Politics - Parties, Candidates
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from politicians, candidates and interested parties - covering the U.S. political arena including state and national political parties.
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Ohio Democratic Party: Mike Turner Voted to Allow the Confederate Flag to Fly at the Citadel
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 4 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following news:
In 2016 during the National Defense Authorization Act markup, Congressman Mike Turner voted with his fellow Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee to adopt an amendment effectively overriding a Democratic proposal to end ROTC support for The Citadel if it continued flying the Confederate flag.
"Time and time again, Mike Turner has had the opportunity to stand up to racism, and time and time again, he has voted the other way," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper. "Ohioans should be proud of their
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COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 4 -- The Ohio Democratic Party issued the following news:
In 2016 during the National Defense Authorization Act markup, Congressman Mike Turner voted with his fellow Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee to adopt an amendment effectively overriding a Democratic proposal to end ROTC support for The Citadel if it continued flying the Confederate flag.
"Time and time again, Mike Turner has had the opportunity to stand up to racism, and time and time again, he has voted the other way," said Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper. "Ohioans should be proud of theirheritage as a Union state with many soldiers who died fighting against slavery, so it begs the question why any Ohio representative would vote in favor of allowing the Confederate flag to fly at a military college that trains our next generation of leaders."
"The Confederate flag is an offensive symbol of treason, and it is fundamentally un-American," said Ohio Democratic Party Vice Chairwoman Rhine McLin. "Mike Turner should have done the right thing, but instead he voted with his party. Ohioans can't trust Turner because he says one thing in Dayton, but he votes another way when he's in Washington."
Turner's record of failing to stand up to racism also includes his vote against condemning Donald Trump's racist attack on his fellow members of Congress, his failure to condemn state Sen. Steve Huffman's offensive comments, his 2019 vote against closing the Charleston loophole and his vote last week against the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
Montana Democratic Party: Troy Downing Lied to Montanans, Violated Hunting Licensing Laws
HELENA, Montana, July 4 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release:
As Montanans head into the Fourth of July weekend ready to take advantage of our pristine public lands, candidate for State Auditor Troy Downing will be enjoying regained privileges after having to forfeit his improperly acquired hunting and fishing licenses in 2018.
In 2017, Downing was charged with nine hunting violations on instances ranging from 2011 to 2016, and pled guilty in July of 2018 to having obtained resident hunting licenses as a non-resident and unlawfully procuring a license or permit.
Downing's
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HELENA, Montana, July 4 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release:
As Montanans head into the Fourth of July weekend ready to take advantage of our pristine public lands, candidate for State Auditor Troy Downing will be enjoying regained privileges after having to forfeit his improperly acquired hunting and fishing licenses in 2018.
In 2017, Downing was charged with nine hunting violations on instances ranging from 2011 to 2016, and pled guilty in July of 2018 to having obtained resident hunting licenses as a non-resident and unlawfully procuring a license or permit.
Downing'sresidency over the period in question was described as "seasonal at best" by investigators, but that didn't stop him from attempting to skirt residency requirements and avoid paying his fair share.
"This will be the first Fourth of July Troy Downing will be allowed to fish on his own license since he was handed down a ban for lying about his residency status," said MDP Communications Director Nathan Stein. "We hope he enjoys it!"
Montana Democratic Party: Daines Voted to Gut Consumer Protections for Veterans
HELENA, Montana, July 4 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release:
While Steve Daines has waxed poetic about his support for veterans, he supported a measure to strip away their financial protections. Service members and veterans are often disproportionately targeted by predatory lenders, yet Daines voted to overturn a consumer protection rule which barred companies from "including clauses that waive a consumer's right to join class-action suits."
Veterans groups, like the American Legion, vocally opposed efforts to gut the regulations - saying it would not accept a future
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HELENA, Montana, July 4 -- The Montana Democratic Party issued the following news release:
While Steve Daines has waxed poetic about his support for veterans, he supported a measure to strip away their financial protections. Service members and veterans are often disproportionately targeted by predatory lenders, yet Daines voted to overturn a consumer protection rule which barred companies from "including clauses that waive a consumer's right to join class-action suits."
Veterans groups, like the American Legion, vocally opposed efforts to gut the regulations - saying it would not accept a futurewhere "military veterans' financial protections are chipped away to increase the margins of the financial sector."
Instead of listening to their concerns, Daines ignored them and voted with party leaders to strip the protections anyway.
"Steve Daines promises to fight for Montana's veterans, but where is he when it really matters?" said MDP Communications Advisor Christina Wilkes. "Daines is busy looking out for the interests of his Wall Street donors, while leaving those who have bravely served in our armed forces behind."
Georgia Republican Party: Privileged Liberal Jon Ossoff Calls to Defund the Police, Ignores 'Surge' in Atlanta Violent Crime
ATLANTA, Georgia, July 4 -- The Georgia Republican Party issued the following news:
While privileged liberal Jon Ossoff calls for defunding the police, violent crimes are surging in Georgia's largest city.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that from "May 31 to June 20, 75 people were shot in the city, up from 35 during the same period last year." During those three weeks, eleven individuals were reportedly killed and Atlanta Police responded to four shootings yesterday alone. Shortly after becoming the Democrat nominee, Ossoff indicated his support for the defund the police movement, stating
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ATLANTA, Georgia, July 4 -- The Georgia Republican Party issued the following news:
While privileged liberal Jon Ossoff calls for defunding the police, violent crimes are surging in Georgia's largest city.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that from "May 31 to June 20, 75 people were shot in the city, up from 35 during the same period last year." During those three weeks, eleven individuals were reportedly killed and Atlanta Police responded to four shootings yesterday alone. Shortly after becoming the Democrat nominee, Ossoff indicated his support for the defund the police movement, statingon WAOK radio that police funding should be "on the line," as radical activists around the country step up calls to slash funding for law enforcement.
Ossoff's top supporters and donors in liberal bastions like California and New York have already spent vast sums of money to support the defund the police movement and clearly see Ossoff as a reliable candidate for their radical agenda. Some of his most prominent supporters have even called for the dismantling of law enforcement in DeKalb County.
"Privileged liberal Jon Ossoff's shameless attempt to pander to the socialist fringes of his party is literally putting lives at risk," said Georgia GOP Executive Director Stewart Bragg. "Reduced funding for Georgia law enforcement would put countless families at risk while doing nothing to provide equal justice to struggling communities. Ossoff's eagerness to put his radical agenda before the safety of Georgians shows he is unfit for office."
Florida Democratic Party Call Out Trump's Failed Coronavirus Response Ahead of Pence Visit
TALLAHASSEE, Florida, July 4 -- The Florida Democratic Party issued the following news on July 3:
Mike Pence visited Tampa, Florida yesterday, amid a record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases and waning hospital capacity, to spin Donald Trump's disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic. Ahead of his trip, Florida Democrats called out the Trump administration for their politics-first, anti-science approach to dealing with this health crisis.
USA Today Network: Pence, DeSantis meet in Tampa as virus cases surge
Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo ridiculed Pence for coming to Florida
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TALLAHASSEE, Florida, July 4 -- The Florida Democratic Party issued the following news on July 3:
Mike Pence visited Tampa, Florida yesterday, amid a record-breaking surge in COVID-19 cases and waning hospital capacity, to spin Donald Trump's disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic. Ahead of his trip, Florida Democrats called out the Trump administration for their politics-first, anti-science approach to dealing with this health crisis.
USA Today Network: Pence, DeSantis meet in Tampa as virus cases surge
Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo ridiculed Pence for coming to Floridaamid the latest surge, after the Trump administration urged states to open early to help the president's re-election prospects.
"The Trump campaign spent most of May and nearly all of June going on what amounted to a victory tour, falsely claiming they succeeded in containing the outbreak and rushing states like Florida to reopen before they were ready," Rizzo said.
Florida Politics: Donna Shalala, Democratic leaders rip Trump administration
South Florida Democratic leaders blasted President Donald Trump's administration for its handling of the coronavirus epidemic Thursday morning in advance of a visit by Vice President Mike Pence.
Associated Press: Florida reports 10,000 coronavirus cases for 1st time
Before the visit, Florida Democrats held a conference call criticizing the coronavirus response from the White House and DeSantis as inadequate and needlessly endangering lives by opening up too soon and declining to mandate safety measures such as wearing of masks.
Lakeland Ledger: Democrats aim ad blitz at Pence
Vice President Mike Pence canceled a scheduled Thursday visit to Lake Wales, but the Democratic National Committee engineered a message for him in Polk County anyway. The committee arranged a 'homepage takeover' of The Ledger's website, reserving advertising space for a 24-hour period.
Tampa Bay Times: On record-breaking day, Mike Pence says Florida in a 'much better place' in coronavirus fight
Ahead of Pence's arrival, former Vice President Joe Biden, the Democratic nominee for president, blasted the Trump administration and top Florida Republicans.
"Vice President Mike Pence and Governor DeSantis have a lot in common -- most notably that both failed to effectively address the COVID-19 pandemic seriously or with urgency," Biden said in a campaign statement
Politico: Florida hits new Covid-19 record ahead of Pence visit
Ahead of Pence's visit, Democrats lashed out at the Republican response to Covid-19. "The governor has been meek, he has been following the lead of the White House," said Rep. Donna Shalala, a Miami Democrat and former head of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton. "I don't know why he ran for governor if he didn't want to make hard decisions."
NPR: Another Day, Another Coronavirus Record In Florida
The rising numbers of coronavirus cases have raised questions about DeSantis' leadership and his close ties to Trump, whom he consulted before allowing businesses to begin reopening.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Donna Shalala, who represents parts of Miami, said, "In their rush to reopen, they've put politics ahead of public health."
DNC Slams Trump Ahead of South Dakota Visit
WASHINGTON, July 4 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following statement by spokesperson John Weber on the ahead of President Trump's trip to South Dakota:
"South Dakotans - and voters across the country - don't need a president obsessed with his own photo ops, especially in the middle of a crisis.
"They need coronavirus tests, they need personal protective equipment, and they need a president who's willing and able to lead us.
"But instead of living up to the most basic responsibilities of his office this Independence Day, Donald Trump is still downplaying the virus, calling for
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WASHINGTON, July 4 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following statement by spokesperson John Weber on the ahead of President Trump's trip to South Dakota:
"South Dakotans - and voters across the country - don't need a president obsessed with his own photo ops, especially in the middle of a crisis.
"They need coronavirus tests, they need personal protective equipment, and they need a president who's willing and able to lead us.
"But instead of living up to the most basic responsibilities of his office this Independence Day, Donald Trump is still downplaying the virus, calling fora slowdown of testing, bucking social distancing guidelines, and showing Americans why we can't afford four more years of him in the White House."
BACKGROUND ON TRUMP'S FAILED CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE
Promise: "We are marshaling the full power of the federal government and the private sector to protect the American people." [Oval Office Address, 3/11/20]
* Reality: After Trump wasted time ignoring his own advisors and downplaying the coronavirus pandemic, the United States leads the world with more than 2.5 million confirmed cases and nearly 130,000 deaths
* Reality: Even in the midst of a global pandemic, Trump and the Republican Party are attempting to overturn the Affordable Care Act -- endangering health coverage for 12,000 South Dakotans and threatening protections for as many as 345,000 South Dakotans with preexisting conditions.
* Reality: Trump's testing "strategy" only aims to provide tests for 2% of South Dakotans. And even as experts warned of a coming pandemic, Trump sent record shipments of N95 masks overseas.
DNC Issues Statement on Black Male Unemployment Rate
WASHINGTON, July 4 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following statement on July 2 by Senior Advisor Antjuan Seawright and National Press Secretary Brandon Gassaway on the Black male unemployment rate rising from 15.5 percent to 16.3 percent in June:
"In the Trump economy, Black men have largely been left out and left behind. Today's numbers are staggering, but what is even more astounding is that this White House continues to pat itself on the back while millions of families fret under the uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring.
"This pandemic has been an anchor on Black communities
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WASHINGTON, July 4 -- The Democratic National Committee issued the following statement on July 2 by Senior Advisor Antjuan Seawright and National Press Secretary Brandon Gassaway on the Black male unemployment rate rising from 15.5 percent to 16.3 percent in June:
"In the Trump economy, Black men have largely been left out and left behind. Today's numbers are staggering, but what is even more astounding is that this White House continues to pat itself on the back while millions of families fret under the uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring.
"This pandemic has been an anchor on Black communitiesthroughout the country that were already struggling to sail. It has taken a disproportionate toll on our health, our jobs, and our lives--but our cries have fallen on the deaf ears of this administration.
"Instead of protecting and expanding our access to health care the Trump administration has gone to court to strip it away. Instead of helping to stabilize this economic storm they have left the Heroes Act on the shelf. Instead of working to stop the spread of this lethal virus they have traversed the country doing pep rallies and turned wearing masks into a political issue.
"This president and his administration have proven to be no friend to Black men and their families. We need leadership that solves problems rather than exacerbates them, who chooses partnership over partisanship, and puts the health and security of Americans over his own political ambition. We need to turn the page on recklessness and incompetence. We need Joe Biden."
