December 2005

Twentieth Anniversary a Smashing Success

Right is wrong

"I grew up in an age where a man wanted a male heir.... And it's certainly the prerogative of the Pennsylvania legislature to say these guys at least should get notified before their wife kills their heir." -- Pat Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition, on spousal notification (The 700 Club, 11/1/05)

"We are trusting that we are now on the fast track to derailing Roe v. Wade as the law of the land." -- Troy Newman, president of Operation Rescue, on the Alito nomination (operationrescue. org, 10/31/05)

"So a Muslim wanted a Muslim holiday, which is absurd in a Judeo-Christian country. I mean, we can't be having Hindu and Buddha. I mean, come on. I mean, this country is founded on Judeo-Christian traditions." -- Bill O'Reilly on the debate over closing public schools for Muslim holidays (The O'Reilly Factor, 10/27/05)

"Maybe he's exhausted, probably is. I'm exhausted, and he works twice as hard as I do." -- Bill O'Reilly on Bush's slow response to Hurricane Katrina victims (The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly, 10/14/05)

"I think that if [Rep.] Barbara Lee [D-Calif.] would read the history of Joe McCarthy, she would realize that he was a hero for America." -- Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) (San Francisco Chronicle, 9/28/05)

"Single moms are stupid. Not all are stupid. But plenty are. Too many of them are stupid, lazy and selfish." -- Phil Luciano, columnist for the Peoria Journal Star (Illinois) (9/20/05)

"When the president promised he would appoint judges like Scalia and Thomas, it was not their views on the Clean Sewers Act that he was trying to signal to us -- it was code for Roe. He knew it, we knew it." -- Manuel Miranda, former Senate GOP leadership aide (Roll Call, 9/15/05)

"We are so fortunate that Jesse Helms did not fade away when he retired from the Senate at the beginning of 2003." -- Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist in the introduction to former Sen. Jesse Helms's autobiography, Here's Where I Stand (New York Times, 8/30/05)

"It has been known for years that, even after adjusting for body size, men have larger brains than women." -- Charles Murray, author of The Bell Curve (Commentary, 9/05)

Hundreds Gather to Celebrate the Power of EMILY's List

Nearly 1,500 celebrants -- EMILY's List members, candidates, elected officials, founding mothers, current and former staff, and hundreds of progressive Americans who support EMILY's List's mission of electing pro-choice Democratic women -- filled the ballroom of the Washington Hilton October 17 for EMILY's List's 20th Anniversary Gala.

People of all ages, from infants to seniors, participated in the celebration. The crowd heard from top women leaders -- U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski (Md.), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.), Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (Wisc.), Colorado Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, and U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.) -- whose speeches were interspersed by a series of videos highlighting the work EMILY's List has done to change the face of power in America. The entire program was projected throughout the packed ballroom on four enormous screens.

"Twenty years ago, women were bit players in politics," said DeLauro, one of EMILY's List's first House victors and EMILY's List's first executive director. "Few women ran for office. We didn't have any money. We didn't get any respect from the political establishment. But today, so much has changed. And it changed because of EMILY's List -- and because of everyone in this room, and thousands of women and men across the nation!"

EMILY's List's very first winner, Mikulski reminisced about that first Senate race, when she faced the governor and a congressman in the Democratic primary for an open seat.

"All of a sudden, this new network with the unusual name came along," she told the crowd. "Those little bundles of checks came from all across the country, and I could do a poll and show the funders that I could compete and that I could win. The EMILY's List donor network changed the dynamics for me -- and countless other women who have run since."

Last to take the stage was Ellen R. Malcolm, EMILY's List's president and founder. Malcolm highlighted EMILY's List's "entrepreneurial spirit" that will put Democrats back into power. "We have built a network of seasoned professionals who know how to win campaigns," she said. "We have mobilized women voters to turn the gender gap into the margin of victory for Democratic women and men running for office across the country. We have combined the financial commitment of thousands and turned EMILY's List into the largest political action committee in the country. And our candidates -- our effective, committed prochoice Democratic women candidates -- have won race after race, breaking through the glass ceiling and making history with every election."

"I hope you're ready to sign up for the next 20 years," Malcolm concluded. "We count on you to give us your generous support to make sure we have the resources to turn our plan into victory. We have a lot of work to do -- and I firmly believe that the future of our country depends on our success."

As Malcolm finished, the curtain lifted to reveal a stage filled with dozens of the women EMILY's List has helped elect -- 61 to the U.S. House, 11 to the U.S. Senate, eight as governors, plus hundreds more at the state and local levels -- along with current candidates, the women who joined Malcolm in founding EMILY's List, and the outstanding executive directors who have led the staff over the years.

Mentoring the next generation

Many young men and women attended the gala as sponsored guests of EMILY's List members. Among them was Alex Mullineaux of Tallahassee, Fla. "The most impressive thing to me was the energy coming from the event," he said. "When EMILY's List does something, they do it right, they do it big, and they do it effectively." A 2004 graduate of Campaign Corps, EMILY's List's training program for recent college graduates, Mullineaux commended EMILY's List's efforts to recruit and train young activists for careers in progressive politics. "[Campaign Corps] was my first venture into national Democratic politics," he said. "EMILY's List is out there actively looking for young, energetic people who want to get involved."

"I had chills the whole time," said Emily Kryder, another sponsored guest. "I was sitting with the other mentees, and looking out onto the crowd was inspiring. People talk about our generation not being involved with politics -- so to go to an event like this and see so many young people who want to be involved was great."

Malcolm described the view from the stage. "It was so wonderful to look out onto the crowd and see so many young faces caught up in the energy of the moment," she said. "What a unique way to mentor the next generation and introduce them to the power of EMILY's List!"

What's Cooking?

Political news from Washington and around the country

Everyone knows that President Bush put a former International Arabian Horse Association commissioner in charge of the Federal Emergency Management Agency ... but hardly anyone noticed when the White House put a veterinarian and specialist in animal husbandry in charge of the Office of Women's Health ... director Susan Wood resigned in protest after the FDA refused to make emergency contraception available over-the-counter ... the appointment of Dr. Norris Alderson as acting director was soon announced via email ... after getting an earful from Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), the FDA announced the appointment of Theresa Toigo three days later ... an FDA spokesperson said Alderson had never been appointed ... the first announcement disappeared from the FDA's web site as if it had never happened.

Westport First Selectwoman Diane Farrell is now on Rahm's List ... Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told the Connecticut Post that Farrell is "among the strongest candidates for Congress in the entire country" ... Farrell outraised incumbent GOP Rep. Chris Shays in the last quarter, though Shays has more cash on hand ... Shays suffers from cognitive dissonance ... his claims of being a GOP maverick have helped him hold this Democraticleaning seat ... but he votes with indicted Rep. Tom DeLay as much as 86 percent of the time, and columnist Bob Novak praised him for "try[ing] to be a Bush loyalist" ... if that's what passes for moderate, it's time for some new blood.

Polls show Missouri Senate challenger Claire McCaskill, who roots out government waste as state auditor, running dead even with GOP Sen. Jim Talent ... Republicans are worried ... only 24 hours after McCaskill launched her campaign, Talent announced that Vice President Dick Cheney would headline a fundraiser ... Cheney raised an estimated $450,000 ... his old company, Halliburton, is also a Talent contributor ... while Talent raises millions from GOP heavy hitters, McCaskill is building a powerful grassroots campaign ... leaders from more than 50 Missouri labor unions representing more than 100,000 workers recently announced their support.

The attacks have started in Michigan, where right-wing Focus on the Family is running ads against Sen. Debbie Stabenow for voting "no" on John Roberts for chief justice ... FEC reports show mega-church founder millionaire Keith Butler raised $1.4 million as of Sept. 30 ... Butler has primary opposition in Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard ... Bouchard has the same consulting team that helped oust Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle in 2004 ... Butler says "the lobbyists and powerbrokers in Washington" recruited Bouchard to run ... Detroit News columnist George Weeks calls the primary "an all-conservative show" ... Stabenow will let that show go on without her ... she recently secured training and equipment grants for Michigan's first responders, and introduced a bill to cap Medicare premiums.

Poor Tom DeLay ... all he ever does is give, give, give ... and America just takes, takes, takes ... when Fox News anchor Chris Wallace brought up the indicted congressman's junkets in Scotland that were apparently bankrolled by lobbyists, DeLay said, "Sure, I enjoy myself. Am I supposed to be limited? ... I can't play golf? Golf is the only thing I do for myself. I love golf. I can't play golf while I'm there? I can't take an afternoon off and play golf?"... poor Tom ... he may someday find himself with lots of free time.

Former Safeco CEO Mike McGavick is the first Republican to announce his bid against Washington's Sen. Maria Cantwell ... the former insurance exec is a double threat ... he was also chief of staff to the senator whom Cantwell defeated in 2000 ... McGavick is a GOP dream ... a millionaire with no voting record to defend ... Cantwell has introduced a bill to make sure that energy conglomerates play it straight with consumers ... corporate special interests will work hard to try to unseat this outspoken Democrat in 2006.

The race is engaged in Pennsylvania's 6th district, and the numbers prove it ... Lois Murphy raised $330,236 to Rep. Jim Gerlach's $330,406 in the third quarter ... but the incumbent retains a cash advantage, having banked $912,000 to Murphy's $350,000 ... a cloud hangs over Gerlach's money sources ... according to an FEC audit, he raised "excessive" funds during the 2004 campaign ... and he refuses to return the funds he's received from ARMPAC, Tom DeLay's political action committee ... Gerlach told the Houston Chronicle that most voters in his district "don't know who Tom DeLay is" ... and what they don't know won't hurt them, right?

TIME magazine has made a list of the top five governors in America ... and two of the five are pro-choice Democratic women! ... Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas and Janet Napolitano of Arizona have a lot in common ... both are Democratic anomalies in deep red states ... both were elected with support from EMILY's List ... TIME says both have "deftly" worked across party lines to cut costs, eliminate deficits, and balance budgets ... both were mentioned as vice presidential material in 2004 ... and both are up for re-election in 2006 ... alas, all the accolades in the world won't deter Republicans eager to unseat them ... but EMILY will be there again in 2006 to keep these women in charge.

Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar is complicating GOP hopes of taking over

Minnesota's open U.S. Senate seat, currently held by Democrat Mark Dayton. Republicans are already mobilizing their biggest names -- Vice President Dick Cheney, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, House Speaker Dennis Hastert -- to raise money for right-wing Rep. Mark Kennedy, their standard-bearer. They'll need every penny if Klobuchar is the nominee. Widely viewed as the strongest candidate to keep this seat in Democratic hands, Klobuchar leads Kennedy in early polling conducted by Zogby International for the Wall Street Journal.

If she wins, Klobuchar would be the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Minnesota. EMILY's List caught up with the candidate by telephone in between campaign stops to talk about her campaign, her family, and her priorities as a leader.

How has being a prosecutor prepared you for being in the U.S. Senate?

I have the experience not only to win the election but to be a good senator, which is ultimately the most important goal. I've taken on tough fights -- we put a sitting judge in prison, we've prosecuted CEOs and embezzlers, we've made sure drunk drivers go to jail, and I helped pass one of the nation's first laws guaranteeing 48-hour hospital stays for new moms.

When you run an office of nearly 400 people, every day something unexpected happens. So you have to set priorities that get results. During my tenure as chief prosecutor, serious crime has gone down significantly in Hennepin County. We have worked for justice without regard to partisanship, wealth, or privilege, and we've earned the respect of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. We need more of that in Washington, D.C. People are tired of 24-hour TV shout fests -- they want to talk about what's right and wrong, not what's right and left.

If you could control the debate in this campaign, what would you focus on?

I want to talk about how we can put the interests of the many ahead of those of the few. Republican leaders in Washington, D.C., have given an outsized portion of tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans. Their policies have shipped jobs overseas and hurt American workers and families. We have to strip away the partisan politics and have a bipartisan effort focused on improving people's lives -- and that means making sure Social Security is a guarantee, not a gamble; that health care reform brings down costs and expands access instead of coddling pharmaceutical companies and insulating them from competition; that we strengthen efficiency and emission standards so we can reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Has your background shaped your perspective on public service?

I grew up in a middle-class suburban neighborhood. I went to public school. My dad was a columnist and sportswriter for the Star Tribune and my mom was a second grade teacher, and I was greatly influenced by both of them. People still stop me in the street and talk about how their lives were shaped by my mom's humor and curiosity. And my dad has this amazing ability to write extraordinary stories about ordinary people and the courageous things they've done. He's been an inspiration, especially in his ability to overcome the alcoholism which plagued him for many, many years.

Do you feel a responsibility to help elect women candidates?

Getting women onto school boards and park boards and library boards and state legislatures is the key to gaining the experience we need to go on to the next level.

Joan Growe, who was Minnesota's secretary of state, joked that her standard was to at some point elect as many mediocre women as there are mediocre men. Personally, I'm hopeful we can set a higher standard than that!

One of my more interesting campaign moments came when I was meeting with retired steelworkers in northern Minnesota. There were about 100 seniors there and we were talking about unexpected pension cuts and rising health care costs. And at the end one woman stood up and said, "My name is Mrs. Rose Bradovich and you just talked for 45 minutes without notes, and our president can't even do that! It's been my policy to never vote for a woman because they should be home with their kids, but in your case I'm making an exception."

How does raising a child influence your political views and leadership style?

When you have children, you can't help but think about what their future is going to be like. You want things to be better than they were for you. How will they experience the world around them? Is it safe enough, clean enough? Are the schools good enough? Right now, the way things are going in this country, I can't always answer yes. There are 37 children in my daughter's sixth grade class. That's an example of how things for her are not better than they were for me when I was a child.

There was a congresswoman from Minnesota during the 1950s whose career ended when her husband wrote what became know as the "Coya, come home" letter. Is this ancient history?

There was a congresswoman from Minnesota during the 1950s whose career ended when her husband wrote what became know as the "Coya, come home" letter. Is this ancient history?

It doesn't seem that ancient when only one woman [Rep. Betty McCollum] has been elected since then. I'm lucky my family is very supportive of my candidacy. They want me to be the next senator. Instead of "Coya, come home" it will be "Amy, go to Washington."