CLINTONCOUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY NEWSLETTER

"Heaven is promised to those who feed, clothe and care for the least of their brothers and sisters."  (Jesus Christ) - These are also values of the Democratic Party.

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Wednesday, August 10, 2005

SENATOR HARKIN WILL VISIT CLINTON FRIDAY

Senator Tom Harkin will tour the new JeffersonSchool Friday, August 12.

He will visit the Democrats at our Headquarters for a reception from 3:30

- 4:00 P.M.  He has to be back in Des Moines for a dinner.  Please be at

the Democratic Headquarters by 3:15.   (Jean Pardee)

CAMANCHE DAYS PARADE

Saturday, August 13

Meet at the funeral home at 10:00 A.M.  The parade starts at 11:00 A.M.

SUPER EVENT

COMING THIS SATURDAY

POLLY BUKTA'S ANNUAL CORN BOIL

Saturday, August 13 from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.

The Bukta "Ranch" 604 South 32nd   Street

You'll enjoy an evening of good food and conversation with good friends at Polly Bukta'sAnnual Corn Boil.  The Democratic elected officials from ClintonCounty, the State Legislators, three candidates for Congress and several candidates and elected officials from the State level will all be there.  Suggested donation is $8.00.  Funds raised that Polly may not need in her campaign will go into the State Truman fund to help elect a badly needed Democrat controlled State Legislature.

Tuesday, August 16:   Clinton County Democratic Central Committee will

meet at 7:30 P.M. at Democratic Headquarters,  224   22nd Place.

Sunday, August 21:   The Bethel A.M.E. Church is sponsoring a brunch

buffet at the Frontier from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. to give Clinton residents a chance to meet Carl E. Officer, mayor of East Saint Louis.  Mr. Officer is rooted in the values of generosity, compassion and civic duty.  For more information about the retreat and to make reservations call Vince Jetter at 242-0732.

LABOR DAY PICNIC

Sunday, September 4  12:00 - 4:00 P.M.

Free beverages!  Free food!  Free prizes!  Fun for the entire family!

EaglePointPark Lodge.  Sponsored by the Clinton Labor Congress

ANOTHER REPUBLICAN PARADOX

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has travel tens of thousands of miles promoting the interests of the United States around the World.  In many of the nations she has visited she has promoted equality for women.  Yet, the Bush Administration continues to strongly support the reelection campaign of Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania who in his book "It Takes A Family" advocates second class citizenship for women by opposing many of the advances that have been made in the last century.

"Rick Santorum is the Senate's most prominent right-wing leader.  He makes Trent Lott look like Michael Moore.  For months, he has been the Senate's number one advocate of Social Security privatization and the chief cheerleader for right-wing judicial nominees.  He has been all over the news with his recent comments blaming progressives for the criminal sexual abuse of children by clergy.  That's not just wrong.  It's sick.  His new book is even more outrageous and truly cements his position as the

right-wing senator."   (Paul Begala - Democratic Senate Campaign

Committee)

"You already know about the whacked-out, nut-case, out-of-the-mainstream right-wing views Rick Santorum spouts in his new book, 'It Takes a Family'.  Right now Santorum is making the talk show rounds to promote his new book, and we have a unique opportunity to expose his right-wing worldview.  Santorum acts, talks, writes - and votes - like he's the senior senator from the 13th Century, not the junior senator from Pennsylvania.

"Senator Rick Santorum is one of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents in the country.  His radical right wing views are way out of step with a state that has voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1992.

Plus, the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination - State Treasurer Bob Casey - is a respected public official and an experienced statewide campaigner.  He won the most votes any statewide candidate in Pennsylvania ever has in the 2004 election.

"Whether it's the destruction of Social Security or the frenzy to interfere in one family's private medical decisions, Rick Santorum has been all too eager to be the leading voice on whatever outrageous stunt the right wing fringe wants Republicans to pull this week.  We all know that Santorum will spend the next 18 months trying to convince everyone that he really does care about mainstream Pennsylvania values - honest! - despite all the evidence to the contrary.

ANOTHER CASE OF REPUBLICAN HYPOCRISY

"At a press conference recently, Santorum and other Senate Republicans unveiled the Senate Republican Legal Reform Insurance Company Giveaway.

The centerpiece of this plan is a measure to limit the power of juries to award "non-economic" damages - those not based on things like lost wages - in medical malpractice cases.  Under the Republican plan, these kinds of damages would be limited to only $250,000.  That might sound like a lot, but remember, we're talking about the most serious cases of medical malpractice that often leave individuals disabled for life or even worse.

Shouldn't juries who know all the facts decide how big a fine to level after guilt has been determined?

"Let's be clear.  Putting limits on the power of juries to decide proper punishments for those who commit medical malpractice is nothing but a giant handout to the insurance companies.  It only hurts those who have proven in a court of law that they were victims of a serious crime.  It hits children who are literally scarred for life hardest because kids don't have jobs and therefore don't stand to collect huge damages based on lost wages.

"What's worse is that Slick Rick is pretty much saying one thing and doing another on this issue.  According to his 1999 testimony in his wife's medical malpractice lawsuit, Santorum doesn't think $250,000 in damages is nearly enough.  His wife was seeking a cool $500,000 in damages and was ultimately awarded $350,000 by a jury.  It's funny.  Santorum didn't mention this blatant hypocrisy in his press conference yesterday."  (Anne Lewis - DSCC)

WOMEN HAVE PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE HISTORY OF OUR NATION

"In the Revolutionary War women could hardly have been passive observers to a war waged in the streets of their towns and cities, in the fields of their family farms, or on their doorsteps.  Women participated in every aspect of the Revolution.  Women were at the center of the struggle for independence."  (Carol Berkin in "Revolutionary Mothers - Women in the Struggle for America's Independence")

Nations that accept a passive role for women in their societies have suffered by eliminating half their population from the advancement of their cultures.  This nation has benefited greatly from the full equality and involvement of women.  This is a position strongly supported and practiced by the Democratic Party.