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The White House has announced an important youth conference call at 9:00 p.m. (EST) on Wednesday with Senior Advisor David Plouffe, and you are invited to participate.  The call will take place just one day after President Obama’s State of the Union address in front of a joint session of Congress. 

To RSVP for the call, please visit http://www.whitehouse.gov/youthcall

David Plouffe, who served as President Obama’s campaign manager in 2008, recently joined the White House as Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor.  This conference call with young Americans will be one of his first public events in his new role. 

Stephanie Cutter, Assistant to the President for Special Projects, will also make remarks during the call.  Plouffe and Cutter will discuss issues of importance to our generation, including jobs and the economy, education, and health care reform.

In order to participate in Wednesday’s call, you must RSVP in advance. The dial-in information will then be emailed directly to you:  http://www.whitehouse.gov/youthcall

Don't miss this unique opportunity to interact with senior White House officials as they speak with young people across the country.  

Sincerely,

Rod Snyder

President, Young Democrats of America

P.S.  Let us know what issues you think the President should emphasize during the State of the Union address on Tuesday.  Leave us a comment on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/youngdems

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On Tuesday, January 25th, President Obama will deliver his second State of the Union address.

This speech will mark the start of a new chapter for this movement. 2011 will be a year of building on our past work for a stronger economy and a brighter future, while also protecting the progress we've made reforming our health insurance system, reining in the big banks on Wall Street, and more.

To help get the word out about the President's vision for the next year, OFA volunteers will be holding State of the Union watch parties and strategy sessions across the country -- and if we're going to have enough events in enough places, we'll need your help.

Will you host a State of the Union watch party?

The President's speech will be a great chance for us all to get fired up about jobs, health reform, and everything else 2011 has in store. That means it's important that we have as many folks watching in as many communities as possible -- which is why we need you to host a State of the Union watch party, including a strategy session for planning local action.

Hosting an OFA event has never been easier. You can hold your party at home, or you can use a community space if local regulations allow it. All you have to do is fill out a quick form, and we'll set up the online event and send you everything you need to do the rest.

I'm hoping, as one of our top supporters, that you'll step up and give folks in your neighborhood a place to watch the speech together and help plan what comes next for defending our progress on health reform and more.

Sign up here to host a State of the Union watch party and strategy session on Tuesday, January 25th:

http://my.barackobama.com/SOTUhost

Thanks,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird

Organizing for America

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At 5:53 p.m. Eastern Time today (Jan.19th), the House moved to repeal health insurance reform.

Every single Republican -- all 242 -- voted for repeal.

This is a vote for insurance companies. There is no other way to put it.

Because if the question is what is best for Americans, repeal would never come up: Health reform is already at work improving the lives of millions of people. Repeal will result in 32 million fewer Americans with health coverage -- and add $230 billion to the deficit over the next 10 years.

Republicans in Congress need to know there's a political price to pay for siding with special interests over the constituents in their districts.

We're putting together a dedicated team of organizers and volunteers across the country to protect our progress on health reform -- and we need 138 donations from Los Angeles to make sure they have the resources they need.

Will you chip in $25 or more to support Organizing for America and help stop repeal before it's too late?

The Affordable Care Act addresses and ends some of the worst insurance-industry abuses against families, children, seniors, and the sick -- the cost of repeal would be steep:

-- Families, many already struggling to get by, could lose their coverage if someone is in an accident or becomes sick -- right when they need it the most.

-- A woman with cancer could have her coverage stripped away because of a tiny mistake on a form.

-- Pregnant women, children born with disabilities, and anyone with a pre-existing condition -- as many as half of Americans under age 65 -- could face discrimination or be denied coverage by an insurance company that deems them too costly.

-- A senior on Medicare who falls in the "donut hole" in prescription coverage would once again have to make up that cost out of pocket -- and start paying for all preventative care.

-- The deficit would increase by $230 billion over the next 10 years -- placing an unfair burden on our children and grandchildren and future generations who will have to pay for this mistake.

-- Insurance companies could go back to working for corporate profit and CEO bonuses -- instead of for the people who pay their premiums.

These cruel and unjust practices are exactly why we organized, donated, volunteered, and spoke out for months, helping to pass legislation 100 years in the making. It's why we worked with the President and Democrats in Congress to reform a broken and unsustainable health care system.

Now, that progress is being threatened -- and we have to do everything we can to protect it.

Organizing for America is running a full-fledged campaign to drive this message home in communities across the country. Our organizers and volunteers will be knocking on doors, writing letters to their local papers, talking to neighbors, and calling their senators.

Support from 138 folks in Los Angeles will ensure we have the tools and resources we need to counteract and stop the repeal effort.

Please donate $25 or more today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/StopRepealNow

Thanks,

Mitch

Mitch Stewart

Organizing for America

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Subject: Phone bank for the DREAM Act and "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Volunteer...this week only!

This is the last month the current Congress will be in session, but there is still important work to be done before lawmakers go home for the holidays. With one big push, we could accomplish two major items on the President's agenda: repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) and passing the DREAM act.

The DREAM Act provides a crucial shot at the American dream for thousands, and repealing DADT is an important step for better securing our country.

And both are currently up for debate in the Senate, with votes expected very soon.

So this Wednesday, December 8th, OFA supporters across the country will be phone banking in support of these two priorities. We'll contact fellow supporters in key states and ask them to call their senators before these votes.

There's a phone bank in Los Angeles -- can you make it?

The DREAM Act would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented youth who work toward a college degree or serve in the military -- helping those folks who make this country better through their service and hard work.

"Don't Ask, Don't Tell" does nothing but discriminate against thousands of patriotic men and women who want to serve their country. That's why President Obama pledged to repeal it: It weakens our national security, diminishes our military's readiness, and violates the fundamental American principles of fairness and equality.

Please help the President pass these two important items on his agenda. Join the phone bank in Los Angeles on Wednesday:

http://CA.barackobama.com/December8thDayofAction

Thanks,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird

Deputy Director

Organizing for America

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Pop quiz: Which of the following will make up a majority of the deficit in the next decade?

A) Social Security

B) Medicare

C) The National Park Service

D) PBS

E) George Bush's tax cuts

Give up? The answer is E -- George Bush's tax cuts.



But this week the co-chairs of the so-called "Deficit Commission" came out with their recommendations on how to fix the deficit. Do you know what their answer was? They said they wanted to cut A, B, C and D.



That's right -- the co-chairs of the Deficit Commission said that they wanted to cut Social Security, Medicare, the National Park Service, PBS and a whole lot more. But they're OK with leaving George Bush's tax cuts in place even though those tax cuts are projected to make up over half of the deficit over the next 10 years.



These guys are dead wrong and it's time Congress knew just how wrong they are -- sign the pledge calling on Congress to reject the Deficit Commission's right-wing attack on Social Security.



Add your name now



Not only are they dead wrong on how to fix the deficit, but they're probably the only two people in the country who think it's a good idea to cut Social Security.



On Election Day, Democracy for America polled voters nationwide on some key issues, and when asked about Social Security only four percent said they supported making cuts to Social Security.

The vast majority of Americans -- 85 percent -- said they don't want any cuts to Social Security.

But they don't get a vote in the Deficit Commission, so let's make sure Congress hears what they have to say -- sign our pledge today.



Tell Congress to reject the Deficit Commission's right-wing attack on Social Security.



DFA members told us to stand strong for Social Security. And that's exactly what we're doing.



Thank you for working to move America forward.



-Charles



Charles Chamberlain,

Political Director, Democracy for America

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The tide is turning. Our candidates are fighting back hard. And all those shady right-wing outside groups who thought they could just buy a Republican Congress to do the bidding of special interests are encountering strong resistance from our candidates, the DCCC and grassroots supporters like you. All of this is thanks to the support you are providing.   On behalf of the DCCC, I cannot thank you enough for shattering our Two Weeks Out Deadline to ensure that Democrats enter these final days with strength and momentum.   But with so many too-close-to-call races about to reach their tipping points, we need to raise $250,000 more by Friday at 5PM so we can double our efforts.   Contribute $20, $35 or more by Friday's 5PM deadline to wire money to all of our too-close-to-call races so we can double our efforts in the final, critical days ahead.   Your support is literally making the difference. Thanks to you: •    We exposed one of the Republicans' most extreme tea party candidates' ties to a motorcycle gang with a long history of criminal activities. •    We just placed a massive new ad buy to fight back against the outside groups. •    Our voter-contact team knocked on 312,000 doors and made 306,000 phone calls last weekend alone. •    Most of all, the polls show eight more Battleground Democrats with expanding leads over their Republican opponents. We have run ads in over 60 districts. We have field directors and organizers in over 75 districts. But now we need to double it for the final days. Contribute $20, $35 or more by Friday's 5PM deadline to wire money to all of our too-close-to-call races so we can double our efforts in the final, critical days ahead.   Friday marks just 10 more days until Election Day. Your support in these final 10 days will make the difference between victory and defeat for many Democrats in too-close-to-call races.   Let's not have a single regret the day after Election Day.     Chris Van Hollen DCCC Chairman   P.S. Friday marks just 10 more days until Election Day. With so many too-close-to-call races about to reach their tipping points, we need to raise $250,000 more by Friday at 5 PM so we can wire money to our campaigns and double our efforts. Contribute today.

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Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Thu, October 21, 2010 -- 5:53 PM ET
-----

Top Corporations Helping U.S. Chamber of Commerce Influence Campaigns

Prudential Financial sent in a $2 million donation last year as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched a national advertising campaign to weaken the historic rewrite of the nation's financial regulations.

Dow Chemical delivered $1.7 million to the chamber last year as the group took a leading role in aggressively fighting proposed new rules to tighten security requirements on chemical facilities.

And Goldman Sachs, Chevron Texaco, and Aegon, a multinational insurance company based in the Netherlands, donated more than $8 million in recent years to a chamber foundation seeking to limit the ability of trial lawyers to sue businesses.

These large donations -- none of which were publicly disclosed by the chamber -- offer a glimpse of the chamber's money-raising efforts, which it has ramped up recently in an orchestrated campaign to become one of the most well-financed critics of the Obama administration and an influential player in this fall's Congressional elections.

Read More:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/22/us/politics/22chamber.html?emc=na

NYTimes.com
620 Eighth Ave.
New York, NY 10018

Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

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If there has been any change in your status or eligibility since the last election -- did you move? change your name? turn 18? -- you likely need to register in order to cast a ballot this fall.

We've got all the information you'll need about how to register at our voting information site, www.RaiseYourVote.com.

The web hosting provider is not allowing a link to this site. Copy and paste https://www.raiseyourvote.com/content/CA/en/ to your browser.

Registering by mail is a very easy process -- but it's absolutely essential that you do it by Monday, October 18th, in order to cast your vote this year.

Confirm your eligibility to vote, and register if you haven't yet done so:

www.RaiseYourVote.com

Thanks,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

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CHCI 2011 Program Applications
Now Available Online

CHCI is recruiting Hispanic American students - undergraduate and graduate - for its nationally recognized youth development leadership programs.

Applications for CHCI's 2011 Congressional Internship, Public Policy Fellowship, Graduate Fellowship, and Scholarship Programs are now available online at www.chci.org.

The Congressional Internship Program provides college students with Congressional placements on Capitol Hill for eight weeks during the summer and twelve weeks in the spring and fall.  Participants are exposed to the legislative process and strengthen their professional and leadership skills. Housing, travel and stipend are provided.

2011 Congressional Internship Deadlines:
Spring: November 5, 2010
Summer: February 4, 2011
Fall: April 29, 2011

CHCI's nine month Public Policy Fellowship Program, conducted from September to May, seeks to enhance participants' leadership abilities, strengthen professional skills and produce more competent and competitive Latino professionals in public policy areas.  The program provides college graduates with national, hands-on public policy

experience in a congressional office, federal agency, nonprofit sector, or corporate setting. Travel, healthcare and monthly stipend are provided. The Public Policy Fellowship Program application deadline is February 18, 2011.

CHCI's nine month Graduate Fellowship Program offers unparalleled experience in the underserved public policy areas of education, health, housing, international affairs, law, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). This competitive program is for exceptional Latinos who have earned a master's degree within three years of the program start date.  The International Affairs Fellowship includes three months abroad in Mexico. Travel, health insurance and a monthly stipend are provided. The Graduate Fellowship Program application deadline is February 18, 2011.

With close to $3 million in need-based scholarships awarded to Hispanic students since 2001, CHCI's Scholarship Program is available to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in a two-four year accredited college or university. Students pursing an associate's degree may apply for a grant in the amount of $1,000; $2,500 for bachelor's candidates; $5,000 for graduate students. The Scholarship Program application deadline is April 16, 2011.

To be eligible, all program applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents, be a graduate or undergraduate student with remarkable leadership potential, and have demonstrated a vast history and commitment to community and public service.

You Can Help the Next Generation Achieve the American Dream

CHCI's online application system continues to prove that there is a tremendous need for financial resources and professional development opportunities for the Latino community. For the 2010 program cycle, CHCI received nearly 20,000 unique applications for CHCI student programs.

Please click here to donate now so that more students have the ability to achieve the American dream and become the next generation of Latino leaders and success stories at CHCI.

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This Saturday, October 2nd, OFA volunteers and staff will be celebrating the grand opening of our new Florence-Firestone office, and I hope you can join us.

The event will be a great opportunity to learn how to get more involved in OFA, and to have fun doing it. Bring your cell phone and charger, because before celebrating with food and entertainment, we'll be making calls to first-time voters and asking them to commit to vote this fall.

Can you make it? Here are the details:

What: OFA office opening and phone bank

Where: OFA Florence-Firestone Office
1167 E. Florence Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90001

When: Saturday, October 2nd
Anytime from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

RSVP here:

http://ca.barackobama.com/FlorenceOfficeCA

Thanks,

Phil

Phil Gaskin
California Regional Field Director
Organizing for America

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Patients’ Bill of Rights Starts Today

Dear Friends:

Starting today, your insurance company can’t drop you just because you get sick. No longer can your child be denied coverage if he or she is born with an illness or disability. And the limit that insurance companies often place on lifetime benefits will be prohibited. The days when your family could be plunged into devastating medical debt and bankruptcy because of a serious medical condition are becoming history.

If these protections are repealed, Americans will once again be at risk of being dropped, denied or discriminated against. Fortunately, the Affordable Care Act now protects working families from the worst practices we’ve grown accustomed to in health care and is putting patients—not insurance executives or bureaucrats—in control of our own health care.

Today, Americans with private health insurance will now enjoy the following rights:

YOU CAN NO LONGER LOSE YOUR COVERAGE WHEN YOU GET SICK
Before health care reform, insurance companies were able to drop your coverage when you became sick. Known as a “rescission,” this practice plunged many responsible families who had paid their premiums into mountains of medical debt with little recourse to fight back. Today, your health coverage is protected and cannot be “rescinded” when you need it most.

YOUR CHILD CAN GET COVERAGE REGARDLESS OF MEDICAL CONDITION
Until today, children who are born with or develop an illness could be denied coverage by insurers for having a “pre-existing condition.” Those uninsured children were much less likely to get critical preventive care, including immunizations and checkups, than their peers. The health care reform law prohibits this practice—now every child born in America has equal access to the health insurance market.

YOUR ADULT CHILD CAN STAY ON YOUR PLAN UNTIL AGE 26
One in three young adults has no health insurance—so when they become ill or get injured, we all pay for their emergency room visit. Young people are less likely to have jobs that offer them coverage or do not yet make enough money to pay their premiums. Under the new law, starting today all insurance companies will allow your adult child to stay on your health plan until age 26.

NO MORE ANNUAL OR LIFETIME LIMITS ON YOUR COVERAGE
You might think it will never happen to your family. You are struck with a life-threatening illness or injury that requires expensive and long-term treatment. Did you know that, until today, your insurance company could put an annual or lifetime cap on how much treatment they cover? Today, lifetime caps are outlawed. And over the next three years annual limits will be phased out, starting at $750,000 this year.

Visit http://HealthCare.Gov to learn more about the Patients’ Bill of Rights and other provisions of the Affordable Care Act.

Sincerely, 

XAVIER BECERRA
Member of Congress

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Yesterday morning, Republicans unveiled their plan for governing -- their Pledge to America.

They're pledging to cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires.

They're pledging to roll back regulations on big oil and Wall Street.

They're pledging to strike down rules reining in the credit card lenders and the insurance companies.

They're pledging to increase the deficit by trillions of dollars.

Their agenda is a windfall for the folks spending millions to put them back in power -- the lobbyists, the big corporations, and the special interests.

We're not sitting by watching this scheme become a reality. Our plan to win this fall is as different from that of the GOP as our agenda for the country.

We've got organizers on the ground in every state, working with campaigns and volunteers to coordinate an unprecedented voter-turnout operation.

We're knocking on thousands of doors and making millions of calls to get our voters out to the polls.

We pay for this work with our By the People Fund -- and we're trying to reach 3 million grassroots donations through the course of this campaign.

To stay on pace, we need 5,241 donations by the end of the week.

Can you chip in $20 or more to help us meet our goal?

This Republican Pledge to America is nothing new. Even John Boehner said, "We are not going to be any different than we've been."

They're offering up the very same agenda that put us on a path to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

That means they're not prepared to discuss protecting Social Security and Medicare.

They have no plan for education or teachers.

They offer up no solutions to the outsourcing of American jobs.

They lay out no plans to invest in key industries like clean energy and manufacturing.

They don't talk about rebuilding our crumbling roads, bridges, and railways.

With your help, we can send the Republicans back to the drawing board.

Together, we'll make sure the country never returns to the failed policies of the past. But that means moving forward with our plan to win the 2010 elections.

Please support the By the People Fund today:

http://my.democrats.org/BTPDeadline

Thanks,

Governor Tim Kaine
Chairman

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Republicans have made it abundantly clear what we'll see if they take control of Congress:

 -- A possible government shutdown that would stop Social Security and Medicare checks from being sent;
 -- Attempts to repeal our hard-fought victories on health insurance and Wall Street reform;
 -- A new Speaker, John Boehner, with a history of handing out lobbyist checks on the floor of the House of Representatives; and
 -- Endless partisan gridlock and investigations into ginned-up controversies.

Working together, this movement can make sure that doesn't happen, and we'll do it the same way we elected a president and passed comprehensive health insurance reform -- by talking with family, friends, and neighbors about the importance of voting to move America forward.

OFA volunteers are getting together to do just that this Sunday, September 19th in Los Angeles -- can you join us?

Here are the details:

What: Vote 2010 Event

Where: Original Farmers Market at the Grove
Third & Fairfax
Los Angeles, CA 90036

When: Sunday, September 19th
5:15 pm

If you can't make that event, see if there's another one near you.

This event in Los Angeles is part of our ambitious Vote 2010 plan to reach out to 15 million voters before the November elections.

We've gotten a great start.

But, now, with just 46 days left until November 2nd -- and with early voting starting in some states next week -- we don't have a moment to lose as we kick into high gear.

Please join us this Sunday, September 19th. We have so much left to accomplish, and we simply cannot afford for America to move backward to the failed policies that Republicans will push for if they win.

RSVP here to talk to CA voters in Los Angeles:

http://CA.barackobama.com/Vote2010Events

Thanks, and see you out there,

Jeremy

Jeremy Bird
Deputy Director
Organizing for America

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Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Meg Whitman will be attending an event featuring New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel

Tell Meg Whitman and Her Cynical Campaign to Stop Trashing Jerry Brown with False Attacks!

Event: Meg Whitman Hollywood Town Hall
Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Time: 2:45 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Renaissance Hollywood Hotel
1755 N. Highland Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
(Note: Stay on Sidewalk)

Contact: Alex Chen # 909.967.7718 / Clark Lee # 909.702.5809
RapidResponse@lacdp.org

Signs/Posters: Meg: Take Down the Ad
No More Double Talk
Meg: STOP LYING!
Meg Whitman is a flip-flopper

-- Rapid Response Team
Los Angeles County Democratic Party
3550 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1203
Los Angeles, CA 90010
rapidresponse@lacdp.org
213.382.0063 W
213.382.1278 F
www.lacdp.org

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