DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz Recognizes National Voter Registration Day

DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement recognizing National Voter Registration Day:

“Fifty years ago, hundreds of young volunteers descended on Mississippi for Freedom Summer to register Black Mississippians to vote. Despite being met with hatred and violence, the effort was an important milestone in the Civil Rights movement.

“Half a century after Freedom Summer, voter registration remains among the most effective methods by which to empower a community. Today, on National Voter Registration Day, and all days, we encourage every American to be sure they are able to exercise their right to vote.

“The Democratic Party believes that our nation and our democracy are stronger when more people participate. That is why our Voter Expansion Project is committed to more than just protecting the vote, but to expanding the vote as well. Registering new voters is one of the DNC’s top priorities in 2014 and beyond, and we have used our data and technology advantage to develop tools that allow voter registration efforts to use their finite resources most efficiently.

“Unfortunately, Republicans have made the cynical calculation that their path to victory is a smaller electorate. Obstacles to registering to vote – such as elimination of same-day registration and refusal to adopt online registration – disproportionately affect young people, women, and communities of color. These are the same groups that are fueling the growth of the Democratic Party and the key to victory for Democratic candidates – and also comprise a majority of all Americans.

“The DNC is fighting to make sure that every eligible voter can register, every registered voter can vote, and every vote cast is counted. This National Voter Registration Day, everyone should take a few minutes to visit IWillVote.com or VoyAVotar2014.com to find out how to register to vote if they haven’t already. And if you are registered to vote, sign the pledge to vote this November at Commit2Vote.com.”

The Republican Effort to Restrict Voting Rights

Republican legislatures and governors across the country have launched an unprecedented effort to restrict voting rights among traditionally Democratic voting blocs. Learn more, and find out what Democrats are doing to fight back.

Read the rest of the story.

Russell Simmons and Clyde Williams Meet With Black Bloggers

Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons and DNC national political director Clyde Williams met with a number of Black bloggers on October 29, 2010. Here are links to the blog posts that resulted from that meeting:

1. African American Pundit - Russell Simmons and DNC Host Conference Call With African American Online Community
2. Electronic Village - Russell Simmons Shares His Insights on November 2 Election With Black Bloggers

What are your thoughts on the upcoming mid-term elections?

Russell Simmons Shares His Insights on November 2 Election with Black Bloggers

Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons and DNC National Political Director Clyde Williams met earlier today with the African American online community ... including the Electronic Village. Simmons noted that he has been traveling around the country in support of President Obama and the Democratic Party. He was in Chicago yesterday ... Detroit today ... and he'll be joining with the President in Connecticut tomorrow.

Simmons' message to the Black bloggers, and through us to our readers, was simple -- The African American community needs to stay alert, stand firm in the faith, show courage, be strong (Cor. 16:13). The faith that we have placed in President Obama is useless without our works. Simmons says that our work in this case is simple:

1. Vote
2. Get those that are in our sphere of influence to vote

He acknowledged that there are a plethora of issues that face the African American community including implementation of the health care reform, prison reform, gay rights, poverty initiatives, unemployment and so on. Simmons understands that many in our community feel that the changes we wanted when President Obama took office in January 2009 have not happened fast enough.

The remedy is not to become apathetic. The remedy is not to let our nation go backwards to failed policies and leadership of the past. Rather we need to push forward and harder for the change that we want and need.

Simmons was quick to point out that the Tea Party movement can turn nation backwards in a heartbeat.

"Reaction to our president (by the Tea Party) is violent and scary and it could split our country. We need to stand up. We need to prioritize voting (on November 2) by our people."

DNC Political Director Clyde Williams noted that it is important for the DNC to stay connected with the African American online community as demonstrated by recent meetings with DNC Chairman Tim Kaine and President Barack Obama.

Williams pointed out that there is a clear choice to made on November 2nd when we enter the voting booth. We either want to make our President successful or we want him to fail. He noted the remarkable accomplishments of President Obama in the first 2 years of his administration. However, he also noted that the Republican Party is poised to turn our nation backwards in a number of ways.

Simmons did note that a number of hip-hop and R&B celebrities were also engaged in the work of turning out the vote. He noted that he has been encouraged by his recent visits around the country. Simmons has a sense that the so-called 'enthusiasm gap' is not as wide as it was earlier in the year.

---

Villagers, I was disappointed that the DNC didn't allow sufficient time for questions from the Black bloggers who were in attendance. I had two questions that I wanted to ask:

1. African Americans voters remain committed to President Obama and the DNC in a very tangible way. Why was an effort allowed by forces in the Democratic Party to get Florida senatorial candidate Kendrick Meek to step down?
2. The problem with the November 2 election isn't apathy of Black voters, it is the desertion of white middle class voters who stood with Obama in 2008 ... and now are fleeing to the GOP or Tea Party. What is the game plan to stop the bleeding of white middle class voters?

Those were two questions that I had on my mind. However, the forum didn't allow enough time for me or the other Black bloggers to ask questions.

What question(s) would you want to ask Russell Simmons or Clyde Williams if you had the opportunity?

Tim Kaine Meets With Black Bloggers

Democratic National Committee chair Tim Kaine recently met with a number of Black bloggers. Here are links to the blog posts that resulted from that meeting held last month:

1. Electronic Village - Conversation With DNC Chair Tim Kaine
2. Independent Bloggers' Alliance - DNC Chairman Meets With Black Political and Social Action Bloggers
3. Indie Business Blog - My Meeting with Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine
4. Jack & Jill Politics - Pimping of, or Influence of Black Bloggers?
5. Jeneba Speaks - 7 Things the DNC Should Do to Encourage Higher Than Expected Turnout From Its Base
6. Jeneba Speaks - Photos of My Meeting With DNC Chair Tim Kaine
7. Legal Speaks - DNC Chair Tim Kaine Meets With Black Bloggers
8. MyDD - DNC Chairman Meets With Black Bloggers
9. Politic365 - DNC Looks to Partner With Black Bloggers at Midterm, Beyond
10. The Black Snob - DNC's Tim Kaine Talks Community Outreach, Mid-Term Elections With Black Bloggers
11. TheLoop21 - How the Dems Are Preparing For Mid-Term Elections

Black Blogger Provides Sites And Scenes From The Democratic Convention

From Oliver Willis:

So here are some shots from today. I got to go on the floor for about a half hour and its pretty insane. At any given moment you could run into Ed Rendell. Not, like “Oh hi Ed Rendell”, but physically BAM Ed Rendell is on the floor and Oh My God who will bitch about MSNBC’s coverage of Obama now?

I saw Bob Schieffer walking through the hallways with an entourage as if he were relevant, as well as Jeff Greenfield talking to someone in the hallway like he knows what he’s talking about. I’m writing this from Nerd Central The Blogger Lounge, which is a row of wired up desks and some couches with way too bright lights. It is sort of a weird way to experience the convention, not quite as fake as tv, but not quite real enough to compete with reality. We’ll see how it goes.

I know some hate when I make these kinds of observations, but Fox News’ Megyn Kelly proved that in person, not everything is bad about Fox. On to the photographic nonsense (including the most ridiculous picture of Anderson Cooper ever):The religious far right continues to preach their message of love and inclusion



Go here to see the rest of the pics, including some of your favorite (or not so favorite) celebrity reporters.

Black Bloggers Connect at Democratic Convention

This Comes from African American Political Pundit blogging from Denver as a credentialed blogger.

Updating My blog regarding DNNC
by: aappundit
Tue Aug 26, 2008 at 10:54:49 AM EDT

It has taken me just a bit longer time to blog, (as I'm sure you have noticed). It was a wild and wonderful 1st day and evening at the DNC. I had the opportunity to meet plenty of people from across the nation and around the world.

I had the opportunity to meet Oliver Willis for the first time, I also had the opportunity to meet for my first time, Cheryl Contee aka Jill Tubman, of Jack and Jill Politics. I also had the pleasure of meeting Gina a great blogger at What About Our Daughters.

Cheryl Contee, Baratunde Thurston aka Jack Turner, and Oliver Willis were getting around town big time. I'm still trying to catch up with the folks from Culture Kitchen and Shawn Williams from the Dallas South Blog

I spent the whole day and evening with my wife and Adrianne at the Big Tent and then at the DNC Convention. The activites were amazing. Adrianne and I had the opportunity to be interviewed on BBC Radio at the DNC convention. Here is a link to my interview HERE.

Source BBC Radio:

2325GMT: Blogger LN Rock of africanamericanpoliticalpundit.com predicts the blogosphere will have a "significant" role in deciding the election in November. "It tells the story when you have 120 bloggers coming to the convention," he says. "Millions of people listen, watch and hear what the bloggers say. There is a disenchantment with the traditional media." He spares the BBC his criticism, saying we are "creative media." Cheers, LN.

Listen Listen to LN Rock, (African American Political Pundit)

Stay tuned as I report own the sites, sounds, and politics of the DNC. I will be updating this blog over the next two hours.

Black Bloggers On The Ground At The DNC Convention

African American Political Pundit utterz a quick podcast about making it to Denver as one of the unfortunate few; but proud black bloggers picked as DNCC media:



http://africanamericanpoliticalpundit.com/

Diverse Blogger Pool Selected for 2008 Democratic National Convention

It turns out that a record number of blogs will receive credentials for the 2008 Democratic National Convention. And it appears that the DNC leadership took time to consider the issue of diversity in this round of selections.

I am very proud of the African American bloggers who raised the red flag when the State Bloggers Corp was announced earlier this month. I am very proud of the private discussions and the very public discussions that allowed the DNC to correct a potential controversy from extending further into the summer. The end result is that our powerful politically-based Black bloggers in the afrosphere will be connecting the rest of us to the sights and sounds of a truly historic event in Denver later this year.

Never before have blogs been included in such strong numbers and provided with resources that will enable them to be the eyes and ears of so many at the Convention.

The following blogs have been credentialed:

1. 2008 Democratic Convention Watch - http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/
2. 43rdStateBlues.com - http://43rdstateblues.com/
3. AFL-CIO NOW Blog - http://blog.aflcio.org/
4. African American Political Pundit (BBR #87) - http://aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.com/
5. AMERICAblog.com - http://americablog.com/
6. Asian American Action Fund Blog - http://aaa-fund.com/
7. Badlands Blue - http://badlandsblue.com/
8. Bagnews Notes - http://bagnewsnotes.com/
9. Beliefnet - http://beliefnet.com/
10. Bitch Ph.D. - http://bitchphd.blogspot.com/
11. Blogger News Network - http://bloggernews.net/
12. Blogging For Michigan - http://bloggingformichigan.com/
13. BlogHer - http://blogher.com/
14. Blue Hampshire - http://bluehampshire.com/
15. Blue Indiana - http://blueindiana.net/
16. Blue Jersey - http://bluejersey.com/
17. Blue Mass. Group - http://bluemassgroup.com/
18. BlueGrassRoots - http://bluegrassroots.org/
19. BlueNC.com -http://bluenc.com/
20. BlueOregon -http://blueoregon.com/
21. Buckeye State Blog - http://buckeyestateblog.com/
22. Burnt Orange Report -http://burntorangereport.com/
23. Calitics - http://calitics.com/
24. Campus Progress - http://campusprogress.org/
25. Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis -http://divasblueoasis.blogspot.com/
26. Change to Win -http://changetowin.org/
27. Colorado Confidential -http://coloradoconfidential.com/
28. Cotton Mouth Blog -http://cottonmouthblog.blogspot.com/
29. CracktheBell.com -http://crackthebell.com/
30. Crooks and Liars -http://crooksandliars.com/
31. culturekitchen -http://culturekitchen.com/
32. Daily Kingfish -http://dailykingfish.com/
33. Daily Kos -http://dailykos.com/
34. Dallas South Blog (BBR #84) -http://dallassouthblog.com/
35. DCist.com -http://dcist.com/
36. Democracy Arsenal -http://democracyarsenal.org/
37. Democracy for New Mexico -http://democracyfornewmexico.com/
38. Democratic Party of the U.S. Virgin Islands -http://groups.yahoo.com/group/democratvi
39. Democratic Underground -http://democraticunderground.com/
40. Democrats Abroad Argentina -http://yanquimike.com.ar/
41. DemoOkie -http://demookie.com/
42. Digby's Hullabaloo -http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/
43. Disaboom.com -http://disaboom.com/
44. Doc's Political Parlor -http://politicalparlor.net/
45. DoubleSpeak -http://doublespeakshow.com/
46. Eschaton -http://atrios.blogspot.com/
47. EverydayCitizen.com -http://everydaycitizen.com/
48. Fired Up! -http://firedupmissouri.com/
49. Firedoglake -http://firedoglake.com/
50. Florida Progressive Coalition -http://flaprogressives.org/
51. Future Majority -http://futuremajority.com/
52. Georgia Politics Unfiltered http://georgiaunfiltered.blogspot.com/
53. Green Mountain Daily -http://greenmountaindaily.com/
54. Grist Magazine -http://grist.org/
55. Group News Blog -http://groupnewsblog.net/
56. HispanicTips.com -http://hispanictips.com/
57. HorsesAss.org -http://horsesass.org/
58. HummingbirdMinds Blog -http://hummingbirdminds.blogspot.com/
59. iLind.net -http://ilind.net/
60. Indianz.com -http://indianz.com/
61. Jack and Jill Politics (BBR #9) -http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/
62. Jusiper -http://jusiper.blogspot.com/
63. Keystone Politics -http://keystonepolitics.com/
64. KnoxViews -http://knoxviews.com/
65. Las Vegas Gleaner -http://lasvegasgleaner.com/
66. Left In Alabama -http://leftinalabama.com/
67. Left in the West -http://leftinthewest.com/
68. Michigan Liberal -http://michiganliberal.com/
69. Minnesota Monitor -http://minnesotamonitor.com/
70. MOMocrats -http://momocrats.typepad.com/
71. My Left Nutmeg -http://myleftnutmeg.com/
72. MyDD -http://mydd.com/
73. New Nebraska Network -http://newnebraska.net/
74. NewsOne.com - http://newsone.com/
75. No Rest for the Awake -http://minagahet.blogspot.com/
76. NorthDecoder.com -http://northdecoder.com/
77. Obsidian Wings -http://obsidianwings.blogs.com/
78. Ohio Daily Blog -http://ohiodailyblog.com/
79. OliverWillis.com (BBR #5) - http://oliverwillis.com/
80. Open Left -http://openleft.com/
81. Pam's House Blend (BBR #2) -http://pamshouseblend.com/
82. Political Base -http://politicalbase.com/
83. Political Wire -http://politicalwire.com/
84. PoliticalLunch.com -http://politicallunch.com/
85. PolitickerNJ.com -http://politickernj.com/
86. PoliticsOnline -http://politicsonline.com/
87. Pop and Politics -http://popandpolitics.com/
88. Prairie State Blue -http://prairiestateblue.com/
89. RaceWire (BBR #75) - http://racewire.org/
90. Raising Kaine -http://raisingkaine.com/
91. Raw Story -http://rawstory.com/
92. Rhode Island's Future -http://rifuture.org/
93. Room 8 -http://r8ny.com/
94. Rum, Romanism and Rebellion -http://rumromanismrebellion.net/
95. RuralVotes -http://ruralvotes.com/thefield
96. Scholars & Rogues -http://scholarsandrogues.com/
97. Seeing the Forest -http://seeingtheforest.com/
98. Sepia Mutiny -http://sepiamutiny.com/
99. SquareState.net -http://squarestate.net/
100. Talking Points Memo -http://talkingpointsmemo.com/
101. TalkLeft -http://talkleft.com/
102. Taylor Marsh -http://taylormarsh.com/
103. The Albany Project -http://thealbanyproject.com/
104. The Center for Emerging Media -http://centerforemergingmedia.com/
105. The Iowa Independent -http://iowaindependent.com/
106. The Natchez Blog -http://natchezms.blogspot.com/
107. The Seminal - http://theseminal.com/
108. The UpTake -http://theuptake.org/
109. The Utah Amicus -http://utahamicus.com/
110. The Washington Independent -http://washingtonindependent.com/
111. Think Youth -http://thinkyouth.org/
112. Thought Theater -http://thoughttheater.com/
113. TommyWonk -http://tommywonk.blogspot.com/
114. Tondee's Tavern -http://tondeestavern.com/
115. Towleroad -http://towleroad.com/
116. Turn Maine Blue -http://turnmaineblue.com/
117. Under The Dome.com -http://underthedome.com/
118. Uppity Wisconsin -http://uppitywis.org/
119. USAmerica Vota '08 -http://usamericavota08.blogspot.com/
120. VivirLatino.com -http://vivirlatino.com/
121. West Virginia Blue -http://wvablue.com/
122. What About Our Daughters? (BBR #16) -http://whataboutourdaughters.com/
123. Working Life -http://workinglife.org/
124. Zennie's Zeitgeist -http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/

Any thoughts as you see this list of bloggers represented at the 2008 National Democratic Convention?