, is committed to fighting for equal rights for women, pledges to”push for absolute assurances of banning weapons from schools, synagogues or worship centers, shopping malls, stores, and our schools” and will fight for breaks for small businesses and term limits.
Gibson is challenging GOP incumbent Pete Olson for Texas' 22nd District Congressional seat.
Mike Cole, Democratic Nominee for Texas’ 14th US Congressional District
running for U.S Congress in Texas. Cole is challenging GOP incumbent Randy Weber for the 14th US Congressional Seat. An educator, Cole’s struggle with onset juvenile diabetes gives him insight into medical challenges which reach far beyond what is normal for a young man. He is skilled at engaging others in projects that enhance and improve people’s lives.
He is running an energetic campaign against Randy Weber which involves college students and senior citizens.
The 14th is a coastal district. Challenged by natural disasters and the aftermath of BP’s Horizon Blowout/Oil Spill, the district requires diligent service by a Representative who will balance the economical developmental needs with the environmental challenges facing people of the district.
Mike Cole, Tawana Cadien, James Cargas and Pete Gallego are the Democratic Nominees who are positioned to give better service to the people of the Texas Gulf Coast and US Mexican Border. You can help them directly with one click using this link:
http://bit.ly/4TXCoastDs
To split your donation between the four coastal candidates and the federal PAC which supports progressive challengers for federal office on the ballot in Texas use this link http://bit.ly/4TXCoastDs
It is not necessary for Texans to live under the skewed worldview of the Tea Party and the state's GOP incumbents. We do not have to continue subjecting this nation and the world to the stupidity that passes between many Texas so-called public officials. It will not be easy, but it is definitely "worth it!" The key is setting aside defeatist attitudes, stepping forward and doing what we can when we can and enlisting and welcoming others to do what they can.
Democratic Nominees are running in 29 of Texas' 36 U.S. House Districts this year.A state where less than 8% of the Federal Delegation women but is over 51% of the population is female, Texas voters have the opportunity to add five more women to their Congressional delegation.
THE WOMEN
The Texas female Democratic Nominees who are challenging GOP incumbents for seats in Congress include:
Shirley McKellar PhD.
Dr McKellar is a retired officer in the US Army Nurse Corp A nurse clinician, McKellar led in the implementation of women's health services for the US Military in the European Theatre. Shirley is challenging GOP incumbent Louie Gohmert for the 1st Congressional Seat.
Tawana Cadien, RN. Tawana is also a nurse clinician nursing administrator. She is one of the first graduates of the Thurgood Marshall School of Public Affairs to earn a Masters of Public Administration. Tawana is challenging GOP incumbent Mike McCaul for the10th District seat.
Jan McDowell, CPA. Jan is a community activist who understands the dollar and cents value of clean air and water. We need someone in Congress who can read a balance sheet and has understands the difference between short term cuts which cost more in the long run. Jan is challenging GOP incumbent Kenny Marchant for the 24th District Congressional seat.
Ruby Woolridge is challenging GOP incumbent Joe Barton for the 6th Congressional District Seat. Ruby is an ordained (Methodist) Minister who is currently serving at the Potter's House and is a public school teacher. She is a strong advocate for veterans. Her son Troy was injured on active duty in the middle east when he was in his twenties. He died of his injuries last year after years of rehab and disability. Ruby was his caretaker.
Kathi Thomas is a business owner and former county chair. She is challenging GOP incumbent Roger Williams for the 25th District Congressional seat.
Democratic Incumbents Congresswomen Shelia Jackson Lee (District 18) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (District 30) are running for re-election in "safe Democratic majority districts."
To donate directly with one click to the campaigns of these women congressional challengers and Hillary Clinton and the federal pac which supports progressive candidates running for Federal offices on the ballot in Texas go to: www.bit.ly/5forTX. You can also choose to give more or nothing to some and less to others. You are given the option of making a one time donation or splitting you gift into monthly installments
Link to Donate: www.bit.ly/5forTX…
THE LANDSCAPE
Texas is frequently dubbed a “red state” but demographically, it is much more blue than is reflected in the election results. A combination of apathy, savvy marketing/outreach by deep-pocketed special interests, and gerrymandering with an abandonment of the fight by most progressive donors has enabled some of the most obnoxious Texas politicians to win and retain seats in the state and federal government. Being under indictment for fraud, bribery or political corruption seems to be a plus for many of the State’s GOP incumbents. Yet there is a bright ray shining through the darkness in the Lone Star State.
Democrats turn out in higher numbers during presidential election years. All of the 11 current Democratic US House members except Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson were initially elected in Presidential election year. Texas has 11 districts that are majority Democratic and one truly swing district (23). Most of the other districts have had no serious resources devoted by progressives in Congressional challenger races for many election cycles. In 2014 on average apx. 2 ½ cents per voter was all the funding received by non-incumbent Democratic nominees who were challenging GOP/TeaParty incumbents for Congressional seats in the primary and general election combined. For 2 ½ cents it is impossible to even effectively communicate with those who already know they want to vote for you, let alone convince others that you are the best candidate. Most GOP incumbents in Texas have gotten a free walk to re-election for decades. They amass large war chests and use them to help fund down-ticket candidates. The outcome of most election in Texas have little to do with “merit” or “integrity” and more to do with non engagement from the left and business “as usual” from the right.
Examination of voter rolls shows that as Democrats stop running in contested Democratic primaries for state and local offices, Democratic voters stopped voting,. Most did not become Republicans. As spending and outreach ceased by progressives, apathy won and more and more Texans appeared on the rolls as folks who used to vote but do not any more, In presidential election years more will show up than in other election years. The state Democratic Party has a long history of focusing more attention on internal party affairs than on prioritizing winning General Elections. However, there are some encouraging developments this year.
2016 is a year of opportunity for reclaiming seats from GOP incumbents in Texas. It will require funding. In 2015 Republican candidates for Congress in Texas received $4 to every $1 donated to Democratic Congressional Candidates, During the FEC financial report ending March 31, 2016 the gap had narrowed. Republican received $2.82 dollars for every dollar donated to Democratic candidates. The gap is still deplorable, but the trend is headed in the right direction. The quality of the Democratic Nominees is substantial. Their challenges can be addressed by generosity from donors — large and small. Outside money will not come gushing in to Texas Congressional races. However, Texans have the resource to fund these races. Small donors and deeper pocketed donors uniting with the unique synergy of the 2016 Presidential race and the impact of both of the top of the ticket candidates on the electorate can realistically turn additional districts blue.
Factors for Optimism
1. A push on increasing Democratic turnout for by mail ballots paid off in the 2016 Democratic Primary. Significant increases in Democratic voters by mail occurred in the counties which invested in the BY MAIL campaign. Historically, Republicans have had by mail margins high enough to claim numerous seats in Texas. This improvement removes the GOP/Tea Party’s advantage in several of Texas’ largest counties.
2. Texas State Law was changed allowing the State Party to hold primaries in counties without Democratic County Chairs. Glen Maxey worked tirelessly to get legislation passed which allowed every registered voter in Texas to vote in a Democratic primary this year even if there were no county chair in their county. Once the law was passed, Glen faced the monumental task of getting the paperwork filed and to recruiting workers and polling places in counties without a chair, Although the actual number of voters involved is rather small, the change is enormous. At the last SDEC meeting several new county chairs were sworn in who stepped up and volunteered to serve from counties where they previously had been unable to vote in a Democratic Primary. It is a constructive beginning. For decades Democrats have ignored most of the rural counties. Cumulatively, rural voters determine the outcome of many elections. To overcome the GOP incumbent advantage, reaching out and increasing Democratic turnout in rural counties is essential.
3. Demographic shift in population, age and income impacts the state. Texas’ white majority is dwindling. The Republican base is aging and dying off faster than the Democratic base in Texas. The percentage of Latino and Black Texans is increasing. Both Democratic and Republican parties try to enlist Hispanic voters. Republicans have skillfully used social issues to depress Hispanic voter turnout. In the 2014 Governor’s race many Hispanics were conflicted between their religious beliefs regarding abortion and the Republican hardline anti-immigrant posturing. A percentage of them simply stayed home. In 2016 Republican rhetoric repels and motivates many who stayed home to get involved. Blacks and Texans of Hispanic lineage are among Hillary Clinton’s most enthusiastic supporters. With Donald Trump at the top of the Republican ticket, it will be much easier to engage Tejano, Hispanic, Muslim and Black voters in Texas.
4. Hillary at the top of the Democratic ticket will draw more minority voters that Sanders. During the primary in Texas, despite the large number of older white women which remain a strong part of Clinton’s base, larger numbers of Blacks, Hispanics, and Asians turned out as delegates for Clinton at senatorial conventions than for Sanders. In the Tarrant (largest part) of Senate District 9, in the Clinton delegation:
60% minority; 40% whlte
60% female; 40% male
11% under age 36
14% LGBT
in the Sanders Tarrant Senate District 9:’
74% white; 26% minority
59% male; 41% female
24% under age 36
18% LGBT
This is a snapshot of 3/4th of one urban Senate District (Tarrant 9). (Dallas Senate 9 did not break down their delegates demographically.)
Hillary attracts more minorities and women than Sanders. Hillary attracts young voters but Sanders attracts twice the number of younger voters. Hillary’s following among women is 1/3 larger than Sanders. Sander’s following among men is 1/3 larger than Clinton’s. Both resonate with LGBT voters. Hillary has fewer problems with minority voters than Sanders (74% for Clinton and only 26% for Sanders.)
With Clinton at the top of the ticket, the large minority population of Texas should place more races in play in the state if the “coat tail effect” carries over to down-ticket (especially Congressional) races. The party is working to enlist younger and minority voters into the Party. Older female voters remain the most loyal dependable voting block of Democratic voters. The majority of this “most loyal” voter demographic group are Clinton supporters. This is a good sign for down ticket candidates, especially for older, educated, highly qualified candidates who are challenging GOP incumbents.
Despite the spin that “Sanders is defining the issues”, there is solid evidence that Clinton delegates have more education than the majority of Sanders or Trump voters. Clinton supporters value “problem-solving” and pragmatic incrementalism. They trust her experience, the through vetting given her, and appreciate her ability to get policies and programs implemented. Many of Clinton’s supporters do not think that Bernie has changed Hillary’s positions substantially. They see her as a progressive political leader who has always worked to increase minority voter participation, fought for accessible affordable health care, denounced discrimination by championing the rights of women, minorities, LGBT and handicapped individuals throughout the world.
National Pattern
In the Primaries and Caucuses held thus far this year, more Republicans turned out in their primaries than Democrats in theirs in states where Sanders had more votes than Hillary. In the states which Clinton carried, she got more votes than the leading Republican and more Democrats turned out to vote than Republicans overall. This is a very good sign because she has carried more states than Sanders and she has carried larger states than Sanders. It is unlikely that she will carry Texas in the General Election. Having Cruz off of the ticket is beneficial. If she selects a young, Latino favorite son from Texas as her running mate, that may bring Texas into play. A Clinton/Castro ticket may not turn the state blue enough to garner the electoral votes from the Lone Star State, but the activity may be a shot-in-the-arm for some Congressional races and help Democrats gain a few additional seats in Congress in Districts the national pacs are not targetings as Red to Blue.
THE MEN
Texas has also nominated several strong, highly qualified Democratic men for Congress this year. In addition to the 8 Democratic Congressmen who are running for re-election, there are men running in 12 of Texas’ Congressional Districts. One district is a truly Democratic majority district (15). Congressman Hinojosa is retiring so that is an “open” seat in a majority Democratic District. Vicente Gongalez and Juan "Sonny" Palacios are in a run-off for the Democratic Nomination for US-TX 15 Congressional District on May 24th.
The 23rd Congressional District has more land mass than any district in Texas. The land mass of 9 states will fit into this incredible Congressional District which runs from the outskirts of San Antonio to the outskirts of the City of El Paso. It includes National Parks and most of the Texas/Mexico border. Gallego has continued as a private citizen to work to further the interests of the people of the district.
Bill Matta, PhD is challenging GOP incumbent Bill Flores for the 17th District US Congressional Seat. Matta is one of three Democratic Nominees in Texas who are retired military officers with doctoral degrees. A navigator in the USAF, Matta served with NATO in Bosnia, at the US Air Force Academy and at the Pentagon. A graduate of UT Austin, Matta has pursued a dual career track, blending his military service with teaching. Currently he is the chair of the Linguistics, Speech and Engilsh at McLennan County Community College.
Gibson is challenging GOP incumbent Pete Olson for Texas' 22nd District Congressional seat.
running for U.S Congress in Texas. Cole is challenging GOP incumbent Randy Weber for the 14th US Congressional Seat. An educator, Cole’s struggle with onset juvenile diabetes gives him insight into medical challenges which reach far beyond what is normal for a young man. He is skilled at engaging others in projects that enhance and improve people’s lives.
He is running an energetic campaign against Randy Weber which involves college students and senior citizens.
The 14th is a coastal district. Challenged by natural disasters and the aftermath of BP’s Horizon Blowout/Oil Spill, the district requires diligent service by a Representative who will balance the economical developmental needs with the environmental challenges facing people of the district.
Mike Cole, Tawana Cadien, James Cargas and Pete Gallego are the Democratic Nominees who are positioned to give better service to the people of the Texas Gulf Coast and US Mexican Border. You can help them directly with one click using this link:
http://bit.ly/4TXCoastDs
It is not necessary for Texans to live under the skewed worldview of the Tea Party and the state's GOP incumbents. We do not have to continue subjecting this nation and the world to the stupidity that passes between many Texas so-called public officials. It will not be easy, but it is definitely "worth it!" The key is setting aside defeatist attitudes, stepping forward and doing what we can when we can and enlisting and welcoming others to do what they can.
Friday, April 22, 2016
HIllary Claims NY as Democratic Territory: Let's back her up by sending more strong Texas Women to Congress
Hillary only needs less than 500 delegates to clinch the Democratic Presidential Nomination. Polling indicates that she leads the two Republican front-runners by significant margins. April 26th will probably push her over the number of delegates required to seal her party's nomination.
We need to turn our attention toward ensuring that she has a Congress which will support rather than obstruct the important work that the American people need done by our government. In Texas, we have Democratic Nominees running in 29 of the Lone Star State's 36 US Congressional Districts. Currently less than 8% of the state's federal delegation are female. The two Democratic Congresswomen are in "safe" districts. There are five women challengers. This appeal allows donors to split their donation between Hillary and four of the women challenging Tea Party/GOP Congressional incumbents. With one click a donor can choose to split the donation evenly between the four Congressional challengers and Hillary or give more to one or more and less or nothing to others. Please share this link: bit.ly/hillplus3
Hillary is the most trusted candidate running for the U.S. Presidency in 2016. She deserves a working Congress which will get the job done for the American people. Let's help her shake things up. Sending these women to Congress will retire some of the biggest problem-creators in Congress: Louie Gohmert, Kenny Marchant, Mike McCaul and Joe Barton.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Monday, October 12, 2015
Friday, October 9, 2015
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Wendy Davis Endorses Clinton for President
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/.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
It's Love
Support Progressive candidates challenging GOP/Tea Party incumbents for Congressional Seats from Texas through the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC.
Give $6, $16, $25, $60 - whatever you can.
Use debit or credit cards or pay pal securely on-line.
Everything you give through the Texas Federal Blue Seed PAC will stay in Texas to help Progressive Congressional Candidates reclaim Texas' U.S. Congressional seats currently occupied by Tea Party / G.O.P. incumbents.
https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/6ormorenow
Saturday, September 19, 2015
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
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
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 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:
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.
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.
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.
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. 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."
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 ChemistryMasters, 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, TXMilitary 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
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
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:
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:
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
'
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
Monday, August 10, 2015
Actress Melissa Gilbert to Run for Congress in Michigan
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)