America Votes

Before we post our recent findings on the Republican Victory Fund, we came across some other, rather disturbing, bits of information which we thought we should pass along.  We'll present the information in two separate entries so as to not confuse the different affiliations.


The first installment will be on an Independent Expenditure group called America Votes who registered in Arizona on October 17, 2012.  Joan Fitz-Gerald is the President of America Votes which is headquartered in Washington D.C.

Partners of America Votes include:

Arizona AFL-CIO
Arizona SEIU
UFCW Local 99
AFSCME Local 3111
Emily's List
Arizona List (Committee for Pro-choice Democratic Women)
NEA
NAACP
Planned Parenthood
NARAL-Pro Choice
Center for Community Change


Of course, we're familiar with groups like the AFL-CIO, SEIU, NEA, and Planned Parenthood.  Some of the others might seem a bit more obscure.

But, remember the Center for Community Change? 

Their "action arm" called Campaign for Community Change is an organization that donated $9000 to the leftist group, Promise Arizona, to help support "republican" Jerry Lewis during the recall election.  Jerry Lewis even chipped in a $100 donation to PAZ in June and the only candidate that PAZ helped during the primary election was Raquel Teran, Randy Parraz's community organizer sidekick.  Quid pro quo.  Wouldn't it be ironic if PAZ helps Jerry Lewis' opponent in the general election?

Also, the leaders of the Arizona AFL-CIO (Rebekah Friend and Paul Castaneda) personally helped Randy Parraz get Jerry Lewis elected.  In fact, Castaneda is the treasurer of Moving Mesa Forward, Parraz and Chad Snow's creation which donated over $6500 to help Bob Worsley defeat Russell Pearce in the 2012 primary election.  Someone might want to inform Snow that they owe $150 in late fees for their group.

So, imagine our surprise when we noticed that America Votes contributed to Jerry Lewis' Democratic opponent, Ed Ableser.

What?  Wait a second...the same groups that helped Jerry Lewis get elected during the recall are now donating to his opposition?  

And not only are they donating to support Ed Ableser but they are also donating to Andrew Sherwood's campaign.  Sherwood was a big help to Parraz during the recall effort.  He was also the best man at Todd Landfried's wedding.

Sherwood and Landfried, spokesman for the Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform:

Landfried and Lydia Guzman:

Raquel Teran, Randy Parraz and AFL-CIO Paul Castaneda

Todd Landfried hugging Jerry Lewis on election night:

 

Who would have EVER seen that coming?

Remember when the Director of Center for Community Change, Deepak Bhargava, said this on Obama's Poverty Agenda?

Three ingredients necessary for transformational change to happen.
(6:17) "We do need visionary leadership that's capable of building durable coalitions. We need crisis, economic, foreign policy or otherwise, that force the breakdown of old paradigms and old ways of seeing the world. And most importantly, we need independent social movements that create public will to generate ideas that will deliver votes."

and this on immigration.

"...a group of immigrant leaders approached me and the Center for Community Change with the idea of doing a national campaign to win legalization for the growing population of undocumented people in the US. At that time, the topic was unspeakable in polite Washington conversation discourse—no politician, no national advocacy organization would tackle it. Partly because of the extraordinary quality of the leaders that approached us, and partly because it was so clear that we couldn’t be an anti-poverty organization without tackling immigration, we decided to go all-in.

We helped to form what was the earliest pro-legalization coalition in the country,

and we’ve been in it ever since."

 

 

Turning Arizona blue.

Arizona Accountability Project

On September 10th, an independent expenditure group registered under the name the Arizona Accountability Project.

The Chairman of the group is Linda Somo and the Treasurer listed is Joseph Losada.

Losada is the CPA for the illegal immigrant sympathizer organization Valle del Sol   who is part of another lawsuit against SB1070.  The group claims that they might be discriminated against simply because of their name. 

One of the Senior management members for Valle del Sol is Luz Sarmina. Sarmina is also a member of "The Real Arizona Coalition" which includes groups such as Chicanos por la Causa, proponents of the Arizona Accord, Todd Landfried from the Arizona Employers for Immigration Reform, Friendly House, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, etc. Many of whom are listed as plaintiffs in the lawsuit.


Linda Somo is the President of the Arizona Education Association-Retired organization.

Linda Somo also hosted a meet and greet with Bob Worsley during the primary campaign sponsored by the Mesa Education Association.  When it was discovered that the Mesa Education Association was an affiliate of the Saul Alinsky Industrial Areas Foundation, the meet and greet invite information was scrubbed from Worsley's Facebook page.



Mesa Education Association (May 9, 2012)

Join friends and neighbors to meet the candidate Bob Worsley...Republican candidate for AZ State Senate in new LD25. Monday, May 14 6:30 PM 4240 E. Hope St. Mesa, AZ 85205 RSVP to Linda Somo at Lsomo@cox.net. Refreshments provided.

The Arizona Accountability Project has received $300,000 from another IE called Revive Arizona Now.  Joseph Losada is listed as the treasurer for both funds. 

Revive Arizona Now received funding from:

Great Schools Now - $50k
NEA - $266k
UFCW - $90k
Building Arizona's Future $20k
Arizona LIST PAC - $5k
Mi Familia Vota - $50k
Southwest Regional Carpenters $100k


The Arizona Accountability Project has since donated to either advocate the election or defeat of candidates in the upcoming general election.  Such as:

Advocating election of Tom Chabin - Democrat District 6 running against Republican Chester Crandell   $146k

Advocating defeat of Joe Ortiz - Republican District 8 running against Democrat Barbara McGuire $116k

Advocating defeat of Jerry Lewis - Republican District 26 running against Democrat Ed Ableser  $75k

Advocating defeat of John McComish - Republican District 18 running against Democrat Jane Hydrick  $97k

Advocating defeat of Frank Antenori - Republican District 10 running against Democrat David Bradley  $40k


We couldn't understand why Mr. Lewis would choose to mingle with radical leftists during the recall election.  It didn't make sense why Mr. Worlsey would chose to pander to a group of leftists during the primary election.  Linda Somo donated $50 to his campaign.  We also couldn't figure out why those on Worsley's campaign upon learning about Ms. Somo, chose to push the narrative that she was just a "harmless grandma having a few neighbors over for cookies." 

It appears that the "harmless grandma" has contributed over $36k to defeat Worsley's pal, Jerry Lewis, in spite of the fact that these groups (Valle del Sol, Chicanos por la Causa, Todd Landfried, etc) helped Lewis win the recall election. 

Oops.


The sweet grandma also gave another $30k to defeat Lewis' other Buddie, John McComish. 

Rich Crandall, John McComish, Bob Worsley, Jerry Lewis, Adam Driggs on Primary Election night.

Partnering with ignorant and willful "Republicans",  just another way the left is turning Arizona blue.


Up next.....the Republican Victory Fund

What Did Randy Parraz Expect?

Parraz and his groupies showed up to the Maricopa County Board Of Supervisors meeting the day the Supervisors were prepared to vote on a $3.25 million settlement for the family of Debra Braillard, who died in a county jail.  While there, Parraz and his toadies did nothing but cause an unnecessary distraction, as usual.  This is just another example of the community organizer's idea of a "non-violent, direct action" protest.

Only this time, it backfired.

And in true community organizer fashion, he then turned around and blamed others for his actions.  Just like another community organizer we know. 


See the spectacle for yourself.

Obama Recycles

 

 

Obama's Audacity: Indoctrination Of Our School Children

This video was taken at an elementary school celebrating MLK day.  In the background you can hear King's speech.  On the video itself, one can only see images of the new self-appointed King.

Four Years Of An Obama White House: The Audacity.

What four years of an Obama White House has given us.

Remember when....

Obama promised in his 2008 campaign that "When there is a bill that ends up on my desk as president, you will have five days to look online and find out what's in it before I sign it?"


Obama also promised in his 2008 campaign that he would broadcast negotiations on C-SPAN because he wanted the American people to see so that they would not be done behind closed doors?


Obama received a "Transparency Award" in a secret, closed door presentation?


Obama received the Nobel Peace Prize for doing absolutely nothing?


Obama took over the student loan industry  and barred private lenders from making government-guaranteed loans which strapped taxpayers with $100B in student loans per year and the risk that it will ever be paid back?  And then Obama capped the minimum payment from 15% of one's discretionary income to 10% as well as decreased the number of years when the remaining loan would be forgiven from 25 to 20 years?


Remember when.....


Obama broke the record for the number of unaccountable Czars that he appointed in an effort to circumvent Congress?


Obama's "Safe Schools" Czar, Kevin Jennings, admitted that the goal was to get a gay/lesbian curriculum in our public schools?  Jennings also claimed that school vouchers are anti-gay?  Oh, and that they put together a film intended to be shown in US history classes in our public schools?  They also acknowledged that it is hard to win this fight in a parochial school, "Lord forbid a Baptist or Mormon school?"


Obama injected himself into our children's schools to speak to them at the beginning of the school year?  Part of his 2009 speech said, "You’ll need the knowledge and problem-solving skills you learn in science and math to cure diseases like cancer and AIDS, and to develop new energy technologies and protect our environment. You’ll need the insights and critical thinking skills you gain in history and social studies to fight poverty and homelessness, crime and discrimination, and make our nation more fair and more free. You’ll need the creativity and ingenuity you develop in all your classes to build new companies that will create new jobs and boost our economy. "


His 2010 speech wasn't much better.  Parental involvement came in third on his list of priorities.  He said, "So, you have an obligation to yourselves, and America has an obligation to you to make sure you’re getting the best education possible. It will take all of us in government doing our part to prepare our students, all of them, for success in the classroom, in college, and in a career. It will take an outstanding principal and outstanding teachers; teachers who go above and beyond for their students. And it will take parents who are committed to your education.  That’s what we have to do for you. That’s our responsibility. That’s our job. "

He also took the opportunity to point out "diversity" and plug his "anti-bullying" campaign by saying, "When I was your age, I was wrestling with questions about who I was; about what it meant to be the son of a white mother and a black father..Some of you may be working through your own questions right now, and coming to terms with what makes you different...And I know that figuring all that out can be even more difficult when you’ve got bullies in class who try to use those differences to pick on you or poke fun at you; We shouldn’t be embarrassed by the things that make us different. We should be proud of them."   A month later, Obama launched his "anti-gay" bullying campaign. (see Kevin Jennings above)

By 2011, Obama's new school year speech didn't even mention parents involvement in their children's education. 


Remember when.....

Obama declared a national emergency for the swine flu (H1N1) and recommended that those in the high risk categories such as pregnant women and the elderly should be vaccinated?  And then remember that a report came out later which showed that there was a 2,400% increase in H1N1 vaccine-related "fetal demise?"


Obama forced the closure of GM car dealerships as part of the auto industry bailout and then reports later showed that many of the dealerships retained were minority or woman-owned?  And that a disproportionate number of Obama-forced closings were of rural dealerships in areas unfriendly to Obama in 2008?  And that thousands of jobs were unnecessarily lost due to Obama's "mandate for shared sacrifice?"


Obama tried to use his Justice Department to shut down Gibson Guitars back in  2009  and again in 2011, while Michelle Obama gave a Gibson Guitar as a gift to the French Prime Minister's wife, Carla Bruni-Sarkosy ?


Obama said that the Republicans shouldn't allow the debt ceiling to be used to put a "gun against the heads of Americans" just six months after Gabby Giffords was shot?  Because remember, Democrats used the tragedy to attack Republicans like Sarah Palin, even implying that she was personally responsible because she "targeted" vulnerable Democrats.


Obama criticized Bush for being "irresponsible" and "unpatriotic" by increasing our debt and then said he would cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term?

Obama claimed a Cambridge, Massachusetts cop "acted stupidly" without having any of the facts when the police arrested Obama's friend, Henry Louis Gates Jr?


Obama said in 2006, "If we don't take these steps now (subsidize renewable energy) there's going to be a day when we look back at that $3.05 or $3.15 gasoline as the good old days?"


Remember when....
Obama insulted our ally, Great Britain, over and over and over?  First, by removing the Winston Churchill bust from the Oval Office, then giving a completely useless DVD set to the Prime Minister and and iPod to the Queen?  Then there was the issue of the Falkland Islands, BP and claiming France was our biggest ally in the region?
 

Then remember when....


Obama was dissed by Queen Elizabeth for his embarrassing toast?


and

Obama dissed Netanyahu?


and

The Dalai Lama was greeted by trash as he left the White House?


 
Remember when....


Obama said in 2006, "I agree with most Americans, with Democrats and Republicans, with Vice President Cheney, with over 2,000 religious leaders of all different beliefs, that decisions about marriage, as they always have, should be left to the states,"  but then has opposed state ballot measures banning same-sex marriage in California, North Carolina, Minnesota?


Obama said in his Presidential announcement speech, "And when all else fails, when Katrina happens, or the death toll in Iraq mounts, we've been told that our crises are somebody elses fault. We're distracted from our real failures, and told to blame the other party, or gay people, or immigrants.  And as people have looked away in disillusionment and frustration, we know what's filled the void. The cynics, and the lobbyists, and the special interests who've turned our government into a game only they can afford to play. They write the checks and you get stuck with the bills, they get the access while you get to write a letter" and then proceeded to fill his administration with lobbyists?


Obama pledged to not accept campaign donations from lobbyists?


Obama pronounced "Corpsman" "Corpse man?"

 
 
And finally, remember when Obama said,"My Presidency will be a one-term proposition if the economy doesn't turn around in three years?"

Let's remember to hold him to it!

Obama's REAL Voter Suppression: Our Military

Obama and his (in)justice department have been out in full force attempting to strike down state laws which would require a photo ID to vote.  These laws are deemed "racist" by the Obama administration because they feel that it disenfranchises minorities who evidently don't think voting is important enough to go to the DMV and obtain a free ID. 

But, needing a photo ID in order to get on an airplane, buy alcohol or cash a check is fine. 


While we have been distracted by this non-story, the focus has been taken away from the REAL voter suppression which is going on in this country against our own military.


Obama knew after he was first elected that he needed to plan ahead for his reelection campaign.  He knew that while he enjoyed 54% of the military vote in 2008, that it was an anomaly as generally, military votes tend to lean Republican.  This time around, polls suggest Romney has a 58% approval rating amongst military members while Obama is pulling a mere 34%. 

 

So, how do you suppress the military vote?

You pass the M.O.V.E. Act.  (Military and Overseas Voter Empowerment Act) which was one of the first things Obama did once he took office in 2009.

The MOVE Act requires the Pentagon to create an “installation voting assistance office” (IVAO) for every military base close to a combat zone.  (Shouldn't the DoD be tasked with focusing on our DEFENSE?)  IVAOs are supposed to help military personnel and make it easier for them to register to vote.  But IVAOs can’t help anybody vote if they don’t even exist.  See, Congress PASSED the M.O.V.E. Act, they just didn't FUND it.

But, that was kind of the plan, wasn't it?  Over promise, under deliver.  

A recent report by the Department of Defense’s inspector general found that in half of the 229 overseas military installations the DoD hadn’t set up the IVAO facilities that the law mandates.  The DoD inspector general tried to contact each one of the 229 offices listed on the military's own voting assistance website. It only managed to get ahold of 114, less than 50 percent.


Pam Mitchell, the interim director of the Federal Voting Assistance Program (FVAP), told reporters that there's an explanation for that.  She said,

 

"The contact information they used very simply was outdated.  In a military environment, things change. Phone numbers change, email addresses change."

She doesn't know the phone number or email for half of our military bases?

So, how do you resolve this problem?

 

You do what the Obama administration always does...grant waivers.

The Defense Department has granted waivers to states that claim to be unable to mail absentee ballots to soldiers in the required 45 days before Election Day in order to ensure that the ballots will have time to be mailed back. 

It is no surprise to learn that in 2010 all the jurisdictions that received waivers under the MOVE Act were won by President Obama in the 2008 election. (Delaware, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Washington). 


Then we have the Department of Justice/Civil Rights Division to make sure that the newly passed law is being properly implemented, headed by Eric Holder.  THIS  Eric Holder:

As a freshman at Columbia University in 1970, future Attorney General Eric Holder participated in a five-day occupation of an abandoned Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) headquarters with a group of black students later described by the university’s Black Students’ Organization as “armed,” The Daily Caller has learned.

What could possibly go wrong?


 Tom Perez from the Civil Rights division said,

 

"People who are serving our nation should have the right to cast a ballot and ensure that that ballot is counted.  And so we will continue to vigilantly enforce [the] law to make sure that happens."

 

He SOUNDS tough.  But then you look at his actions which speak louder than his words.

Let's see how Perez enforced the law in Illinois.  In 2010, the democratically controlled state failed to mail ballots to its military members in nearly 1/3 of the state's counties.  Perez allowed 6 of the 35 counties who were not in compliance to extend the postmark deadline one whole day, from November 1 to November 2.  Voters in the other 29 counties were out of luck.


Disgusted by the actions of the Department of Justice, three House Republicans, including Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith of Texas and Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Howard McKeon of California, wrote a letter to Perez saying public records and media reports "have painted a picture of widespread noncompliance" with the MOVE Act that was "aided and abetted by an enforcement authority that is entirely ineffective."

They continued:

"What we find most troubling about this situation is the Department of Justice, which has the sole and exclusive authority to bring actions to enforce [the law], not only failed to ensure compliance but apparently was not even aware when widespread noncompliance occurred."

Probably because Perez was too busy helping illegal alien sympathizers sue Arizona over alleged "racial profiling" and fighting to drop voter suppression cases involving the Black Panthers.


Fast forward to 2012.


The number of absentee ballots requested by military members has seen a SIGNIFICANT drop from previous years.  And by significant, we mean game-changing.

Percent of military members requesting absentee ballots in 2012:

Florida  15.7%
Alaska  7.6%
Nevada  6.8%
Louisiana  6.4%
Colorado  6.2%
Illinois  5.3%
Ohio  3.3%
North Carolina  1.7%
Virginia 1.4%


Let's take a closer look at the numbers.  The first number is the number of absentee ballot requests from 2008.  The second number is for 2012:

Florida        86,926/37,953
Alaska         11,882/3878
Nevada           4919/1750
Louisiana        6796/1983
Colorado        5104/2986
Illinois            9858/3532
Ohio             13,317/1806
North Carolina 13,508/1859
Virginia           20,738/1746


To put these numbers in perspective, there are a total of 116,393 FEWER ballots requested and potential votes cast in 2012 compared to 2008.  If Romney maintains his 58% military support, that means roughly 67,500 FEWER votes he will be able to receive.


This would translate to a loss of the following votes for Romney:

Florida    -28,000
Nevada      -1800
Colorado    -1200
Ohio           -6675
North Carolina   -6750
Virginia     -11,000


Is it any coincidence that most of the states listed above are swing states?  Currently, these states show only a 1-2% difference in the polls between Romney and Obama.  Don't forget, Florida went to George W. Bush by only a few hundred votes. 


Aside from the obvious contempt that Obama has towards our military, why is there such an attempt to silence the military vote?

 

Because, soldiers can’t fight back.

The military can't openly complain about their Commander-in-Chief and they are too busy fighting for our freedom and our right to vote.


http://www.heroesvote.org/