NJDC's Blog

Good News! Warner Retires

From the 2008 Senate Guru:

Virginia: John Warner just announced that he will retire at the end of his current term, rather than seek re-election in 2008. Expectations are the following: for the Democrats, popular former Governor Mark Warner, who left office with an approval rating exceeding 80%, will enter the Senate race; for the Republicans, we may see a bloody primary battle between Rep. Tom Davis and former Gov. Jim Gilmore. Should expectations play out as such, Virginia should be considered to lean toward a Democratic pick-up. Let the polling (and hoping the Mark Warner does enter the race) begin!

This leaves Democrats with a golden opportunity to turn Virginia blue.  In January 2009, we could be looking at a Virginia Senatorial delegation of Senator Jim Webb and Senator Mark Warner -- both working very closley with Governor Tim Kaine.  And, with a massive GOTV effort for Mark Warner's campaign (should he run) in Northern Virginia, the Democratic presidential nominee will likely have an excellent opportunity to win in the Old Dominion State. 

NJDC Statement on Vitter-Craig GOP Double Standard

NJDC released the following statement, from our Vice Chairman Marc R. Stanley today:

STATEMENT FROM NJDC ON GOP DOUBLE STANDARD REGARDING SEN. CRAIG AND SEN. VITTER

Republican Leadership Strips Alleged Gay Senator of Committee Posts; Ignores Similar Allegations Against Heterosexual Colleague

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the Senate Republican leadership stripped Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) of his committee assignments after it was revealed that Sen. Craig pled guilty in June to disorderly conduct in an airport restroom. Craig allegedly solicited a homosexual sexual tryst. Meanwhile, the GOP Senate Leadership declined to take similar punitive action against Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) who admitted to committing a "very serious sin" when his name showed up on the notorious "DC Madam’s" list of prostitution clients.

Today, the National Jewish Democratic Council (NJDC) released the following statement from NJDC Vice Chairman Marc R. Stanley:

"Regardless of whether one believes that either Senator Craig or Senator Vitter should have received punitive action by the GOP leadership, to punish one and not the other is gross hypocrisy. The party which attempted to write discrimination against gays and lesbians into the U.S. Constitution; the party which opposes protections against gays and lesbians at the work place; and the party which has a history of opposing legislation protecting gays and lesbians from hate crimes, has once again shown its true colors."

Marc R. Stanley is First Vice Chair of NJDC.

###

REPUBLICAN SENATOR BLOCKS IRAN DIVESTMENT BILL

Haaretz's Shmuel Rosner writes in his blog about Senator Richard Shelby's (R-AL) efforts to block Sen. Obama's Iran divestment bill:

The facts are quite simple: Barack Obama's bill against Iran is stuck in the Senate. Senator Richard Shelby is putting a hold on it.

The explanation is more complicated, among other things because Shelby doesn't feel the need to explain his decision in detail. Supposedly, he is doing it for procedural reasons, but there's some suspicion among people familiar with the story that it's actually a favor he is doing to the Bush administration - which doesn't want the bill to pass.

Bottom line, there's no bill for now. But the Obama people think the Senator isn't going to give up on it so easily. If Shelby wants to block the bill, let him explain it - or maybe shame him into it.

(emphasis added)

We blogged about the Iran divestment bill earlier this month and in May.

Organized Labor Takes a Stand Against the Iran Threat

The President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters is calling on pension funds to divest from companies that do business in Iran.  From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency:

[Teamsters President James] Hoffa cited Iran's suspected development of a nuclear weapon, its backing for terrorists and its abuse of employees who attempt to unionize as reasons to divest. He noted that a bill passed last month by the U.S. House of Representatives protects funds that divest from Iran from lawsuits.

In a statement put out by President Hoffa last week, the union criticized the Ahmadinejad government for its surpression of the labor movement in Iran:

New Americans United for Change Ads

Americans United for Change is holding Republican incumbents like Susan Collins accountable for joining President Bush in supporting his disastrous policies in Iraq. Click below to view:

Join Media Matters in Telling Limbaugh to Apologize

Rush Limbaugh has sunk to a new low with an outrageous race-based rant. Media Matters is calling on YOU to tell Limbaugh to apologize for his latest smear by signing this petition.

According to a press release from Media Matters, Limbaugh said:

Democrats "want to get us out of Iraq, but they can't wait to get us into Darfur [...] There are two reasons. What color is the skin of the people in Darfur? It's black. And who do the Democrats really need to keep voting for them? If they lose a significant percentage of this voting bloc, they're in trouble."

He continued with a ridiculous comparison to and politicization of Democrats' support of Mandela's fight against apartheid in South Africa:

"...So you go into Darfur and you go into South Africa, you get rid of the white government there.  You put sanctions on them. You stand behind Nelson Mandels - who was bankrolled by communists for a time, had the support of certain communist leaders. You go to Ethiopia. You do the same thing."

Obama Meets with Jewish Leaders

From the Jewish Telegraphic Agency:

Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) met with top Jewish lay leaders in New York as part of an outreach to Jews across the country.

"He's reached out to Jewish leaders in major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles and New York," said Dan Shapiro, an outside adviser to Obama's presidential campaign who helped organize the meeting Wednesday but did not attend. "He'll be doing it in other cities. He would like to expand his ties."

According to JTA: "Sources said the meeting was a success, with 25 leaders attending."

UPDATE: JTA has more information in this piece, which discusses Dennis Ross's involvement in the Obama campaign.

Will GOP Senator's New Stance Affect U.S. Policy in Iraq?

With Senator Warner's recent call for troop withdrawal in Iraq before year-end, politicos are speculating on whether his voice is strong enough to instigate change. Conservatives like Bill Kristol, editor of The Weekly Standard say Warner won't really vote against the President, but some think Warner's stance might make an impact. As the Washington Post calls him, Warner is "one of the most influential Republican voices in Congress on national security" - in which case, perhaps Warner truly has the capabilities to prompt change.

What are the chances President Bush will take into consideration the recent delivery of the troubling National Intelligence Estimate report and comments from a top Republican lawmaker when making key choices for our troops and our country? 

Former Sen. Bob Kerrey Moves Closer to NE Senate Bid; Could Face Hagel

Former Democratic Senator and Presidential Candidate Bob Kerrey is reportedly close to joining the 2008 Senate race.  This is interesting news for Democrats on two fronts.  If Sen. Chuck Hagel chooses to retire, it gives Democrats a popular former Nebraska politician as a major candidate.

If Hagel chooses to run for re-election, Kerrey has the opportunity to knock off one of the least reliable votes for Israel in the U.S. Senate.  NJDC has blogged extensively about Hagel's questionable record in the past.

For more on 2008 Senate Races, we highly recommend the Senate 2008 Guru's website.

And another one bites the dust ...

"Ethically clouded" Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi will not be seeking re-election, per a story in Roll Call.

This gives Democrats another excellent opportunity to pick up a GOP-held Congressional seat in Arizona.  In 2006, two friends of NJDC, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Rep. Harry Mitchell were elected, turning red seats to blue.  Rep. Giffords won an open seat that was held by retired Rep. Jim Kolbe.  Rep. Mitchell defeated former Rep. J.D. Hayworth.

As for Renzi, he was named by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington as one of the 20 most corrupt Members of Congress. 

Arizona's 1st Congressional District (the seat Renzi is vacating) is an excellent pickup opportunity for Democrats, who hold a registration edge.  It includes Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, and the Navajo Nation and is one of the largest geographical districts in the country.