We're Not Going Back!

Michigan’s Primary is August 6, 2024

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We’re Not Going Back!

IN JUST ONE WEEK…

the vibe has shifted in the Presidential election. Across the country people are excited and energized by the candidacy of Kamala Harris. Now it's time to build on the momentum, roll up our sleeves and get to work for the future we all want to see. It's going to take all of us. And we have less than 100 days left.

“Vice President Harris has been a candidate for less than a week, but she’s already coalesced the entire Democratic Party around her campaign and the organic, grassroots enthusiasm is producing results.” Those are the words of Michael Taylor, communications manager for the Harris for President campaign in a memo sent out late last week.

One week, and here’s what’s already happened:

• Kamala Harris has secured endorsements from top Democrats and has also secured commitments from enough delegates to the national convention to ensure the Democratic nomination.

• She also earned an endorsement from singer Charlie XCX who posted to her social media that “Kamala is brat”, which sparked a 24 hour mini-frenzy of joy among younger folks and quizzical looks from older ones. For us older folks, and for the record, it’s a compliment.

• The Vice President’s campaign has raised a mind-boggling $200 million in just one week, and two-thirds of that comes from first-time grassroots donors. These are new donations and don’t include the monies that the Biden campaign had already raised. (At the end of June the Biden campaign had reported $95 million on hand.)

• Within the first 24 hours after the VP announced, a Zoom call of Black Women for Harris had attracted 44,000 people, with another 50,000 listening in on other platforms when Zoom maxed out. The call ended up raising over $1.5 million for the Harris campaign.

• That call was soon followed by a 50,000 attendee Black Men for Harris call, and a reported 160,000 attendee call targeting white women, organized by the founder of Moms Demand Action, the gun safety group.

• Other groups, including groups made up of White men, LGBTQ folks, and veterans and military families, are holding Zoom calls and working together to raise funds, and to strategize ways to reach out to peers, to counter misinformation and take other actions to support the Harris campaign.

• Over 170,000 people have signed up to volunteer with the campaign.

• According to Vote.org, in the 5 days after President Biden handed the baton to VP Harris over 100,000 people registered to vote. Nearly 85% of those new voters were people under 35. Comparatively, the number of new voters the week before was 27,077, and you may recall that Taylor Swift made headlines last September when 30,000 young people answered her call to register.

In short, President Biden’s selfless decision to step aside and VP Harris’ actions and message in stepping forward have sparked a huge groundswell of support.

Hers is a message of moving forward to a better future. In Milwaukee at her first rally speech she told the crowd, “Do we want to live in a country of freedom, compassion and rule of law, or a country of chaos, fear and hate? Here’s the beauty of this moment: We each have the power to answer that question."

She also talked about the GOP plan for their next president, Project 2025, telling the crowd that the plan would cut Social Security and Medicare, give tax breaks to the wealthy, and end the Affordable Care Act. “We’re not going back,” she added. At that point the crowd began to chant, and she joined in - “We’re not going back!, We’re not going back!”

If this is the “honeymoon phase” of Kamala Harris’ campaign, its an unprecedented and amazing honeymoon. But we should remember that every honeymoon ends. If and when this honeymoon fades, we who believe must be ready to continue to put in the work to bring about that brighter future with Kamala Harris in the Presidency.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• DONATE: Visit the Harris for President Donation Page.

• VOLUNTEER: Fill out the Harris for President Volunteer Form.

Dr. Bob Lorinser on Project 2025

A group of two dozen or so people turned out this past Saturday at the Houghton Super 8 to hear from Dr. Bob Lorinser, candidate for the US House 1st District.

Dr. Bob spoke on Project 2025, especially its healthcare related proposals like repealing Medicare's new ability to negotiate down drug prices (page 465) and eliminating Head Start (page 482).

This was followed by a lively question and answer session from an energetic crowd.

Project 2025 & JD Vance

We’ve been talking about Project 2025 for the last few weeks in the newsletter, and have pointed you to a few helpful resources to understand exactly what it is about. It’s the Republican agenda for what they envision happening under another Trump presidency. It’s a plan to further dismantle reproductive rights, dismantle LGBTQ rights, deport immigrants (and some American citizens), endanger Medicare and Social Security, and more.

Both Vice President Harris and Dr. Bob Lorinser - in his time with us this weekend - have spoken out about the negative impacts of this plan.

As Americans have learned about Project 2025 we’ve all become more and more alarmed at what the Republicans intend to do should they win the White House, and with good reason.

This has led Donald Trump to - as he is wont to do - lie. He has claimed not to know anything about Project 2025, despite the fact that 140 members of his former administration have worked to put the plan together, and that he has directly praised the Heritage Foundation, which took the lead in assembling the plan. Trump wants you to believe that the plan comes from the “severe right” wing of his party, and he certainly wouldn’t have anything to do with it.

But, you know what? His pick for Vice President, JD Vance, doesn’t seem to have any such qualms about it. He seems pretty comfortable with Project 2025. Here’s what Andrew Prokop, senior politics correspondent at Vox said in a recent article:

So, 140 people from his prior administration put it together, and his VP pick praises it, but Trump’s never heard of it? As President Biden would say, “Give me a break!”

The Northlander

The August edition of The Northlander, the newsletter for Democrats in Michigan’s 1st Congressional District, is now available. This edition includes the complete text of President Biden’s announcement two Sundays ago, and final words from several candidates for offices throughout the District. Click the image below to view.

Coming Events - Mark Your Calendars (and Volunteer!)

We still have summer activities and events coming up and we’d love to have you join us! Below is the list of our remaining annual summer activities. Mark your calendars and volunteer:

• August 10 - HOUGHTON COUNTY DEMS CONVENTION: Pursuant to the Michigan Democratic Party’s Call to Convention on Saturday, August 24th, all County and District Conventions across Michigan shall occur on Saturday, August 10, 2024. Our County Convention will convene at the hour designated in our local Call to Convention, which will be issued no later than July 26th. The purpose of our County Convention will be to elect Members and Alternates to the State Convention Committees and to consider resolutions to be forwarded to the State Party. NOTE: Delegates with eligibility to vote at the County Convention shall be the members of the MDP residing in Houghton County whose membership was renewed at least thirty (30) days prior to the County Convention held on August 10, 2024 - which is July 11, 2024. (Precinct Delegates, Democratic elected officials and Democratic nominees to partisan offices residing in Houghton County may become members that day when they register at the County Convention.)

• August 16 and 17 - PASTY FEST: We’ll have a booth again this year at Pasty Fest in Calumet. Come join us as we talk to folks, hand out literature, and soak in the celebration of what the Fest producers call “the magical product of Cornish cookery, the pasty!”

• August 22 thru 25 - HOUGHTON COUNTY FAIR: We staff a table every year to engage with the public and distribute literature. We’ll have our button maker and materials ready for the kids to create their own button designs, while we chat with the adults.

• Labor Day Weekend - LABOR DAY PICNIC: Each year we gather over Labor Day Weekend to picnic and connect as we get ready for the fall campaign season.

If you’d like to volunteer for any of these activities let us know. Just leave a message at (906) 523-1233 or email us at [email protected]

Our Next Monthly Meeting

HCDP Monthly Meetings: Unless otherwise communicated our monthly meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. Potluck at 6 PM, Meeting at 7 PM. In the conference room at the Houghton Super 8, and by Zoom (starting at 7 PM).

NEXT MEETING: August 7th

Governmental & Community Meetings

THUR AUG 1

The South Range Village Council meets Thursday at 6 PM in the South Range Community Building. For more information contact the Village at [email protected] or (906) 482-8833

Governmental meetings are scheduled throughout the month by bodies from the County Commission to City, Village and Township boards, committees and commissions; as well as local School Boards and the Copper Country Intermediate School District.

Check by phone or on the particular governmental website for meeting notices in your community. Your participation in local government meetings lets your elected and appointed officials know you are interested in their work, and can provide you with the opportunity to speak about your concerns during public comment periods