Action Alerts

For Immediate Release Contact:

July 16, 2008 James Salt

305-978-1056 or jsalt@catholics-united.org

Catholics United Calls on Senator John McCain to Remove Controversial Strategist from Catholic Advisory Committee

Deal Hudson Resigned from the Bush Campaign in 2004 amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations; Now Advising McCain on Catholic Outreach

Washington, D.C. – Catholics United today called on Senator John McCain to remove influential Republican strategist Deal Hudson from his position on the “Catholics for McCain National Steering Committee.” Mr. Hudson apparently continues to serve on the committee despite having stepped down from a similar position with President Bush’s reelection campaign when an alleged episode of sexual impropriety came to light in 2004.

In August 2004, the National Catholic Reporter disclosed that Hudson was forced to leave a tenured professorship at Fordham University over allegations that he solicited sexual activity with his 18-year old freshman student. According to the report, the encounter happened in Hudson’s campus office after a night of heavy drinking.

What would a blockade of Iran look like? The Bush administration sending American warships and military equipment into the most combustible region in the world. Their mission? Board and inspect cargo entering and leaving Iran by any means necessary.1 This would be a clear provocation and the first step on the path to all out war.
Unfortunately, that's exactly what Democrats who want to look tough on national security are demanding. Right now there is a resolution working its way through the House of Representatives which would require a naval blockade of Iran and bring us closer to war.1 This resolution already has 247 co-sponsors and it must be stopped.
Tell your Representative to oppose the Ackerman Iran resolution:
http://www.TrueMajority.org/NoBlockade
For the past 10 months, we've been warning against the perils of starting yet another war in the Middle East. Together, we've sent thousands of messages to Congress demanding that Congress have to approve any military action and our Iran Mobile has traveled to events across the country to highlight how crazy it is to start another war. Still, our work is just beginning. Between now and November, we'll have ample opportunity to remind our legislators that there are other ways of being tough on national security than acting like George Bush Republicans.

Ever wonder why simply stating our positions on the hot button issues isn't enough to win votes? Or why Democrats who try and adopt conservative stances on issues usually lose their elections even in conservative districts?

Professor George Lakoff has the answers and will show us how to frame the solutions during the next Night School. Thursday, Professor Lakoff will be our special guest trainer; highlighting specific thinking points from his new book "The Political Mind" and teaching the framing progressives need to know to win. Join us "Live from Netroots Nation" at a special time: 5:30pm Eastern.

The Political Mind with George Lakoff
Thursday 5:30pm Eastern Time

Howard Dean called Professor Lakoff "One of the most influential thinkers of the progressive movement." Lakoff's 2004 book "Don't Think of an Elephant" taught progressives how to take back the message and expose Republican framing. He changed the way people speak about the issues and now he's taken it to the next level with his new book.

We'll be spending an hour with Professor Lakoff as part of this special Netroots Nation edition of DFA Night School.

The Episcopal Public Policy Network
Policy Alert

Resolved, That the Church recognizes that a faithful commitment to voting is an extension of our baptismal covenant to "strive for justice and peace and the dignity of every human being" and asks all Episcopalians to actively engage in advocating for voter rights, encouraging voter registration, getting out the vote, and volunteering to assist voters at the polls. (Executive Council 02/2004)
That 2004 Executive Council resolution affirms that voting is a critical part of our Episcopal call to "strive for justice and peace among all people." As Election Day approaches, we want to provide you with resources to help you make the most of your opportunity to vote and helping others to do so.

Are You Ready For Election Day?
Not sure if you are registered to vote? Wondering where your polling place is? Need to find out if your state has early voting or absentee ballots available? The National Association of Secretaries of State has put together a web site that can help answer all of these questions and more in just 7 easy steps: http://www.canivote.org

Learn More About the Candidates

Tell Congress: "Saber-rattling and threats towards Iran without diplomacy is not working. Please support a new direction towards Iran and demand President Bush get Congressional authorization before getting us into another war."

Dear MoveOn member,
By all accounts, the news coming out lately about Iran is scary. Iran is testing more missiles, and the Bush administration is promising swift retribution for any attack on the US or our allies.

To top it off, John McCain keeps joking about killing the Iranian people—discussing rising U.S. exports of cigarettes to Iran, he joked, "Maybe that's a way of killing them." And we all remember McCain's infamous, "Bomb Iran" song. (See video below)1

War is not a joke. The truth is that the Bush-McCain policy of reckless saber-rattling and threatening doesn't work—it just makes things worse and increases tensions in the region. What we need is serious, tough, and smart diplomacy—not another war.

Right now, Congress is considering bills that could clear the way for escalation or war. But they can act to make sure President Bush and John McCain don't lead us into another reckless war. Can you sign this petition asking Congress to push for diplomacy and demand Congressional authorization before getting us into another war? Clicking here will add your name:

http://pol.moveon.org/diplomacyiran/

FROM TRUE MAJORITY

Dear Crossleft Readers,

Take a stand for quality health care

My first job in politics was going door to door in suburban Seattle talking to people about the need for health care for all. Nearly two decades later, we're still having the same conversations, but millions more are suffering from our current health care crisis.
I want to share a new and exciting development. Today all over the country we're launching Health Care for America NOW! - a national grassroots campaign organizing millions of Americans to win a guarantee of quality, affordable health care for all in the next session of Congress.
Join me right now by taking a stand for quality health care for all.
http://healthcareforamericanow.org/page/s/which?source=truemajority

I know we might have different opinions on how exactly to solve the health care crisis. You may have spent years working on Medicare for all or have led the fight on expanding coverage to children through SCHIP. Ultimately, the solution will have to be worked out by all of us working together with Congress and the President.