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Tuna

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    Ridgeway Avenue

    in Party Offices

    Posted · Edited by Tuna

     

     

    What matters most about the dollar is not the face on the bill, but the value and security it guarantees for working households. 

     

    Casting blame without offering answers does nothing to cool inflation while only turning up the partisan heat in Washington.  

     

    The best approach is to defeating inflation is to rein in costs for the most essential goods and services while investing in working and middle class families. It is clear that the four main drivers of inflation for working households are healthcare, housing, transportation, and food. The cost for all four have risen by more than 20% over the last few years with the roots of the spike going back decades. Reform is sorely needed, but more than doable. 

     

    Despite the progress made under the Affordable Care Act, 26 million people remain uninsured. The average American household also spends $8,200 per year on healthcare. Tragically, most lower and working class families are forced to set aside upwards of 20% of their annual income just to pay their medical bills. All this dysfunction and the United States still leads the world by a country mile when it comes to percentage of GDP expended on healthcare costs. 

     

    To solve the healthcare crisis, it is time Washington D.C. stopped trying to reinvent the wheel. Just go with what works. Medicare has proven itself to be a historically effective program at guaranteeing quality coverage with low costs for the elderly. Let's give every American the freedom enroll in Medicare if their private plan is too costly or inadequate for their needs. Not only would this immediately universal access to quality coverage, but the premiums and copays for existing private health insurance would also decrease to remain competitive with said public alternative. This is not conjecture. There is already precedence for this idea working. Traditional Medicare has kept in check Medicare Advantage alternatives below the rate of medical inflation. It's high time we applied this successful model to the rest of the health insurance marketplace.

     

    We must also recognize that patient-provider relationship is distinctly different from other industries. If you are hungry, you have the choice between a grocery store, fast food joint, restaurant, and beyond with a myriad of possibilities inside to satisfy your cravings. But if you break a limb or get cancer, there are not a menu of drive-thrus and convenience stores to remedy the ailment. Often, only one or two treatments are available and most insurance plans only provide a small handful of options when it comes to providers. Families deserve a real advocate to protect them from profiteering. That is why we should follow the successful model of Germany by bargaining fair price ranges each year on premiums, medications, and hospital billing. Not only would this dramatically save families on their own health expenses, but it would also immediately reduce the strain of Medicare and Medicaid on the federal budget by more than $100 billion with greater savings in the long-run. 

     

    Second, it is imperative that we get to the roots of the housing crisis in the United States. This is far greater than a homelessness problem. Owning a home and your own property is a cornerstone of the American dream. But regular, everyday families have been struggling to pay their mortgage and rent for years. The monthly interest payment on a new 30-year fixed rate mortgage has risen by $1,500 in just the last five years alone. That is not sustainable. To restore that foundation of our national economy, we need to boost both the supply of homes as well as the buying power of working and middle-class families. Investing in states and localities that streamline permitting and zoning restrictions for building affordable homes and condominiums is a no-brainer. Repealing the Faircloth Amendment as well will also expand the number of public housing options available while creating thousands of good-paying union jobs. Finally, providing first-time homebuyers up to $5,000 in down payment assistance and ensuring positive rental payments qualify for FICO scores will ease the burden on families trying to finally buy a place they can call their own. 

     

    Next, we must adjust our efforts to update America's infrastructure and transportation to better fit the needs of the people. My colleagues on the right are correct that it is laughably unrealistic to expect a blue-collar family living paycheck to paycheck to buy a $50,000 electrical vehicle. When car shopping, most regular Americans like myself do not really prioritize touch screen computers with 4D graphics on their console on their lists of "musts". To us, it's all about the mileage, seatbelts, and cost.

    What we are looking for is an affordable, dependable, energy efficient car that fits the budget of working families. Washington should immediately provide financial incentives to automakers to develop a green Model T for the 21st Century, a vehicle that is fully electric that suits the everyday routines of regular Americans. With that, we should also expand the buying power of said citizens by expanding the EV tax credit to $12,500 for households earning less than $100,000 per year. And to meet the growing demands of America's resurgent auto sector, it is key that the United States dramatically expand its mining and production of rare earth minerals and metals. It should be a bipartisan goal to cut permitting and approval time on new mines and refinery construction. This will not only create tens of thousands of good paying union jobs in the Midwest and beyond, but it will also help wean the United States off China's supply of natural resources.

     

    Finally, grocery bills need to be a priority for our public officials. With prices up by 20%, parents are owed a plan to help them put food on the table. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Press Office and Public Appearances of Patrick Ridgeway

    in Press Offices and Public Appearances

    Posted

    7iYMOFe.png

    Statement on Passing of Former President Trump
     

    Press Release #001
    Q2, 2023
     

    Springfield, Ill — On behalf of my loved ones and all Illinoisans, I offer our condolences to the family of the former President President Trump at the tragic news of his passing. Our thoughts are with them, especially the former First Lady and their son during this difficult time.

    Today is a somber reminder that death does not discriminate between Republicans or Democrats. At times, our partisan passions can distract us from the fact that there are human beings sitting across from us in the debate over our country's direction. This moment calls for us to set an example of what truly good, compassionate, and decent leadership is through our thoughts and prayers for the former First Lady. And with that example, we can, with God's grace, rediscover our own humanity as a nation." 

    • Like 1

    Patrick Ridgeway (D-IL)

    in R17 Character Archive

    Posted · Edited by Tuna

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    Name: Patrick Glenn Ridgeway
    Party: Democratic
    Avatar: Evan Bayh
    Major Caucus: New Democrat
    Gender: Male (0 Points)
    Age: 51, DOB: April 12, 1973 (0 Points)
    Sexuality: Straight, married with < 3 children (-5 Points)
    Race/Ancestry: White/Caucasian (0 Points)
    Religion: Roman Catholic (0 Points)
    Family History: Working Class (10 Points)

     

    Education History (20 Points)
    B.A. in Political Science, Northwestern University, 1991-1995 (5 Points)
    J.D., Notre Dame Law School, 2001-2004 (15 Points)

     

    Career History (30 Points)
    Bartender (10 Points)

    • Old Neighborhood Grill, Evanston, 1994-1995
    • McCormick's Coney Island Bar, South Bend, 1999-2001

    Captain, U.S. Army, 1995-2003 (10 Points)
    Civil Rights Attorney, Rock Fusco & Connelly LLC, 2004-2009, Chicago, Illinois (10 Points)

     

    Political History (23 Points)
    Member of the Illinois House of Representatives, 2009-2013 (2 Points)
    U.S. Congressman from Illinois’ 11th District, 2013-2019 (9 Points)
    Governor of Illinois, 2019-2024 (12 Points)

     

    EARLY LIFE
    Patrick Glenn Ridgeway was born on April 12, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois, to Hugh and Alice Rhodes Ridgeway. Hugh worked for General Electric as an electrical engineer while his mother was a public school teacher. The Ridgeways lived in the Bridgeport community of Chicago where they shared a duplex with family friends, Michael and Janice McPherson. Hugh was a member of the IUE-CWA and Alice of the Chicago Teachers Union. The Ridgeways were proud Democrats who knocked doors for Ted Kennedy in the 1980 Democratic primaries. The one exception was in 1984 when Hugh voted for Ronald Reagan’s reelection, much to the chagrin of Alice. Ridgeway has Irish Catholic ancestry on his father’s side with English and Welsh through his maternal lineage.

     

    Ridgeway was accepted into Northwestern University and enrolled in their ROTC program in the fall of 1991. At Northwestern, he studied Political Science and was an active member of both the Speech and Debate team and College Democrats. He was also a bassist in a punk rock band “Burning Ferrico” under the stage name “McShlingus” with his friends and fellow students Mark Thomas “Mack Tally Whack” West, Shiva “Gouda” Goda, and Daphne “DeeCee” Carmichael. While the band recorded two mixtapes, they were rebuffed by every major record label and eventually disbanded after West graduated in 1994. During his time at Northwestern, Ridgeway was a slightly above-average, unexceptional student. However, he did excel socially and with the Speech and Debate team, helping him hone his political skills for his future career. In the summer of 1994, he began taking bartending lessons and earned his license by the start of his senior year. He graduated from Northwestern in the spring of 1995 and began his commitment with the U.S. Army.

     

    US ARMY
    After finishing basic training, Ridgeway began his active-duty service with the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell in the winter of 1995. In September and October of 2000, he was deployed with the 101st to help fight fires on the Bitterroot National Forest in Montana under the direction of Lt. Col. Jon S. Lehr. Captain Ridgeway concluded his active duty service in the Army in December 2000 and enrolled at Notre Dame Law School the next year.

     

    LEGAL AND EARLY POLITICAL CAREER
    Ridgeway began law school at Notre Dame in August 2001. Ridgeway proved himself to be a much better student at Notre Dame than he was at Northwestern, posting a 3.7 G.P.A. He remained active in the College Democrats and frequented many lectures and seminars by political figures. To earn money, he found work as a bartender at McCormick’s Coney Island Bar where he earned a reputation for being a charming, and at times an evidently flirtatious patron. One evening at McCormick’s in April of 2003, he met Miriam Lesnick, a doctoral student in the Keough School of Global Affair. Lesnick was just returning from a lecture by visiting scholar Roland Greene. The daughter of NBC television executives from New York City and an active member of the Notre Dame anti-war protesting the U.S. invasion of Iraq, Lesnick agreed to give Ridgeway her number. The two corresponded over the summer as Lesnick was participating in a fellowship at the Paris School of International Affairs and Ridgeway while taking summer courses and working at a law office in South Bend. In the fall of 2003, they began dating and moved in together that winter. He graduated with Juris Doctorate in 2004 alongside his classmate and friend John Cencich who would go on to become the senior American war crimes investigator for the Office of the Prosecutor at The Hague.

     

    After graduating, Ridgeway was hired by Rock Fusco & Connelly LLC to work as a civil rights attorney based out of his hometown Chicago in August, 2004. Lesnick was finishing her doctorate at Notre Dame. Ridgeway rented a small apartment near the law offices downtown. When Lesnick graduated with her PhD in the spring of 2006 and began work at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the two moved into a new apartment in Naperville. During this time, Ridgeway started connecting and ingratiating himself with prominent Democratic officials in northeast Illinois. After he and Lesnick were married and returned from their honeymoon in the summer of 2007, they moved to a small home in Burr Ridge, Illinois. It was there he approached the chairs of the Will and Kendall county Democrats to line up their support for a run for the Illinois House of Representatives. In 2008, Ridgeway ran for and won his seat in Springfield.

     

    As a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, one of the first issues Ridgeway confronted was the impeachment of Governor Rod Blagojevich. He publicly backed the effort to impeach while aligning himself closely with Lieutenant Governor Pat Quinn. Upon Quinn’s ascension to Governor’s mansion with Blagojevich’s removal, Ridgeway worked with the new executive to pass the “Illinois Jobs Now!” initiative delivering $29 billion in capital for construction and repair of roads, bridges, mass transit, and public works. Throughout his two terms in the Illinois House, Representative Ridgeway was a steadfast supporter of Quinn. 

     

    That loyalty would be repaid in the spring of 2012 when Ridgeway announced his campaign to unseat the U.S. Congresswoman Judy Biggert in Illinois’ 11th District. Governor Quinn backed Ridgeway from the outset of the primary, giving the young state lawmaker a vital boost in a competitive primary. Campaigning on the economic recovery in a newly redrawn district, Ridgeway defeated Biggert 58%-41% that fall to become the United States Congressman from Illinois’ 11th District.

    For info on Ridgeway's time in Congress, reference Congressman Bill Foster's RL tenure from 2013-2019. 

     

    GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS
    In 2017, with the encouragement of Democratic officials in the state, Congressman Ridgeway decided to challenge Republican Governor Bruce Rauner. Despite a competitive primary, Ridgeway came out on top over his Democratic rivals. Polls throughout the summer and early fall showed Ridgeway with a 15% point of Rauner. That briefly evaporated when in September, Ridgeway’s campaign caught negative press after an old cassette demo from Burning Ferrico was sent into and published by the Chicago Tribune. The demo included a verse of lead singer Daphne Carmichael calling Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole “Goering and Goebbels of Georgetown.” 
    Ridgeway condemned the line and said it was a “one time jam session crap statement that was never played in public, never sold a copy, and was a horrible thing to say.” 
    He personally called both former Senator Dole and Speaker Gingrich to apologize, though his old bandmate Carmichael refused to take back her statement. 

    TapedeckGate eventually faded away and Ridgeway regained momentum. On election day, he would defeat Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner to flip the Illinois’ governor’s mansion back to the Democrats by a margin of 56% to 38%. Ridgeway took office as the 43rd Governor of Illinois on January 14, 2019.

    To see Governor Ridgeway’s record, view RL Governor J.D. Pritzker’s tenure in office.

     

    PERSONAL LIFE
    Patrick and Miriam Ridgeway have two sons, David (b: 2010) and Joseph (b: 2012). The Ridgeway family splits their time between the Illinois Governor's Mansion as well as Burr Ridge. While their sons were raised in the Catholic faith, the family observes Jewish traditions, holidays, and holy days. Their home parish in Chicago is St. Edmund Catholic Church. Ridgeway is a Cubs, Bulls, and Bears fan. Sitting in his office on the table behind his desk are an Ernie Banks autographed baseball and a Chicago Bears helmet signed by Brian Urlacher. He keeps a vinyl record player and a box of his favorite albums in set up in the corner of his office. His most prized records are first press vinyls of Curtis by Curtis Mayfield and Led Zepplin's Houses of the Holy. Ridgeway occasionally fills in as a bassist at bars and jazz clubs in Springfield on weekends. He is also reportedly light smoker, often going a few weeks at a time without a cigarette, and has been seen on a few occasions with an E-Pipe. 

    • Like 2

    Ridgeway Avenue

    in Party Offices

    Posted · Edited by Tuna

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    INFRASTRUCTURE
    Critical Infrastructure

    Georgia - Level II ($3,000,000)

    North Carolina - Level II ($3,000,000)

    Tennessee - Level I ($1,000,000)

    Texas - Level II ($4,000,000)

    Virginia - Level II ($3,000,000)

     

    GOTV

    Georgia - Level II ($3,000,000)

    North Carolina - Level II ($3,000,000)

    Tennessee - Level I ($1,000,000)

    Texas - Level III ($8,000,000)

    Virginia - Level III ($6,000,000)

     

    COSTS: $35,000,000

     

     

     

    STUMP SPEECHES (24 APs)

    Stump Speech #1, 12 CPs

    Locations: Harris County, TX, Dallas County, TX, Bexar County, TX

    Targets: Hispanic Voters, Black Voters, Traditional Democratic Voters

     

    "Thank you! I am honored to join you all here today. A famous author once said that ‘Texas’ is not just a place but a state of mind. What others call swagger, Texans simply consider it walking. Your warm welcome has been a blessing to my family and me. As soon as we got here, I turned to my wife and quoted from the great Vince Gill. ‘Honey, I'll take Texas every time.’

     

    My friends we all know why we are here today. It doesn’t take a Ph.D. to see there is a deficit of hope and trust in America. You look around this state and you see how elected officials have turned away. The highest uninsured rate in America with one in five citizens going without access to the healthcare and medicine they need. The second worst poverty rate with more than four million people living without the means to an earnest living. And a governor more interested in harassing and splitting up undocumented families than actually stopping gun violence and crime. 

     

    These shortcomings are not the fault of the people. Rather it is a failure of those in public office to look beyond their pointing fingers and see the human being on the other end. That is not the America we know or were promised. Nor does it represent the best of Texas. It’s the hard-working parents, the immigrant family, the blue-collar Americans who built this land and state. Every day, you get up at the crack of dawn to make breakfast, go to work, and provide for your family. You do so because at the end of the month, you have to pay the bills, afford the rent or mortgage, and do your best to build a better life for your kids. 

     

    What we need in our next president is someone who shares your results-first approach and mindset. Someone who truly cares about doing good, not just talking about it. My grandfather used to remind me as a boy of the words from the Apostle Paul. ‘No te niegues a hacer el bien a quien es debido cuando esté en tu mano el hacerlo.’... ‘Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.’ 

     

    When it comes to the question of doing right with the power you have, I heard a certain someone in this race has had a lot to say about my record and my home state. I’m sure you all saw that interesting ad from Senator and former Ohio Governor Justin Casanova-Davis. Now, I like Justin. He’s a friend. And I don't mind the back-and-forth tussle of politics. But I do care when the interests of good, regular working families hang in balance.

     

    Justin Casanova-Davis was right to say there should be a discussion about our records. You and your loved ones deserve a President you can trust to put you first. So if Justin Casanova-Davis wants to talk about our records, then let's keep with the facts and you can be the judge.

     

    As Governor of Illinois, I’ve put working families first by raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, restoring collective bargaining and ending Right to Work laws, creating half a million blue-collar jobs with a $45 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill, and established a statewide job training program for construction workers so more families could find work and security in a good-paying union job. When Justin Casanova-Davis was Governor of Ohio, the Buckeye State was third worst in the nation for job creation. 48th out of 50. Almost 400,000 jobs were lost were lost on his watch, primarily in manufacturing.

     

    When Justin Casanova-Davis was in charge of Ohio, he signed into law Ohio’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law with the Castle Doctrine. The National Rifle Association sure was proud of him. But the good folks here in Texas know just how catastrophic the Casanova-Davis ‘Stand Your Ground’ laws have been for young Black and Hispanic men. For all of his talk about legal cannabis, he apparently forgot to mention that he opposed legalizing even medicinal marijuana when he was governor in 2010. And on his watch, when he could have done something about the death penalty, he stood to the side and did nothing as Ohio executed multiple inmates.

     

    Now, let’s look at my record. Not only did we legalize marijuana, but I also pardoned 11,000 individuals who were unjustly convicted for cannabis use,  expunged half of a million criminal records of marijuana offenses, and codified the Obama plan to prevent racial profiling in traffic stops by law enforcement. While Governor Casonova-Davis was doing the bidding of the NRA, I signed the law making sure gun manufacturers could be help accountable in the courts. While Donald Trump was trying to break up families and put kids in cages, I made sure Illinois welcomed in immigrants, blocked the creation of private detention centers, and made sure no aspiring young person was denied their chance at college because they were undocumented. And I sure as hell never tried to exploit the suffering of Black Americans from systemic racism and gun violence as a cheap cudgel against a primary opponent. 

     

    Finally, let’s talk about poverty and making sure everyone in America has a fair shot. While Justin Casanova-Davis was closing down hospitals, I tackled poverty head on by expanding food programs for the elderly, veterans, disabled, and homeless residents. While he tried cutting funding for K-12 schools and community health centers, I made it a priority to close the gap of opportunity by delivering real investments in education with more than $40 billion going to our kids. And while he vetoed legislation that would have provided veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan much needed financial support, I made sure we took care of our heroes by delivering over half of a billion dollars to veterans homes.  

     

    My friends, you deserve a president whose record and word you can trust. We have a lot to do and little time to waste. And if you believe in a Commander in Chief who will do good when he has the power to act, I’m here. I’m ready. I offer you record and vision, and I ask for your vote.

     

    When we get to Washington, we are going to implement the same common sense progressive principles and solutions we did in Illinois. First, we are going to reverse the wave of poverty and health insecurity in Texas. I will restore and expand the Biden-Harris Child Tax Credit to $4,600 and $4,000 per child. We will guarantee every mother and father here today universal childcare, Pre-K, daycare, and paid medical and family leave. Any American without health insurance or dissatisfied with their private plan will have the freedom to enroll in Medicare with dental, vision, and hearing coverage included. We are going to expand School Lunch programs, boost SNAP assistance, and ease the scourge of hunger in our schools. Finally, we are going to make sure every family, especially those who have never owned a home, can finally have peace of mind when it comes to affordable housing. Not only are we going to lift the Faircloth Amendment, we are going to boost the supply of housing and condominiums while providing every first-time homebuyer a $5,000 downpayment grant. Real financial security centered around pro-family policies.

     

    Second, we have to restore the dignity of work in America. No more putting business before our brothers and sisters. For working-class Texans, we are going to protect you from exploitation by corporations. Not only are we going to pass the national Employee Free Choice Act, but we’re going to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and tie it to the cost of living index. On top of that, we are going to oversee the largest expansion of education in American history. Free community college, vocational schools, job training for everyone combined with an end to legacy admissions and prioritizing lower and working-class households for scholarship grants. Let’s make K-12 education a success story in Texas again. And let’s make sure everyone truly has the tools to succeed again.

     

    And finally, we are going to stand for the promise of the American dream for everyone. As Governor, I fought for the rights of every earnest and law-abiding person to live freely in the United States. When I am President, we will pass the DREAM Act, and establish a pathway to citizenship for all individuals without any criminal violations on their record. I will personally see to it that Governor Abbott and every other executive in America respect and honor the rights of immigrant families hoping to come into America. No more throwing innocent women and children on buses or tossing buoys into the Rio Grande. This is America, a land built by immigrants. And MAGA Republicans are not about to change that on my watch. 


    My friends, from the start of this campaign, I have committed to a mission of national renewal: To bring back good-paying jobs. To invest in working families and protect the dignity and place of every person in this country. To make healthcare a right and not a privilege. To produce generational wealth and financial security. To stand for the rights of minorities and immigrants. And to defeat inflation by embracing progressive principles and solutions that make life easier for regular folk. That is why I am in this race. That is why I ask for you vote. With your vote, America and Texas have hope for the future. It’s time to do good with the power we have to act. And the power you have is to get out there and vote this Tuesday. Thank you! God bless you all. And God bless the great state of Texas!”

     

     

    Stump Speech #2, 4 CPs

    Locations: Fairfax County, Virginia

    Targets: Young College-Educated Democrats, Black Voters, Traditional Democratic Voters

     

    "Thank you!  It is great to be here in northern Virginia! I am honored by your warm welcome. Driving in today, we passed by the memorial to the U.S. Marines who served at Iwo Jima. All across the Commonwealth, you are reminded of the immense sacrifices and heartfelt commitment from prior generations of Americans to the cause of freedom and liberty for all. and that same spirit of perseverance and patriotism lives on here with you.

     

     The great tragedy in America today is that while the people maintain their faith in this country, the politicians have lost the vision and courage needed to lead. We saw it here just two and a half years ago. The lack of a progressive vision in the face of MAGA conservatism led to a catastrophic upset in the gubernatorial race. 

     

    When we progressives fail to stand up for what we know is right, we suffer backsliding as a nation. What sort of backsliding am I talking about? The kind where politicians spend more time taking books out of schools than making sure every child can get into one. What sort of regression have we seen? The type where Voter ID laws, mass incarceration, and gun violence threaten the fabric of our society and disenfranchise millions. And what kind of country are we becoming? The type where working people, everyday citizens, are forced to get by with less and less while paying more for the most basic of goods. 

     

    The good people of the Commonwealth don't want any of that. But they know that the only thing that is going to stop that are results and action. What we need in our next president is someone who shares your results-first approach and mindset. That is what this race comes down to. Too many Americans are suffering for us to drag our feet, too many earnest hardworking Americans are being left without a voice. It is time for a change. 

     

    When it comes to the question of change, your record matters. Now, I've heard Senator and former Governor Casanova-Davis agrees with me. And I'm glad to hear that because he’s a friend. Justin Casanova-Davis was right to say there should be a discussion about our records. And it's those records that should inform you who to trust at the ballot box.

     

    As Governor of Illinois, I made sure working families finally got the investment they deserved by raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, restoring collective bargaining and ending Right to Work laws, creating half a million blue-collar jobs with a $45 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill, and established a statewide job training program for construction workers so more families could find work and security in a good-paying union job. I tackled poverty head-on by expanding food programs for the elderly, veterans, disabled, and homeless residents. We closed the gap for education inequality by delivering more than $40 billion for our schools. And for the veterans coming home from war, like the many who live here in northern Virginia, I made sure we took care of our heroes by delivering over half of a billion dollars to veterans' homes. 

     

    But we didn't stop there. We took on systemic racism and bigotry in our state by getting to the root. Not only did we legalize marijuana, but I also pardoned 11,000 individuals who were unjustly convicted for cannabis use,  expunged half of a million criminal records of marijuana offenses, and codified the Obama plan to prevent racial profiling in traffic stops by law enforcement. While Donald Trump was trying to break up families and put kids in cages, I made sure Illinois welcomed in immigrants, blocked the creation of private detention centers, and made sure no aspiring young person was denied their chance at college because they were undocumented. Finally, I signed the law making sure gun manufacturers could be help accountable in the courts.

     

    I did all this because that is the sort of change and results you should be able to expect from your leaders. Now, let's look at my friend Justin's resume.

     

    When Justin Casanova-Davis was in charge of Ohio, he signed into law Ohio’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law with the Castle Doctrine. If Casanova-Davis was not closing down hospitals, he was busy trying to defund K-12 schools and community health centers, For all of his talk about legal cannabis, he forgot to mention that he opposed legalizing even medicinal marijuana when he was governor in 2010. He vetoed legislation that would have provided veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan much-needed financial support. And on his watch, when he could have done something about the death penalty, he stood to the side and did nothing as Ohio executed multiple inmates.

     

    My friends, you deserve a president whose record and word you can trust. We have a lot to do and little time to waste. And if you believe in a Commander in Chief who will do good when he has the power to act, I’m here. I’m ready. I stand on my record, and I am ask for your vote.

     

    As president, we are going to apply the common sense progressive principles to Washington D.C. that we did in Illinois. 

     

    First, we are going to reverse the wave of poverty and health insecurity in Virginia. I will restore and expand the Biden-Harris Child Tax Credit to $4,600 and $4,000 per child. We will guarantee every mother and father here today universal childcare, Pre-K, daycare, and paid medical and family leave. Any American without health insurance or dissatisfied with their private plan will have the freedom to enroll in Medicare with dental, vision, and hearing coverage included. We are going to expand School Lunch programs, boost SNAP assistance, and ease the scourge of hunger in our schools. Finally, we are going to make sure every family, especially those who have never owned a home, can finally have peace of mind when it comes to affordable housing. I've seen how much it costs to buy a home in Virginia and it's ridiculous. Someone needs to tell Glenn Youngkin not everyone is carrying around $100 million in spare change. Not only are we going to lift the Faircloth Amendment, we are going to boost the supply of housing and condominiums while providing every first-time homebuyer a $5,000 downpayment grant. Real financial security centered around pro-family policies.

     

    Second, we have to give back young people their power when it comes to their education. The student loan crisis has saddled millions of young people, especially here in Fairfax County, with mountains of debt. That has to change. College must be affordable for everyone, but unnecessary to earn an honest and dignified living. The first thing I'll do is erase an additional $50,000 in student loan debt combined with a national student loan refinancing period. Every single person with student loans will be able to take whatever is left and renegotiate to a lower interest rate with the freedom of opting into an income-based repayment plan. No more scrounging to make it by. You pay on the terms that work for you, not the lender. Next, we are going to oversee the largest expansion of education in American history. Free community college, vocational schools, and job training for everyone combined with an end to legacy admissions and prioritizing lower and working-class households for scholarship grants. And finally, we are going to stop this anti-education witchhunt from Republicans. We will pass an education civil rights bill to make sure no politician can ever deny our kids access to great books again. 

     

    Finally, we need to take a stand for equality and civil rights again. For too long, we have been playing defense as MAGA Republicans take away your voting rights and drag us backward to a Nixonian style legal system. I say no more. When I am president, we are going to begin a new era of civil rights. We are going to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, take on and defeat Voter ID laws, and protect your say in democracy by ending racist gerrymandering. We are going to end the era of mass incarceration by legalizing marijuana, eliminating sentencing disparities in our drug laws, and implementing true policing reform to make sure law enforcement protects and serves you. We are going to expand Black homeownership, prevent lenders from discriminating against you when it comes to your FICO score. And we are going to end this endless cycle of violence in our streets by getting weapons of war out of our communities. We will ban assault weapons, require background checks for everyone, close the gunshow loopholes, and reinstate the Brady bill so no son or daughter of America lives in a neighborhood too dangerous to go outslide and play. 


    My friends, from the start of this campaign, I have committed us to a mission of national renewal: To bring back good-paying jobs. To invest in working families and protect the dignity and place of every person in this country. To make healthcare a right and not a privilege. To produce generational wealth and financial security. To stand for the rights of every citizen. And to defeat inflation by embracing progressive principles and solutions that make life easier for regular folk. That is why I am in this race. That is why I ask for your vote. With your vote, America and Virginia have hope for the future. It’s time to do good with the power we have to act. And the power you have is to get out there and vote this Tuesday. Thank you! God bless you all. And God bless America!”

     

    Stump Speech #3, 8 CPs

    Locations: Wake County, North Carolina, Mecklenberg County, North Carolina

    Targets: Young College-Educated Democrats, Black Voters, Traditional Democratic Voters

     

    "Thank you!  It’s great to be here in the Tar Heel State. Driving along the highway near Randleman, I saw a sign for the Richard Petty Museum that wish my father were still here today. No one would have loved North Carolina more than my father. When I was five years old, he and I watched The King win the ‘81 Daytona 500. And it was at that moment that I knew I wanted to be a racecar driver.

     

    Unfortunately, there weren’t many racetracks around the south side of Chicago, nor was I ever quite good enough around those turns to make it to Charlotte for the Coca-Cola 600. But I did make it to a different race, one all of us have a stake in: a race to restore the American dream for everyone and bring back the spirit of this great country. 

    When you watched Richard Petty race, there was a magic in the air not unlike what it means to be an American. The promise we hold and cherish is that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can build an honest and dignified living in America. The great tragedy today is that while the people are still fighting and doing their best to stay in the race, our pit crew, the politicians, have turned their headsets off and wandered away to the concession stand. 

     

    Noth Carolina, you deserve better than the same old uninspired politics.What we need in our next president is someone who shares your winning mindset. That is what this race comes down to. Too many Americans are suffering for us to drag our feet, too many earnest hardworking Americans are being left without a voice. It’s time America became a country of winners again. And there is nowhere better to start than right here in the state that gave us Richard Petty and Michael Jordan.

     

    When it comes to winning, your record matters. Count up the trophies on The King’s mantle. And as I've heard, Senator and former Governor Casanova-Davis agrees with me. He’s a good man and someone I consider a friend. And you deserve to choose which leader, what pitcrew, you want working for you in the White House. So let’s take a moment and consider our records:

     

    As Governor of Illinois, I made sure working families finally got the investment they deserved by raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, restoring collective bargaining and ending Right to Work laws, creating half a million blue-collar jobs with a $45 billion bipartisan infrastructure bill, and established a statewide job training program for construction workers so more families could find work and security in a good-paying union job. I tackled poverty head-on by expanding food programs for the elderly, veterans, disabled, and homeless residents. We closed the gap for education inequality by delivering more than $40 billion for our schools. And for the veterans coming home from war, like the many who live here in northern Virginia, I made sure we took care of our heroes by delivering over half of a billion dollars to veterans' homes. 

     

    But we didn't stop there. We took on systemic racism and bigotry in our state by getting to the root. Not only did we legalize marijuana, but I also pardoned 11,000 individuals who were unjustly convicted for cannabis use,  expunged half of a million criminal records of marijuana offenses, and codified the Obama plan to prevent racial profiling in traffic stops by law enforcement. While Donald Trump was trying to break up families and put kids in cages, I made sure Illinois welcomed in immigrants, blocked the creation of private detention centers, and made sure no aspiring young person was denied their chance at college because they were undocumented. Finally, I signed the law making sure gun manufacturers could be help accountable in the courts.

     

    I did all this because that is the sort of change and results you should be able to expect from your leaders. When working people win, America wins. So now, let's look at my friend Justin's resume.

     

    When Justin Casanova-Davis was in charge of Ohio, he signed into law their ‘Stand Your Ground’ law with the Castle Doctrine. If Casanova-Davis was not closing down hospitals, he was busy trying to defund K-12 schools and community health centers, For all of his talk about legal cannabis, he forgot to mention that he opposed legalizing even medicinal marijuana when he was governor in 2010. He vetoed legislation that would have provided veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan much-needed financial support. And on his watch, when he could have done something about the death penalty, he stood to the side and did nothing as Ohio executed multiple inmates.

     

    My friends, you deserve a president whose record and word you can trust. We have a lot to do and little time to waste. And if you believe in a Commander in Chief who will do good when he has the power to act, I’m here. I’m ready. I stand on my record, and I am ask for your vote.

     

    As president, we are going to implement the same common sense progressive solutions to Washington D.C. that we did in Illinois. 

     

    First, we are going to reverse the wave of poverty and health insecurity in North Carolina. I will restore and expand the Biden-Harris Child Tax Credit to $4,600 and $4,000 per child. We will guarantee every mother and father here today universal childcare, Pre-K, daycare, and paid medical and family leave. Any American without health insurance or dissatisfied with their private plan will have the freedom to enroll in Medicare with dental, vision, and hearing coverage included. We are going to expand School Lunch programs, boost SNAP assistance, and ease the scourge of hunger in our schools. Finally, we are going to make sure every family, especially those who have never owned a home, can finally have peace of mind when it comes to affordable housing. Not only are we going to lift the Faircloth Amendment, we are going to boost the supply of housing and condominiums while providing every first-time homebuyer a $5,000 down payment grant. Real financial security centered around pro-family policies.

     

    Second, we have to give back young people their power when it comes to their education. The student loan crisis has saddled millions of young people with mountains of debt. And the only mountains we want to see in North Carolina are the Blue Ridge. That has to change. College must be affordable for everyone, but unnecessary to earn an honest and dignified living. The first thing I'll do is erase an additional $50,000 in student loan debt combined with a national student loan refinancing period. Every single person with student loans will be able to take whatever is left and renegotiate to a lower interest rate with the freedom of opting into an income-based repayment plan. No more scrounging to make it by. You pay on the terms that work for you, not the lender. Next, we are going to oversee the largest expansion of education in American history. Free community college, vocational schools, and job training for everyone combined with an end to legacy admissions and prioritizing lower and working-class households for scholarship grants. And finally, we are going to stop this anti-education witchhunt from Republicans. We will pass an education civil rights bill to make sure no politician can ever deny our kids access to great books again. 

     

    Finally, we need to take a stand for equality and civil rights again. For too long, we have been playing defense as MAGA Republicans take away your voting rights and drag us backward to a Jesse Helms style legal system. I say no more. When I am president, we are going to begin a new era of civil rights. We are going to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, take on and defeat Voter ID laws, and protect your say in democracy by ending racist gerrymandering. We are going to end the era of mass incarceration by legalizing marijuana, eliminating sentencing disparities in our drug laws, and implementing true policing reform to make sure law enforcement protects and serves you. We are going to expand Black homeownership, prevent lenders from discriminating against you when it comes to your FICO score. And we are going to end this endless cycle of violence in our streets by getting weapons of war out of our communities. We will ban assault weapons, require background checks for everyone, close the gun show loopholes, and reinstate the Brady bill so no son or daughter of America lives in a neighborhood too dangerous to go outside and play. 

     

    My friends, from the start of this campaign, I have committed ourselves to a mission of national renewal: To bring back good-paying jobs. To invest in working families and protect the dignity and place of every person in this country. To make healthcare a right and not a privilege. To produce generational wealth and financial security. To stand for the rights of every citizen. And to defeat inflation by embracing progressive principles and solutions that make life easier for regular folk. That is why I am in this race. That is why I ask for your vote. With your vote, America and North Carolina have hope for the future. It’s time to do good with the power we have to act. And the power you have is to get out there and vote this Tuesday. Thank you! God bless you all. And God bless America!”

     

    SURROGATE SPEECHES (10 APs)

    Rep.  (4 APs)
    Locations: Richland County, Charleston County
    Target: Black Democratic Voters, Elderly Democrats, Elderly Black Voters

    • "At this time when our civil rights and economic livelihoods are under attack by MAGA Republicans, America and South Carolina needs someone we can trust. Our vote is a statement of trust. And that trust must be earned. Of everyone in this race, there is one man who is head and shoulders above the rest in his commitment to defending and advancing equality for all in this country. And that man is Patrick Ridgeway."
    • "Some in this race say the right things in public, but then scurry away to the corporate boardroom or Hollywood penthouse when it's time to fill in the details. Not Pat Ridgeway. He is here because he is a true believer in of social and economic justice for the Black community. He does come here to lecture. He's here because he listens. And he knows that we need a proactive president who will leave this country a freer and more just society than when he found it." 
    • "President Pat Ridgeway will not only stand up to the advance of far-right MAGA extremists. He will reverse the tide so we can march forward again. He will pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, end the era of racial gerrymandering, double federal funding for HBCUs to $15 billion, and end the era of mass incarceration."
    • "Above all, Pat Ridgeway has the plan to finally bring about sustainable generational wealth for Black families in South Carolina. His homeownership plan is one we can believe in: not only expand the supply of affordable houses and condominiums here in this state, not only will it guarantee every first time homebuyer a $5,000 downpayment grant, and not only will it expand public housing. President Ridgeway will make sure your good and honest credit score truly counts when you go to get a loan or mortgage. This is a man who knows and understands what has stood in our way. And he is determined to stand with us and overcome these barriers to equality." 

     

     

    Sen. Erik Kaberle (2 APs)
    Locations: Dallas County,TX
    Target: Working Class Democratic Voters

    "Governor Ridgeway is the real deal salt of the earth candidate. He didn’t start his career in Washington or in Hollywood. He grew up just like me and you, watching our parents work in jobs that no longer exist. That experience has informed his judgement. Both faced historic economic challenges - between the Great Recession and the pandemic - and the proof is in the results.

     

    Under Governor Ridgeway, the minimum wage has risen 57% since he took office. During Senator Casanova-Davis’ time as Governor of Ohio, it rose only 55 cents. When he left office in January, 2011, unemployment was 9.3%. Today, in Illinois, the unemployment rate is half that. And while Governor Casanova-Davis stopped a scheduled tax cut, Governor Ridgeway delivered $1.8 billion in tax relief to working families across his state.

     

    I am proud to work with Senator Casanova-Davis in the Senate. He’s a good man and has the best interests of the country at heart. But when you compare their records as Governors of midwestern states: Governor Ridgeway clearly stands out as the strongest one on creating jobs, raising wages, and leading the country forward by investing in the economy.

     

    As President, I know Governor Ridgeway would build an economy that lifts up every American from every forgotten corner across our great nation. He will bring back goodpaying jobs right here to Memphis. He’ll make sure that good paying union jobs aren’t a luxury relic of the past but an opportunity to rebuild the middle class, stronger than ever, for working men and women in every town and state across the United States of America.  Let’s go all the way with Ridgeway!"

     

    Sen. Erik Kaberle (2 APs)
    Locations: Fairfax County, Virginia
    Target: Black Democratic Voters

    "The voters have given the message loud and clear; they expect and demand a spirited debate about the issues but will not accept deeply personal, over the topic attacks. South Carolina said no to trash and burn, so will Virginia. One of the things I like and respect about Governor Ridgeway is he deals with the facts, not hyperbolic rhetoric. He has a strong resume and I know there are things he did in Illinois that will benefit each and everyone of you if you make him President. And while Senator Casanova Davis had a lot to say Governor Ridgeway’s record, did you know he was a governor too? You wouldn’t know it if you ever listened to him. And in reviewing his record as Governor of Ohio, oof, no wonder he doesn’t want to talk about it.

     

    By any metric you want to pick, it would be nearly impossible to call Justin Casanova Davis’s time as governor “a success”. Unemployment? Skyrocketed. Manufacturing jobs? Disappeared. School funding and teachers? Cuts all around. And what did he do after that one term? Did he face what he knew would be a tough election, put his all into knowing it would an uphill battle? No, he gave up. Since then, Ohio has been ruled by the far right, union rights have been obliterated and Stand Your Ground has become law and we all know who has bore the brunt of that disaster of a law. In short, when Casanova Davis was governor, he failed and bailed.

     

    When it comes to looking at past records, we owe it to you to be brutally honest. In 2010, when Senator Casanova Davis decided to not pursue a second term, that was a rough year for us Democrats. When Donald Trump became president in 2017, he inherited one of the most benevolent economic situations you could ask for and that was thanks to the prosperity we experienced under President Obama. But in 2010, we weren’t quit there yet and people were still struggling. So when you enter the voting booth, I implore you to think of a time when you were really struggling, what did you do? Did you fight, work your darndest knowing it was going to be struggle? Or did you just decide to throw in the towel and not work for 2 years? Our next President will have tremendous challenges, do you want a President Ridgeway who will fight endlessly for working Americans regardless of the political or personal cost? Or do you want a President Casanova Davis who will quit when the job gets too tough? Those are the stakes my friends, join me in supporting Governor Patrick Ridgeway!

     

    When you look at where the strongest economies are in the US, they are almost all located next to strong universities whether its Silicon Valley, Austin or Atlanta. Atlanta has shown when given the opportunities, you can see an economically booming African American community. But we don’t think you should have to become a Bulldogs fan for that. HBCUs here like Clafin or Allen have the potential to do the same. A President Ridgeway will super charge HBCU funding, more than double. When that happens you will see even more start ups and you will see corporate America set up shop in those communities to take advantage of the local talent. That is just one way we can target the African American community so we can slowly reverse the impact of generations of discrimination.

     

    So what do most people do once they get that first job after college? They start looking to buy a home. Unfortunately home ownership has never been more elusive and especially for those who don’t have a family member that can help out with a down payment. Governor Ridgeway has a series of proposals to help bridge that gap including an increase in first time home buyer aid. But what sets Governor Ridgeway apart is he knows that we flat out need to build more houses! We can do that by encouraging multi unit housing in areas that are closest to good paying jobs. The days of huge swaths of residential neighborhoods being off limits to new construction are over. Governor Ridgeway is the only candidate talking about the supply side of the housing crisis and with his comprehensive vision, we will see the greatest increase in African American prosperity ever!"

     

    Sen. Arthur J. Callahan (2 APs)
    Locations: Harris County, TX
    Target: Black Democratic Voters

    "Friends, America is facing a crisis today. It's not a new crisis. Not by a long shot. In fact, I was talking with Governor Ridgeway the other day. We talked a bit about his slogan, and I got to thinking, "Patrick... doesn't that sound a bit familiar."

     

    Now, a lot of you are probably too young to remember this particular Democratic president. Hell, I was just in diapers myself. But I read this wonderfully comprehensive biography—perhaps one of the most detailed ever written—and, I'm reminded of the humble beginnings. You see, President Lyndon Johnson was a Texan, and he taught at a segregated school for Latino children. He saw poverty so desperate that children were digging through garbage bins and sucking whatever juice was left from the peels just so they'd have something to drink.

     

    If I may quote his own words, "The children of Mexican-Americans have been taught that the end of life is a beet row, or a spinach field, or a cotton patch. So to their parents throughout the land this afternoon, we say, help us lift the eyes of our children to a greater vision of what they can do with their lives."

     

    He said this during his presidency, and I don't think it's far-fetched to say this shaped his worldview on Civil Rights and The Great Society. Now, Mexicans don't make up the full Latino experience, of course. But, I think, in many ways, the suffering of the Latino community in America has shaped Democratic policy for over 50 years and most of us don't even realize it. Latinos make up nearly a fifth of the American population, and account for over $2 trillion in the American economy. Yet, over 10 million Latinos are living in poverty.

     

    If we want to go by specific demographics, the numbers are bleaker. 33% of Mexican-Americans are experiencing hardship paying basic bills, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Nearly 40% of Puerto Ricans. 30% of Cubans. 50% of Salvadorans and Dominicans.

     

    When we look back to the words of LBJ, it really makes you think. Not much has changed, has it?

     

    All across America, our citizens are working over 40 hours for pennies, and no one feels that pain more than perhaps the Latino community. You are among the most productive of our workers, and yet you are disproportionately affected by chronically-low wages. That is not right.

     

    We cannot deny the role racial injustice has played in these outcomes. I'm sure there are people in this very room—people who have probably been Americans all their life—who have been told to, "Go back to their country," just because of their brown skin. People who've been chastised for speaking Spanish in public, the language spoken by 42 million people in the United States. With such hatred against your own identity, is it really that difficult to believe your opportunities are being adversely affected in an economy that's already struggling for the working class?

     

    By God! And we haven't even begun to talk about the suffering of Latinos who are truly undocumented. Latinos who are hurled slurs and called leeches, even though they may never be able to cash a Social Security check they're still expected to pay for. We're talking undocumented immigrants that are filling labor shortages that workers would otherwise be uninterested in, and getting exploited in the process. They alone make up 6% of the entire work force and $1.6 trillion of the U.S. GDP.

     

    Undocumented immigrant? These workers are as American as apple pie, and they deserve the respect and rights that come with being an American citizen!

     

    Now, we've not always done right by the Latino community. I know—next I'm going to say the sky is blue and the Earth is round. But hear me out. It's important to remember the stakes of this election. It's important to remember what Republicans really think of you, calling you "thieves" and "rapists". It's important to remember the wall they so desperately want to build, but couldn't get the check from Mexico—the wall they now want to name after the demagogue who separated untold numbers of parents from their children. The same man responsible for the detention centers where forced sterilizations of Hispanic women took place. It's important to remember that the GOP wants to strip down welfare programs that millions of impoverished Latinos rely on, and immigration problems like DACA the first chance they get. They'd rather spend that money on wars with Venezuela. Hell, they'd rather spend it on a war with Mexico, these days!

     

    The GOP's heartless agenda must be defeated in 2024. That's not a question. However, we need to choose a real fighter to do that. Democrat hands have not always been clean either. I'm sure the older among you will remember the anti-immigration mania of the 2000s. I'm sure many on the left will remember the "deporter-in-chief". There is bipartisan guilt to be shared, and just having a 'D' next to your name hasn't always made you a friend to the Latino community.

    We have candidates in this race, in fact, who have supported misguided policies. During his time as Governor of Ohio, Senator Casanova-Davis supported the ‘Stand Your Ground’ doctrine, which has been proven to be used as an instrument of racial violence. We don’t need young black and brown boys having a target on their back. We don’t need more stories like Trayvon Martin—stories that add to the already well-known hateful violence against blacks in our country, and to the woefully under-reported violence against Latinos.

    This error in judgment alone is damning. Under his tenure, he lost Ohioans near-half a million jobs. Let me reiterate, nearly 4% of Ohioans lost their jobs under Governor Casanova-Davis. He oversaw record numbers of executions, of which 1 of 7 are likely to be Latino and 2 out of 50 are innocent.
     

    That's why, after great thought and deliberation, I'm all the way with Governor Ridgeway! Sure, it's easy to talk a big game, and I have the utmost respect for any candidate that will stand up. I have respect for any man or woman that will change their mind when they have erred. But there's talk, there’s consistency and there's delivery. Patrick has consistently delivered!

     

    As Governor of Illinois, Patrick stood up to Donald Trump and the profiteers of human suffering by shutting down their private detention center scheme before they could even open their doors. He welcomed immigrants and asylum seekers, and created a vanguard against Donald Trump's inhumane ICE enforcers.

     

    But it isn't just the federal government the Governor took on. He changed Illinois's policing policy to combat racial profiling that is so often used to abuse young brown and black people. And thanks to Governor Ridgeway, undocumented immigrants can receive financial aid from the state to go to school, so they can have the better chance their mom and dad would want for them.

     

    This isn't milquetoast. This isn't incrementalism. This is real, systemic change. This is what taking the fight back to power looks like.

     

    The fight doesn't have to end in Illinois. If you put Patrick Ridgeway in the White House, he will take the fight all across America—to you, right here in California! He'll hit  the issues at the root of the problem.

     

    I'm talking about a public option for Medicare. I'm talking about universal pre-K. Universal paid family leave. Student loan forgiveness. Free community college and jobs training.

     

    He'll protect the undocumented from deportation with the DREAM Act and give them a pathway to citizenship!

     

    He'll destroy the gerrymandering and voter ID nonsense meant to dilute your voice and the voice of black Americans! He'll reform the police just like he did in Illinois.

     

    And he'll raise your wage to 15, and put you in a union so you won't have to suffer from scraps!

     

    This is what a reckoning sounds like! I'm asking you to join us, my friends. I'm asking you to join us at the ballot box on primary day! I'm asking you to come with us all the way to the convention! I'm asking you to fight with us on Election Day, and to come with us to Washington, D.C. We will fight! We will continue to fight! And we will fight until we win!

     

    Sen. Raphael Warnock (2 APs)
    Locations:     Fulton County, Georgia
    Target: Black Churchgoers, Black Democratic voters, Democratic Churchgoers

    • “We saw the worst of our politics over the airwaves last week. We saw a candidate come into our state and push the sort of rhetoric and falsehoods that can only divide us. I know Patrick Ridgeway. His record as a Governor of Illinois demonstrates he is committed to the cause of equality and civil rights."
    • “It was Governor Ridgeway who implemented the Obama plan to end racial profiling in traffic stops. It was Governor Ridgeway who ended the era of mass incarceration in Illinois, making sure young Black men and women were not thrown in jail for marijuana. He expunged criminal records, pardoned thousands, and demonstrated a clear commitment to the principle of the Good Samaritan. We can trust him to keep his word." 
    • “President Ridgeway is going to be our vessel and champion in word and deed. He will finally deliver on the promise of home and land ownership for the Black community with his $5,000 first time homeowner down payment grant and by building new homes and condominiums. He’s going to restore dignity in public housing by repealing the Faircloth Amendment, scrapping One Strike, and making sure every son and daughter of God has a roof over their head.”
    • “A Ridgeway Administration will serve as a ministry of Good Samaritans. He is committed to reducing poverty by more than 50% in his first term starting with restoring and expanding the Biden Child Tax Credit to $4,600/$4,000. He will deliver universal childcare, daycare, Pre-K, and family and sick leave for every citizen. And he will expand the school lunch and TANF programs. Just as the Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians in Chapter 5, Pat Ridgeway understands and believes in God’s calling to serve one another humbly in love and carry each other’s burdens.”
    • "The time of empty words and platitudes are over. Governor Ridgeway is someone we can trust. Someone we can believe in. And he is someone who unabashedly marches with us as we stand for civil rights and justice for all."

     

    Sen. Amy Klobuchar (2 APs)
    Locations:     Ramsey County, MN

    • "When it comes to standing up for working-class, everyday family values, I know Patrick Ridgeway is a man we can trust and depend on."
    • "Governor Ridgeway delivered for Illinois and he will deliver for America as president. He will restore and expand the Biden-Harris Child Tax Credit to $4,600 and $4,000 per child. We will guarantee every mother and father here today universal childcare, Pre-K, daycare, and paid medical and family leave."
    • "In a Ridgeway Administration, workers will be put first. He will pass the Employee Free Choice Act, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and guarantee universal paid family and medical sick leave to all workers in the United States."

     

    ADVERTISEMENTS

    “A Real Champion”

    Location + Cost:

    North Carolina, Morning TV Ad, $3,000,000

    Texas, Morning TV Ad, $4,000,000

    Virginia, Morning TV Ad, $3,000,000

    (ad opens with Patrick Ridgeway walking down the aisle of a grocery store)

    PATRICK RIDGEWAY: "Inflation is out of control and your share of the economy is shrinking. It doesn't have to be this way. And you deserve better. I'm running for president because it's time we put working families first again."

    (screen changes to a montage of clips of Governor Patrick Ridgeway visiting a construction site and shaking hands with workers, visiting a school classroom, and clip of him shaking hands and hugging congregants at an African-American church in South Carolina)

    PATRICK RIDGEWAY VOICE-OVER: "As Governor, I worked to create over a half of a million jobs and strengthened collective bargaining. We invested over $40 billion in our education system, prioritizing our kids. And we took a stand against gun violence and for civil rights."

    (screen changes to a montage of clips of a family gathering around the kitchen table for dinner, young college students beaming with smiles during a class, and a diverse neighborhood enjoying a picnic together on the front lawn of a home)

    PATRICK RIDGEWAY VOICE-OVER: "We need more of that in America. Let's defeat inflation by investing in families again with an expanded Child Tax Credit, universal Pre-K, community college, and paid family and medical leave. Medicare will be available and open to everyone. And we'll expand homeownership to everyone with affordable housing and protections against discrimination in lending."

    (screen returns to Ridgeway in the grocery store)

    PATRICK RIDGEWAY: "It's time to make Washington work for you again. I'm Pat Ridgeway, candidate for president, and I approve this message." 

     

    Internet Ad, "The Record Left Unspoken"

    Money: $5,000,000

    (The advertisement appears in the banner or sidebar of the webpage. It features an unflattering image of Justin Casanova-Davis. In the background behind Casanova-Davis are massive logos for the National Rifle Association and American Legislative Exchange Council)

    HEADER: "The Real Justin Casanova-Davis”

     Beneath the header is a subheader followed by a short bullet point list:

    SUBHEADER: “The Record He Doesn't Want to Talk About”

    BULLET POINTS UNDER SUBHEADER

    • “Signed ‘Stand Your Ground’ law in Ohio with the support of the NRA.
    • Approved multiple executions as Governor of Ohio, refusing pleas to intervene.
    • Opposed legalizing even medicinal marijuana while running Ohio.
    • Tried defunding K-12 schools.
    • Closed multiple hospitals with budget cuts.”

    BOLD TEXT AT BOTTOM: “We can’t trust Justin Casanova-Davis”

    (at the bottom of the ad is a button reading “Delive Real Change”. If the user clicks the button or any other portion of the ad, it will take them to the Ridgeway campaign website

     

    TARGETED OUTREACH (11 APs) 

    Locations: (1) Fulton County, GA, (2) Wake County, NC, (3) Mecklenburg County, NC, (4) Fairfax County, Virginia

    Topic: Civil Rights

    Target: Black Democratic Voters

    "I am committed to protecting and expanding civil rights for Black Americans. I will pass the John Lewis Voting Rights, end racist gerrymandering, ending the era of mass incarceration, taking on discriminatory Voter ID laws, and true police reform."

     

    Locations: (1) Wake County, NC, (2) Mecklenburg County, NC, (3) Dallas County, TX, (4) Memphis, TN

    Topic: Reduce Poverty Now

    Target: Lower-income Voters

    "I will restore the Biden Child Tax Credit to $4,600 and $4,000 per child, raise the minimum wage to $15, deliver universal paid family sick leave, guarantee childcare, daycare, and Pre-K, I will expand housing by lifting the Fairclotch amendment, establishing a firstime homebuyers down payment grant of $5,000, expanding SNAP and School Lunch programs for children."

     

    Locations: (1) Harris County, TX, (2) Dallas County, TX, (3) Bexar County, TX 

    Topic: Protect Hispanic Families

    Target: Hispanic Voters

    "I will pass the DREAM Act and establish a pathway to citizenship for law-abiding undocumented families. I will also protect Hispanic families from economic exploitation through organizations like the United Farm Workers by passing an Employee Free Choice Act, guaranteeing universal healthcare with a Medicare enrollment option, and expanding homeownership by boosting the supply of homes and providing a $5,000 downpayment grant."

     

    FUNDRAISING

    Fundraising Targets: Civil Rights organizations, Construction industry, Unions

    Fundraising Methods: Emailing List, High Dollar Galas

    Fundraising Focus: 

    Civil Rights organizations

    • I pledge to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights, end racist gerrymandering, ending the era of mass incarceration, taking on discriminatory Voter ID laws, and true police reform.
    • I will protect Americans from mass deportation by passing the DREAM Act and establishing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
    • I will crack down on discriminatory financial practices by requiring positive rent payments to be included in credit scores and directing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to focus on redlining and unfair lending practices for minorities.

    Construction Industry

    • I will establish a $20 billion annual grant program to bankroll housing developments and condominium construction throughout the United States. I will also lift the Faircloth Amendment to make new public housing plans a reality again. I will also provide an additional $5 billion to builders per year to expedite worker training and navigation of complicated state and local laws. 
    • I plan to expand upon the Biden Infrastructure bill with an additional $100 billion of infrastructure spending. This will be focused primarily on home and facility reconstruction and development.
    • I will establish a 50% tax writeoff for the construction and development of new factories and facilities in the United States. This means more demand for builders like you from top businesses located here in America. 

    Unions

    • I will pass the Employee Free Choice Act, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and guarantee universal paid family and medical sick leave to all workers in the United States.
    • I will require a representative from the National Labor Relations Board to present and involved in all trade talks and disputes. This representative will have a history with a union and will have final say on any trade deal before it is submitted before Congress. 
    • I will require the Brown-Wyden Rapid Response mechanism from the USMCA to be included in all future trade deals to guarantee unions are protected and can stop any disastrous policy from being implemented by a future administration. 

    Constituent Outreach || Sen. Clint Dickens

    in The Airwaves

    Posted

    1200px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg.png

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Q2, 2013

     

    Dickens' Speaks on Senate Floor for Stability and Freedom Act

    WASHINGTON D.C. — Senator Clint Dickens spoke on the Senate floor this morning urging passage of his Stability and Freedom for Syria Act. Below are his remarks.

     

     

    Quote

     

    "Mr. President,

     

    As the lead sponsor of the Stability and Freedom for Syria Act, I thank this Chamber and our esteemed colleague, the Senator from the great Commonwealth of Virginia, for docketing this bill. For over two years now, the Syrian Civil War has spiraled out of control into a cyclone of death and destruction. Tens of thousands of Syrians have been killed, many due to chemical weapons being unleashed on the civilian populace. The satanic barbarity of Bashar al-Assad has bred instability in the region. And that instability has given rise to terrorism. Just as our inaction in Afghanistan, Yemen, and post-invasion Iraq gave way to destabilization and terror, so too will Syria become both a new breeding ground of senseless mayhem and the source of the worst humanitarian catastrophe in a generation.

     

    Now, there are some in this chamber who are wary that any U.S. response to this crisis will lead to yet another prolonged Middle Eastern conflict. I share your concerns and join you in opposing any U.S. troops getting involved.

     

    There are some who raise concerns about the unity of the Syrian resistance to Assad. I too share your worries.

     

    And there are some who ask what will happen next for Syria, if and when Bashar al-Assad is toppled and either ends up either at the Hague or disposed of in an unmarked grave. Your questions are the questions that I and so many here have asked ourselves in the days leading up to today.

     

    The best possible answer to these many questions is this bill. If you want to keep American boys and girls out of harm's way, the Stability and Freedom Act is our best hope. If you wish to provide the State Department and CIA the resources necessary to unify the Syrian resistance and flip both insurgent and bureaucrat alike, the Stability and Freedom Act is our best hope. And if you wish to see a new day for Syria where men, women, and children can live free of the clouds of both tyranny and chemicals, the Stability and Freedom Act is their best hope.

     

    This bill does not authorize military intervention. It does not give the executive branch carte blanche. And it does not set goals out of reach of both the Syrian people and our own capabilities. The mission is clear: restore stability to Syria by replacing Assad with a unified and capable coalition government that respects the freedoms and liberties of the Syrian people. And this we will do by utilizing every facet of the Departments of Defense and State, the CIA, FBI, and beyond in a coordinated and unified effort. You cannot end this war with just guns or butter alone. And at the end of the day, what will decide the fate of Syria is not American boots on the ground in Aleppo, but our guidance and assistance right here and right now in Washington.

     

    There are some in this chamber and in this country who are so numbed by politics or the trauma of past conflicts that they are blind to the suffering of the Syrian people. Do not shield your eyes any longer. Do not look away. And do not pretend that playing dead will make the wolf go away. Assad, his cronies, and the terrorists exploiting the situation will only go stronger if we fail to act now. If you wish to end the suffering, break the cycle of war and terror, and keep American troops out of harm's way, this is the opportunity to do so. 

     

    Thank you and I yield the floor."

     

     

    Debate- Stability and Freedom for Syria Act

    in Senate

    Posted

    Mr. President,

     

    As the lead sponsor of the Stability and Freedom for Syria Act, I thank this Chamber and our esteemed colleague, the Senator from the great Commonwealth of Virginia, for docketing this bill. For over two years now, the Syrian Civil War has spiraled out of control into a cyclone of death and destruction. Tens of thousands of Syrians have been killed, many due to chemical weapons being unleashed on the civilian populace. The satanic barbarity of Bashar al-Assad has bred instability in the region. And that instability has given rise to terrorism. Just as our inaction in Afghanistan, Yemen, and post-invasion Iraq gave way to destabilization and terror, so too will Syria become both a new breeding ground of senseless mayhem and the source of the worst humanitarian catastrophe in a generation.

     

    Now, there are some in this chamber who are wary that any U.S. response to this crisis will lead to yet another prolonged Middle Eastern conflict. I share your concerns and join you in opposing any U.S. troops getting involved.

     

    There are some who raise concerns about the unity of the Syrian resistance to Assad. I too share your worries.

     

    And there are some who ask what will happen next for Syria, if and when Bashar al-Assad is toppled and either ends up either at the Hague or disposed of in an unmarked grave. Your questions are the questions that I and so many here have asked ourselves in the days leading up to today.

     

    The best possible answer to these many questions is this bill. If you want to keep American boys and girls out of harm's way, the Stability and Freedom Act is our best hope. If you wish to provide the State Department and CIA the resources necessary to unify the Syrian resistance and flip both insurgent and bureaucrat alike, the Stability and Freedom Act is our best hope. And if you wish to see a new day for Syria where men, women, and children can live free of the clouds of both tyranny and chemicals, the Stability and Freedom Act is their best hope.

     

    This bill does not authorize military intervention. It does not give the executive branch carte blanche. And it does not set goals out of reach of both the Syrian people and our own capabilities. The mission is clear: restore stability to Syria by replacing Assad with a unified and capable coalition government that respects the freedoms and liberties of the Syrian people. And this we will do by utilizing every facet of the Departments of Defense and State, the CIA, FBI, and beyond in a coordinated and unified effort. You cannot end this war with just guns or butter alone. And at the end of the day, what will decide the fate of Syria is not American boots on the ground in Aleppo, but our guidance and assistance right here and right now in Washington.

     

    There are some in this chamber and in this country who are so numbed by politics or the trauma of past conflicts that they are blind to the suffering of the Syrian people. Do not shield your eyes any longer. Do not look away. And do not pretend that playing dead will make the wolf go away. Assad, his cronies, and the terrorists exploiting the situation will only go stronger if we fail to act now. If you wish to end the suffering, break the cycle of war and terror, and keep American troops out of harm's way, this is the opportunity to do so. 

     

    Thank you and I yield the floor. 

     

     

    Netroots Nation '13

    in The Airwaves

    Posted

     

    U.S. Senator from Minnesota

    Chair of the Democratic National Committee

    Clint Dickens

     

    "My fellow progressives, I am honored to be here today. This is a joyous occasion. There are many reasons for hope. But let's not mince words. 

     

    For the last several decades there has been disconnect between the people and those elected to represent them. Though the marvels of modern transportation make Washington D.C. closer than ever, our politics have never felt more detached and disinterested in the needs of the regular American. And now we have ourselves an Administration so utterly and pathetically comfortable situated in the cespool of corruption that they cannot see the peril they have placed this nation.

     

    Diaz and the Republicans won in 2012 by promising they would restore law and order, equal justice, national security, and the American dream. Is that what you see right now in your America?

     

    When the President and Attorney General hide their corrupt deference to Wall Street behind mounds of corporate donations, there is no law and order.

     

    When they nominate an unqualified, evasive, and philosophically opaque ideologue to the Supreme Court who receives a thunderous applause from the far-right, there is no peace of mind for women, minorities, and working people in America. 

     

    When the Commander in Chief says nothing, does nothing, and reclines on the sideline as a brutal dictator gasses his own people to death in the city streets, there is no national security or defense to count on.

     

    And when working families are forced to hand over $700 billion to bail out the banks, but can't even count on there being dependable health insurance, housing, or a dignified job to live on, don't tell me the American dream is alive and well.

     

    This Administration is everything wrong with our politics — satisfied with doing nothing to help everyday, real Americans, as long as their waterbed of wealth and privilege remains intact. They refuse to lead. And every American sees it on their television screens and feels it in their wallets and savings.

     

    But let us not get so high and mighty that we miss where we have fallen short. ObamaCare was an enormous step in the right direction, yet still catered to the insurance companies while leaving millions uninsured. We can do better. Dodd-Frank was essential, but failed to hold a single damn banker accountable for the Recession. We can do better. Killing Bin Laden was historic, but terror remains a growing threat under this Republican Administration. We can do better And while we did prevent a second Depression, we did not do nearly enough to elevate and insulate middle-income households.

     

    We can do better. And we will do better.

     

    Rather than puff out our chests or pat ourselves on the back, now should be the moment we roll up our sleeves and stand for something again. My fellow progressives, the sun must finally set on cocktail conservatism and lacecurtain liberalism if America is to ever again live up to its promise. 

     

    America needs a reinvigorated Democratic Party, not one that buys into the fractured premise of left versus right, but one that stands up for right against wrong. We need a party that is fearless in the defense of the working American. We need bold, fearless leadership. And that new Democratic Party is here.

     

    As the U.S. Senator from great state of Minnesota, I spearheaded the effort to pass the FAIR Resolution. Every crooked billionaire is now on notice. When we regain the White House in three years, Democrats will appoint a special counsel. And we will give the American people justice and closure for the crimes committed by Wall Street.

     

    Our caucus has rallied behind my Stability and Freedom for Syria Act, doing what this president refuses to do which is lead on the issue of Syria. Unlike Diaz, we will not use the lingering smokeclouds of chemicals to mask inaction. We are committed and ready to stand for freedom, crack down on Assad, and keep our troops out of any future escalatory conflict.

     

     While this President ignores Congress behind an army of lobbyists, I proposed and rallied bipartisan support for the ETHICS Act. We Democrats are committed to pushing K-Street out of our Capitol and preventing politicians from using your tax dollars and sensitive information to get rich on the stock market. 

     

    And while Republicans will continue to throw hail mary after hail mary throw to repeal the Affordable Care Act, we Democrats will work to guarantee every American has healthcare and the basic necessities to live and survive. It is time for this party to wholeheartedly embrace and guarantee every American without insurance is covered by the Medicare program. It is time for us expand the Child Tax Credit to guarantee no son or daughter of this country grows up in poverty. We are committed to bringing back working class jobs and defending union rights by raising the minimum wage, strengthening collective bargaining, and taxing offshore profits. No matter who you are, what your name is, where you come from, or what you do for a living, we stand for you, we will defend you, and we will be your champion.

     

    We Democrats are about the dignity and worth of every American. It is a creed passed down from generation to generation of Americans. And it must be our battle cry as we head forward into 2014, 2016, and beyond. When it comes to this sacred belief, we will not apologize. We will not compromise. And we will not rest until America finally lives up to its promise again for the working American.

     

    Thank you. God bless you all. And God bless the United States of America." 

     

    Constituent Outreach || Sen. Clint Dickens

    in The Airwaves

    Posted

    1200px-Seal_of_the_United_States_Senate.svg.png

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Q2, 2013

     

    Dickens' Stability and Freedom Act Garners Bipartisan Support

    WASHINGTON D.C. — Senator Clint Dickens spoke to the press this morning about the growing support for his Stability and Freedom for Syria Act.

     

    "The U.S. Senate is sending a clear and unmistakable message to the world. We refuse to stand idly by as Bashar al-Assad, a sad, little, insecure man, gasses innocent women and children to maintain his pathetic grip on power. He and his regime must fall. And the United States must do its part in restoring stability and a democratic foundation for the Syrian people. I thank Senate Majority Leader John Starnes for his support and assurance that the people of Syria will not be forgotten. I appreciate Senate Minority Leader Cole and so many others for their support as well. Now it is time for the White House to follow the lead of Congress and back the Stability and Freedom Act. Let's hear the President send Assad and his toadies a clear warning shot of the impending hell that awaits them for their atrocities. And let's give the people of Syria and the world their future and security back. Let's pass this bill now." 

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