As part of his record of voting with President Bush more than 90 percent of the time, John McCain endorsed the Bush plan for health savings accounts even though the Wall Street Journal said was "dead-on-arrival in Congress in early 2007." This plan is a radical new scheme to tax health insurance benefits for the first time in history, provide more power to insurance companies, and give families a tax credit that covers only a fraction of average health insurance costs.

"It should surprise no one that President Bush is raising money for the candidate who is promising more of the same failed Bush policies on everything from health care to the economy," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "While millions of Americans have lost their health insurance in the Bush-McCain era, John McCain says we're better off than we were eight years ago and that the fundamentals of our economy are strong. No wonder he's promising a warmed over version of the failed Bush plan that won't do anything to help Americans find health care."

Bush-McCain:
More of the Same on Health Care

Under McCain's Plan, Health Insurance Benefits Would be Taxed For The First Time, Resulting In A $3.6 Trillion Tax Increase On Working Families. McCain's health care plan would eliminate the payroll deduction on health care benefits, which would have the effect of raising taxes on working families by $3.6 trillion. [New York Times, 5/1/08]

McCain Health Plan Just Like Bush Plan. "President Bush proposed a similar idea" to the tax credits in McCain's plan, which was dead-on-arrival in Congress in early 2007, because the plan only awarded those who purchased insurance in the private market. [Wall Street Journal, 10/11/2007]

McCain Would Expand Health Savings Accounts. McCain said, "We took an important step in this direction with the creation of Health Savings Accounts, tax-preferred accounts that are used to pay insurance premiums and other health costs. These accounts put the family in charge of what they pay for. And, as president, I would seek to encourage and expand the benefits of these accounts to more American families." [Congressional Quarterly Healthbeat, 4/29/2008]

McCain Supported Bush's Veto of SCHIP and Providing Insurance For Millions of Uninsured Children. McCain voted against reauthorizing the State Children's Health Insurance Program for five years, expanding the program by $35.2 billion. [Senate Vote #307, 8/2/07]

Arizona Republic Headline: "In Tight Senate Votes, McCain Not A Maverick. When It Matters The Most, He Seldom Bucks His Own Party." "Over the years, Sen. John McCain has publicly condemned Republican Party leaders and occasionally voted against the GOP on selected issues. But an Arizona Republic analysis of his Senate votes on the most divided issues in the past decade shows that McCain almost never thwarted his party's objectives." [Arizona Republic, 5/7/08]

McCain: On The "Most Important Issues Of Our Day, I Have Been Totally In Agreement And Support Of President Bush." In a June 2005 interview on NBC's "Meet The Press," John McCain stated that he was a strong supporter of President Bush: "I have agreed with President Bush far more than I have disagreed. And on the transcendent issues, the most important issues of our day, I have been totally in agreement and support of President Bush." [NBC, "Meet The Press," 6/19/05]

McCain Has Voted With Bush 90 Percent Of The Time In The Senate. According to Congressional Quarterly, McCain has voted in support of President Bush's position 90 percent of the time since the beginning of his administration. [Congressional Quarterly, 8/15/08, http://www.cqpolitics.com/cq-assets/cqmultimedia/flash/votestudy/index.html]

Last month, Democrats in Congress passed the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, which would help make college education more affordable for thousands of students by increasing the size of Pell grants for poor students, cutting interest rates for student loans, capping monthly loan payments at 15 percent of a student's discretionary income, and slashing subsidies for the scandal-plagued student loan industry by $19 billion. [New York Times, 7/11/07] Instead of helping expand opportunities for America's students by easing their access to higher education, President Bush threatened to veto the bill. To date, Romney has remained silent.

"Unless smooth talking Mitt Romney plans to use college students as a meaningless backdrop for a canned campaign event, he has a responsibility to tell Oklahoma students and their families whether he intends to offer a plan to make college more affordable," said Democratic National Committee spokesman Damien LaVera. "Mitt Romney has already sided with President Bush on everything from the Iraq war to health care. Now Romney has to decide whether supporting President Bush's irresponsible veto threat is more important to him than helping America's working families cope with the rising cost of a college education."

###

State parties will publish their delegate selection rules and clearly explain how to participate in the summer of 2007.

Oklahoma Democratic Party
4100 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-427-3366
405-427-1310 (fax)

District-Level Delegates: 25
At-Large Delegates: 8
Pledged Party Leader & Elected Official (PLEO) Delegates: 5
Unpledged Delegates: 9
TOTAL Number of Delegates: 47

Alternates: 6

TOTAL DELEGATION SIZE: 53

System type: Primary

State convention page: Available
State plan: Plan Available (PDF)
State filing form: Not available online. Please contact the state party to receive a copy.

** This information is prepared by the DNC's Office of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection and may be subject to change. For more information, please call 202-863-8000.

Dean will highlight the success of the DNC’s 50 State Strategy in the Democratic victories across the county last November, including the reelection of Governor Brad Henry and the election of Lieutenant Governor Jari Askins. He will also thank grassroots activists for their support, highlight the Democratic Party’s agenda, and outline the Party’s plan for keeping its majority and taking back the White House in 2008.

Who: DNC Chairman Howard Dean

What: Oklahoma Democratic Party Convention

When: Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 9:00 AM

Where: Coca-Cola Bricktown Events Center, 425 E. California, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104

* For press credentials please contact: Jason McCarty at 405-535-7757 or jasonmccarty@okdemocrats.org.

From the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise:

Gov. Brad Henry said Thursday he is concerned that the Defense Department is relying too much on National Guard troops for military operations such as the war in Iraq.

[...]

he added he and other governors do have concerns that "the Defense Department is, in effect, reinstating the draft on the backs of National Guard Units throughout the country."

Great to be here with so many Democrats from across these United States. The city has a different feel from the last time I was here...before the November elections. Everyone is excited about the great progress made by Speaker Pelosi and the House Democrats but that excitement pales next to the energy going into the presidential candidates this weekend.

For more from Chairwoman Pryor and the Oklahoma delegation, check out OKBlueNotes.

Hundreds of Oklahoma Democrats turned out for their
Democratic Reunion event on July 29th.

From the Oklahoma Gazette:

“I’m not a member of any organized political party, I’m a Democrat!” —Will Rogers

The Oklahoma Democratic Party has decided to make Will Rogers into a liar. All indications are that, for the first time ever, a viable and organized Democratic Party is present in the Sooner State. And it is the presence of organization combined with dedication among the activist base and a stiff political wind blowing against the right that has Democrats thinking heady thought toward November.

The Democrats are finally emerging from a long, dark tea time of the soul that has seen their registration and identification advantages among voters collapse, culminating in the loss of majority in one legislative chamber, control of a single congressional seat and a minority party governor who had the good fortune to run against a pious star athlete and an attorney gifted in the art of political destruction. When Republican candidates ran up 60 percent-plus totals statewide and a huge party debt, political observers two years ago wondered if the party’s prospects would ever rebound or if they’d just follow the socialists into Sooner politics oblivion.

The good news for Democrats is that legislative Republicans proved to be good at cutting taxes and sharing credit with Brad Henry, while also being even more eager than Democrats to expand government spending. Republican lawmakers and statewide candidates have a hard time criticizing the popular Henry because they are complicit in his victories. Henry walks outside the shadow of allegations of legislator misconduct that dog the Republican Party majority leadership in the House….

…The danger for the state GOP is that, in pursuing Henry, Republicans will have to opt for an unfortunate politics of personal destruction or try to play scare cards on security and immigration. The national political campaign again turns to what one friend in Washington, D.C., called the “time to scare the shit out of the country again strategy,” beating war drums to mobilize the GOP base. While such a strategy has worked in the past, it could prove to be one visit too many to the new edition of the bloody shirt of American politics.

Democrats in Oklahoma know that. And they have unity in message, organization and desire, which is something they’ve lacked for a long time. And they won’t get fooled again.

Oklahoma Democrats 2006 Dream Team

Oklahoma Democrats are on a roll, and they aren't stopping anytime soon. Check out one of the many events they have scheduled for The 50-State Turnout.

English teach Pat Davis was asked to critique for clarity a sample ballot. Roughly 20 seconds into an Osage County question on a lodging tax, she stopped, exasperated. "I'm maybe a third into this, and already I'm going back to re-read and thinking to myself, 'What? Now just a minute,' " said Davis, seated in her empty classroom during a preparation period. "I probably could go over here to the honors English class, and maybe half of them would know what 'dissemination' means. "They throw in double negatives. Why can't they just state what they want you to vote on, a simple yes or a simple no?"

A former teacher and now a former Republican, Sen. Riley joined the Democratic Party Aug. 7th, surrounded by half a dozen Democratic Senators who believe that Democrats have a positive vision for the state of Oklahoma and our country. State Democratic Party Chair, Lisa Pryor, said Riley's defection indicates growing dissatisfaction with Republican leadership.

Riley recently ran for statewide office in the Republican primary, garnering nearly a quarter of the primary vote - which proves that other Oklahomans are dissatisfied with the special-interest governing of the Republican Party. We are thrilled to have Sen. Nancy Riley, her ideas and her vision in the Democratic Party!

Examples:

Senator Inhofe (R-Oklahoma), Chair of the Senate Committee on the Environment:

“[M]an-made global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”

Senator Burns (R-Montana):

“You remember the ice age? It’s been warming ever since, and there ain’t nothing we can do to stop it.”

"There ain't nothing we can do to stop it." Great example of someone who doesn't belong in the Senate. That is the lack of leadership being offered by Republicans who are content to ignore evidence, cherry-pick their facts (sounds so familiar...) and continue to serve their special interest friends.

Herbert points out:

You can’t blame any single weather event on global warming. But with polar bears drowning because they can’t swim far enough to make it from one ice floe to another; with the once-glorious snows of Kilimanjaro about to bring down the final curtain on their long, long run; with the virtual disappearance of Lake Chad in Africa, which was once the size of Lake Erie, it may be time to get serious about trying to slow this catastrophic trend.

And, some facts from the article:

• The first six months of this year were the warmest ever recorded in the United States.
• This summer, according to the National Climatic Data Center, more than 50 cities in the continental U.S. have set records for high temperature.
• Of the 21 hottest years ever measured, 20 have occurred within the last 25 years. And the hottest year of this recent hottest wave was last year.
• "In northern California, it was hotter for longer than ever on record, hitting 110 degrees four consecutive days in the nine-county Bay Area.”
• In recent years, the U.S. has had more than three times its normal share of extremely hot summer nights. “That is a particularly dangerous trend,” Mr. Borenstein wrote. “During heat waves, like the one that now has a grip on much of the East, one of the major causes of heat deaths is the lack of night cooling that would normally allow a stressed body to recover.”

But there is hope...

Unlike Senator Burns, there are people who understand that there are things we can do to mitigate the worst effects of global warming. We’d better do something fast. We’re no longer waiting for the tragedies predicted to result from extremely high temperatures, extreme weather events, storm surges and so forth. We’re already enduring them.

Remember New Orleans? And the thousands who died from the heat in Chicago and elsewhere in the Midwest in 1995? And, as incredible as it still seems, the 35,000 killed by a monster heat wave in Europe in 2003?

I think the single most effective thing most ordinary Americans could do to become more informed about global warming — and the steps we need to take to fight it — is to go see Al Gore’s movie, “An Inconvenient Truth,” and read his book of the same title.

It would be a shame if it turns out that Americans have been so deprived of leadership for so long that they fail to recognize it when it’s offered to them.

ClimateCrisis.net has information about the Sound Science of An Inconvenient Truth.

Sierra Club has a wealth of information, including a list of 10 ways you can do your part.

>Saturday, July 29th, Democrats across the country will participate in "Democratic Reunion" events marking 100 days to Election Day 2006. During the more than 800 events in all 50 states, Democrats will distribute 2 million pieces of literature highlighting the Democratic Party’s agenda for a new direction for America, including bilingual pieces in both English and three Asian languages including Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. During these “Democratic Reunions,” participants will commit to reaching out to 100 other voters between now and Election Day to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot in every state and win back majorities in the U.S. Congress and Senate.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean will participate in events in Pittsburgh, PA, highlighting this next step of the DNC’s highly successful national organizing days and 50 state strategy. Dean will kick off a "Democratic Reunion" event in Murraysville, PA where he'll visit voters door to door with Congressional candidate Jason Altmire in Pennsylvania’s 4th Congressional District, and later speak at a "Democratic Reunion" picnic and pig roast in Mt. Pleasant Township, PA.

"Democrats are unified and ready to take our country back," said Chairman Howard Dean. "From picnics and barbecues, to canvassing events and phone banks, volunteers will join friends and neighbors across the country to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Americans have a real choice before them this November. Democrats offer a new direction for our country and these grassroots organizing events are part of our ongoing efforts to win in November and put an end to the failed policies of the Bush Administration and his 'rubber-stamp' Republican Congress."

The "Democratic Reunion" is the latest in a series of volunteer recruitment and voter contact events the DNC has sponsored across the country. During the last national organizing day on April 29th, DNC-funded organizers and volunteers knocked on more than one million doors carrying door hangers with the Democratic agenda for a new direction for America. The DNC will hold another national organizing event in September.

These events directly benefit House, Senate, gubernatorial and other races up and down the ballot. Candidates at every level are participating in our latest national organizing day. The DNC has provided one million door-knockers and one million palm cards outlining the Democratic Vision and a New Direction for America to our state Democratic parties, with many of those around the country being distributed in both English and one of three Asian languages: Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

The DNC will also launch 100actions.com on Monday, July 31st to help Democrats from across the country get involved in the November elections. In an effort to support Democrats up and down the ballot, the website will provide a new daily action through Election Day and will provide resources focused on empowering activists with the tools they need to become involved with the Democratic Party in a meaningful way. The site will also connect people wanting to volunteer with local campaigns through their state parties or coordinated campaigns as a way to provide the people-power that's vital to effective get-out-the-vote efforts in November. Below are highlights of how Democrats are reaching out to voters throughout the country on Saturday:

Democrats Are Organized Across The Country

Ohio - Organizers have planned hundreds of events, of all sizes, in cities like Columbus and also in Republican strongholds like Van Wert County. Senate candidate Rep. Sherrod Brown, State Party Chairman Chris Redfern and State Treasurer candidate Rich Cordray and many others will appear across the state.

Pennsylvania - More than twenty-two events are scheduled in Pennsylvania with thousands of Democrats planning to attend. Chairman Dean will canvass in Pittsburgh with the Westmoreland County Democrats and attend a Christmas in July event with Governor Rendell and Congressman Murtha in Greensburg, PA.

Washington - "Countdown to 100 Days" events are planned throughout Washington and the coordinated campaign will provide literature and targeted lists of 100 voters for volunteers. Representative Hilda Solis will appear at a large gathering of Democrats in Seattle. Congressional candidate Darcy Burner will attend a canvasing event in Bellevue, WA.

Arizona - There are community events scheduled in Arizona with nearly 500 Democrats signed up to attend. Senate candidate Jim Pederson and numerous state and legislative candidates will attend rallies and BBQ's and canvass to mobilize Democrats in anticipation of the November elections.

Oklahoma - More than 562 Democrats have already signed up to attend an historic organizing event in Oklahoma City, featuring elected officials up and down the ballot.

"Democrats are unified and ready to take our country back," said Chairman Howard Dean. "From picnics and barbecues, to canvassing events and phone banks, volunteers will join friends and neighbors across the country to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Americans have a real choice before them this November. Democrats offer a new direction for our country and these grassroots organizing events are part of our ongoing efforts to win in November and put an end to the failed policies of the Bush Administration and his 'rubber-stamp' Republican Congress."

July 29th marks 100 days until Election Day and on this day, Democrats around America will gather at more than 800 locations to kick off a national effort to mobilize and engage voters and ensure Democratic victories up and down the ballot on Election Day. The "Democratic Reunion" is the latest in a series of volunteer recruitment and voter contact events the DNC has sponsored across the country. During the last national organizing day on April 29th, DNC-funded organizers and volunteers knocked on more than one million doors carrying door hangers with the Democratic Vision for America. The DNC will hold another organizing event in September.

These events directly benefit House, Senate, gubernatorial and other races up and down the ballot. Candidates at every level are participating in our latest national organizing day. The DNC has provided one million door-knockers and one million palm cards outlining the Democratic Vision and a New Direction for America to our state Democratic parties.

On Monday, July 31, the DNC will launch 100actions.com, a website dedicated to helping Democrats from across the country get involved in the November elections. In an effort to support Democrats up and down the ballot, the website will provide a new daily action through Election Day and will provide resources focused on empowering activists with the tools they need to become involved with the Democratic Party in a meaningful way. The site will also connect people wanting to volunteer with local campaigns through their state parties or coordinated campaigns as a way to provide the people-power that's vital to effective get-out-the-vote efforts in November.

Ohio - The Ohio party has organized more than 40 events. Organizers have planned hundreds of events, of all sizes, in cities like Columbus and also in Republican strongholds like Van Wert County. Senate candidate Rep. Sherrod Brown, State Party Chairman Chris Redfern and State Treasurer candidate Rich Cordray and many others will appear across the state.

Pennsylvania - Twenty-two events are scheduled in Pennsylvania with thousands of Democrats planning to attend. Chairman Dean will canvass in Pittsburgh with the Westmoreland County Democrats and attend a Christmas in July event with Governor Rendell and Congressman Murtha in Greensburg, PA.

Washington - More than 30 "Countdown to 100 Days" events are planned throughout Washington and the coordinated campaign will provide literature and targeted lists of 100 voters for volunteers. Representative Hilda Solis will appear at a large gathering of Democrats in Seattle. Congressional candidate Darcy Burner will attend a canvasing event in Bellevue, WA.

Arizona - There are more than 35 events scheduled in Arizona with nearly 500 Democrats signed up to attend. Governor Janet Napolitano, Senate candidate Jim Pederson and numerous state and legislative candidates will attend rallies and BBQ's and canvass to mobilize Democrats in anticipation of the November elections.

Oklahoma - More than 500 Democrats have already signed up to attend an historic organizing event in Oklahoma City, featuring elected officials up and down the ballot.

"Democratic Gov. Brad Henry, a favorite for re-election to a second term, has found a way to maintain high popularity in one of the most conservative states."

The thriving Governor has found a way to maintain popularity: building consensus and keeping a low profile. Now, with a 75% approval rating, his focus shifts to defeating his opponent and continuing his work as Oklahoma's Governor.

While poking around on the Oklahoma Dems site, I also came across this:

ODP Chair Lisa Pryor said she is joining Oklahoma Yellow Dog Democrat Club members on June 23 for an 8:10 p.m. screening of the new Al Gore documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth.” The movie will be shown in Oklahoma City at the AMC Quail Springs Theater.

You can also find info about the event here through our Events Tool

Now that's cool, for a number of reasons:

1. Movies nights are fun, and this is a great pick.

2. Social events are a great way to keep Dems active - "Dems who play together, stay together" that's what I always say!

3. The OK Dems are making the connection between the national party and the state party, using the events tool to cast a wider net for their event.

We've talked a lot about our National Organizing Days, but the Event Tool is available 365 days a year, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. It's a repository of Democratic events across the country, from National Organizing Days to campaign canvasses to County Party meetings to social events, like the Oklahoma Dems Movie Night.

If you know of an event in your area, step up and add it in today!