Democratic Party of Georgia

Help Move Georgia Forward

DPG Chairman Mike Berlon Statement on Senator Saxby Chambliss

Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon releases the following statement regarding Senator Saxby Chambliss’ decision to decline a run for re-election in 2014:

“Today’s announcement by Senator Chambliss that he has decided to retire presents a great opportunity for Georgia Democrats to reclaim one of our US Senate seats.  This development gives us the time we need to field an exceptional candidate for the race.

 “We began our candidate recruitment process on this race several months ago. We have consulted with the national party and are continuing to vet potential candidates, both within the DPG and the DNC. This process is important and we are not interested in rushing it. We are interested in getting it right.

 “It is clear that the politics and demographics within Georgia are changing. In November, President Obama received more than 45.5% of the statewide vote with little national help. With the significant changes that are taking place, we believe that we could win this seat even if it were against an incumbent.  With this being an open seat, our odds have improved significantly. This is especially true because it appears that there may be a significantly divided primary on the republican side.

“There is no question that Georgia is on the way to turning blue.  This is the first step in reclaiming the House and Senate on a national level across the south.

 “We’re looking forward to next year.”

Romney & Ryan: Reverse Recovery for the American People

Georgia – Republican candidate Mitt Romney’s choice of Paul Ryan as his running mate illustrates the profound and stark differences between the presidential nominees in the upcoming November election.

“The Ryan choice highlights future attacks on seniors, students, the middle class and veterans. Romney and Ryan have both advocated the privatization of Social Security,” said DPG Chairman Mike Berlon. “They are also fanatical about changing Medicare to a voucher-style program, with the value of each voucher decreasing over time. This would leave a bigger and bigger gap for our seniors to pay out of their own pocket.”

Privatizing Social Security and changing Medicare to a voucher system are positions that the Democratic Party strongly opposes. “Protecting our seniors is a priority, not a mere option – which is what Ryan and Romney’s plans suggest,” said Berlon.

Another stark difference between the presidential candidates is tax policy, where Ryan’s 2010 budget plan raised taxes on the middle class while cutting taxes for the wealthy. Tax deductions like the mortgage interest deduction and health premiums are cut or eliminated under the Ryan plan.

Under Romney’s plan, more than a million middle class Georgia families would face a tax increase. The average tax increase for families with children would be $2,000. Yet while the middle class pays more, the richest Americans would get another $250,000 tax break each.

“Democrats don’t believe that millionaires should get additional tax breaks while middle class taxes go up,” said Berlon. “Why are we asking teachers and factory workers to pay more in taxes? They’re the ones that have been hurt the most by the Bush recession, especially here in Georgia.”

Other critical differences include:

  • Ryan’s budget would slash income security programs for the poor by 16%.
  • Transportation would be cut by 25%.
  • Investment in education, training and other social services would be cut by 33%.
  • Substantially cut Pell grants that would affect more than 250,000 students.

Ryan’s tax plan is similar to Mitt Romney’s in that middle-class families could pay thousands of dollars more a year in taxes to fund tax cuts for millionaires, all while losing the security of Medicare and Social Security. In addition, funding for students through Pell grants would be cut dramatically.  “At a time when education is so critical to our national fabric, why would we cut funding for education for those who need it most?” questioned Berlon.

“We need sensible solutions,” concluded Berlon. “Democrats know that Ryan and Romney’s plan would reverse America’s recovery. We can’t balance the federal budget on the backs of our middle-class. Romney’s choice here shows how out of touch he is with real working families. ”

The Political Silly Season Begins

The summer months are called the “silly season” in politics. Since many campaigns haven’t yet started in earnest, political pundits are forced to report on sensational stories that wouldn’t ordinarily make the newspaper at all.

Our Republican friends are taking the “silly season” to the next level this year. The attacks against our Party have been vicious and unfounded. Why?

Because they know that Georgia Democrats are undergoing a transformation. We are resurging in areas that they never anticipated, and frankly, they’re worried.

For the first time in recent memory, GOP strongholds like Snellville and Morrow both have Democratic mayors.

Savannah has a Democratic super-majority on their council. In Columbia County- a county that voted 77% for Nathan Deal in 2010- our challenger came within 1% of becoming the first Democrat elected to County Commission.

In rural Georgia, all of Ben Hill County’s constitutional offices are incumbent and qualified in the Democratic Primary. The chair of the county is an incumbent Democrat, as are the two commissioners up for elections this cycle and each of them qualified for election. In Brantley County, the tiny town of Nahunta elected five Democrats, a recent record.

On a national scale, President Obama has visited Georgia multiple times this year, including a future visit on June 26. His campaign organization, Obama for America, is opening a new headquarters in Atlanta this Saturday.

Meanwhile, we have registered a record number of voters throughout the state to increase our Democratic performance in November.

Don’t believe the “sky is falling” rhetoric regarding our party. We are rebuilding and becoming stronger, and we’ve taken the fight to Georgia Republicans in a way that they never expected. They are intimidated, not only due to our recent growth, but also due to major problems among their own. For example:

– Republican State Senator Don Balfour, the powerful chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, is under investigation for filing inaccurate mileage reimbursements that may result in criminal charges.

– Republican Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers is under fire for his previous career as a sports handicapper. He promoted gambling via advertising financed by an offshore casino.

– Republican Speaker of the House David Ralston, the beneficiary of a $20,000+ lobbyist paid trip to Europe, is fighting tooth-and-nail against a $100 lobbyist cap, calling it a “liberal” plot to divide Republicans.

– Just today, Republican Senator Tommie Williams resigned as the powerful Senate Pro-Tem, an unexpected move that caught many in the Georgia Republican Party by surprise.

– And despite having a Governor, Lt. Governor, and a majority in the State House & Senate, the Republicans are having fundraising difficulties and are dipping into leftover funds from the last Governor’s election in order to pay the bills.

The “silly season” will continue, and eventually the pundits will focus on what is truly important in Georgia – Democratic initiatives to save the HOPE Scholarship, bring careers to South Georgia, and protect the reproductive rights of women and the voting rights of minorities.

Until then, remember that you have the power to help bring our state to a Democratic victory in November. Click here to join our email list to stay informed about the Democratic Party of Georgia, click here to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, and if you feel inclined to contribute to our voter registration efforts, click here to make a donation.

We are strong. Don’t let the naysayers sway you into believing what isn’t true.

We are building to a successful future. We’d like your help.

Won’t you come along?

Mike Berlon, Chairman
Democratic Party of Georgia

Memorial Day Message from Rep. Scott Holcomb

Few holidays impact me as much as Memorial Day.  As one of my friends who is a veteran said so well, “Memorial Day isn’t when we remember what we won.  It’s when we remember what we lost.”

For the last several days, I’ve been remembering the fallen.  I started by recalling the first time the meaning of this holiday really hit home.  It was after I had enlisted in the Air National Guard and I was driving with my father.  It was very late, well after midnight, and as we were about to exit he asked me to drive a little farther.  Minutes later, we pulled up to a Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

We got out of the car and sat down on a bench a few meters from the V sculpture engraved with names.  My father had served in Vietnam and I was born while he was overseas, but we had never talked about what happened over there. We sat together in silence for the better part of an hour and he eventually uttered a single statement: “Darkness.  That’s all I remember.”  He then went up to the memorial and placed his hand over several names.  It was an incredibly powerful moment.

Three decades after my father’s service in Vietnam, I deployed three times with the U.S. Army.  After those experiences, I now know what it feels like to run my hand over names etched in stone.  The sense of loss and grief is paralyzing.

As we honor the fallen on Memorial Day, please join me in praying for all of the families who lost loved ones to war.  And let us also pray for the safe return of our women and men who are fighting to keep us safe around the globe.

God Bless America, and those who protect her.

Very respectfully yours,

Rep. Scott Holcomb

Georgia Democrats’ on Marriage Equality

Georgia–   Mike Berlon, Chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia, issues the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s view that couples who are in loving, committed relationships should be allowed to marry.

“Marriage equality is an important human rights issue. Love is not partisan. Everyone should have the opportunity to engage in a relationship that works for him or her regardless of sexual orientation.“It’s no secret that the President has gone through some serious soul-searching on this. I am sure he has received input from many sources who deserve this support, including people in long-term relationships who have never had the security or certainty that comes with knowing the person you love will be protected if something happens to them.  I am also sure that he has heard from many of our brave young men and women who serve in our armed forces, and for whom he fought so hard to end Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, as well as others from around the country.

“For many people, this is a difficult issue and opinions are strong on both sides.

“As an individual who has a family member that is in such a relationship, I’ve seen first-hand the obstacles and hurdles that have to be endured just to make the relationship work. It makes me very proud to see that the President recognizes the roadblocks to these relationships and is willing to advocate for equal rights for everyone. It’s courageous and it’s right.

“The Democratic Party of Georgia strongly stands with the LGBT community, the President and his administration, and with all Georgians who believe that we should treat others the way we’d want to be treated. That is not a democratic principle. It’s about human dignity.

“It’s simply wrong to prevent couples who are in loving, committed relationships, from marrying.”

Georgia District-Level Delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte

The Democratic Party of Georgia has certified the election results from the District-Level Delegate elections held on Saturday across the state.

The results listed below represent 72 loyal Democrats that are committed to sending President Barack Obama back to the White House in November.

“Being a delegate at a national convention is an honor,” said DPG Chairman Mike Berlon. “It costs a significant amount of time to take on this task, and we’re grateful for the loyal Georgia citizens who were candidates for this historic event.”

The voting took place in 13 different locations across the state simultaneously. The election locations were determined based on the 13 congressional districts used in the 2010 elections.

Two additional elections are planned to fill out the remaining spots for September’s Democratic National Convention in Charlotte. On May 12, an election will be held to elect fourteen “Public Leaders and Elected Officials” or PLEO’s; on May 19, an election will be held to choose 24 at-large and nine alternates.

President Jimmy Carter holds a voting position as well, in deference to his former position as the nation’s Commander-in-Chief.


Dist 1

Miguel Camacho – Savannah
Laverne Gaskins – Valdosta
Joseph Segui – Waynesville
Audrey Stewart – St. Simons
Al Williams – Midway

Dist 2

Vivian Bishop – Columbus
Constance Burkes – Albany
Winfred Dukes – Albany
Lynmore James – Montezuma
Kattie Kendrick – Fort Valley

Dist 3

Delia Crouch – Newnan
Markgetta Jackson-Langford – Fayetteville
Kevin Madden – Peachtree City
Arnold Martin – Fayetteville
Marion Ray – Jonesboro
Morris Steward – Newnan

Dist 4

Thomas Brown – Atlanta
Barbara Campbell – Lithonia
Tobias Campbell – Decatur
Camille Davis-Williams – Lithonia
Melva Hicks – Scottdale
John Washburn – Avondale Estates
Vincent Williams – Decatur

Dist 5

Andrea Boone – Atlanta
Terrinne Briggs – Atlanta
Emma Darnell – Atlanta
Justin Giboney – Atlanta
Mo Ivory – Atlanta
C.T. Martin – Atlanta
Reese McCranie – Atlanta

Dist 6

Joshua Altman – Canton
David Gowdy – Alpharetta
John Morgan – Marietta
Celestine Mosley – Roswell
Florence Shelton-Clark – Johns Creek

Dist 7

Steffini Bethea – Snellville
Robert Byars – Peachtree Corners
Ilene Johnson – Lilburn
Austin Thompson – Duluth
Cheryl Williams – Duluth
George Williams – Duluth

Dist 8

Paul Bronson – Macon
Sarah Hunt – Macon
Fenika Miller – Warner Robins
Mary Neville – Lizella
DuBose Porter – Dublin

Dist 9

John Anthony – Dalton
Oliver Cobb – Dalton
Joan Huddleston – Blue Ridge
Venda Young – Cumming

Dist 10

James Dustin Baker – Athens
Lowell Greenbaum – Augusta
Jana Hill – Clayton
Janice Mathis – Bogart
Jerry Swain – Martinez

Dist 11

Derrick Brown – Kennesaw
Michelle Cooper Kelly – Marietta
Ashley Lee – Rome
Nathan McNeal – Kennesaw
Tania Phillips – Acworth

Dist 12

Diane Brack Evans – Avera
John Brewer – Ailey
Tawana Garrett – Savannah
Quentin T. Howell – Milledgeville
L.C. Myles, Jr. – Hephzibah

Dist 13

Gail Davenport – Jonesboro
Donzella James – College Park
Maurice Madden – Hampton
Alisha Morgan – Austell
Melissa Prescott – Fayetteville
Wilbur Purvis – Douglasville
Kevin Thomas – Jonesboro

 

Why we are Democrats

Full text below:

A letter printed in Sunday’s Statesboro Herald (“My thumbnail history of the American left from 1919-2012”) stated a number of inaccuracies about the Democratic Party- a party that I have been elected to represent as Chairman in the great state of Georgia.

I would like to give another viewpoint of the “History of the American left”, one that is grounded in reality and based in fact and logic, not wild exaggerations or unnecessary hyperbole. Our accomplishments do not need embellishment, as they stand tall on their own.

The Democratic Party is one of the oldest political parties in the world. We stand for the values of justice, fairness and equality. We are for honest leadership and open government.

We believe that innovative leadership creates jobs and that investments in education pay off. We believe in an economy that works for everyone.

We value responsibility and smart, practical policies that benefit all–not just the most fortunate folks. We know that when we promote opportunities for all people, it lifts everyone to the top.

The “History of the American left” is incomplete unless it mentions our biggest accomplishments- Social Security and Medicare for our elderly and infirm, an end to child labor that was persistent in the early 1900’s, and winning the fight so that women and minorities can cast their vote as easily as men do.

When African-Americans were prevented from voting, a Democratic President signed the Civil Rights Act.

When a crazed dictator took over Europe, a Democratic President stopped him. When a crazed terrorist brought down the Twin Towers, a Democratic President brought him to justice.

Even now, we are the foot soldiers defending against the GOP war on women.

We created the 40-hour workweek so that parents could spend time with their kids, a mandatory minimum wage so that workers could be paid a fair wage for a decent day’s work, and a guaranteed student loan program so that students could go to college.

The GI Bill? We did that. First man on the moon? We did that too. The HOPE scholarship? That’s us.

In just the past four years, we’ve prevented insurance companies from denying your claim due to a pre-existing condition. We have placed two female justices on the Supreme Court, eliminated “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” in the military, and withdrawn over 100,000 troops from Iraq.

The author’s history lesson in Sunday’s Statesboro Herald was a work of fiction, crafted by fear and  woefully distant from the facts.

Any true history of the Democratic Party must include the valiant fight for justice and equality that we have worked so hard towards- and still strive for- every single day.

Georgia Democrats Succeed at Social Media

Since January 1, 2012, the Democratic Party of Georgia has placed significant emphasis on expanding its non-traditional media.  Based on this plan, implemented by Communications Director Eric Gray, the party has reached a number of milestones in the first quarter of 2012.

  • In the past seven weeks alone, the DPG Twitter account has grown more than 50%, making Georgia Democrats first in the nation among Democratic State Parties.
  • In the past seven weeks, the DPG Facebook page has grown almost 17%, the sixth highest rate of growth among all Democratic state parties. Georgia Democrats are now tenth in the nation in “likes” and are doubling the national growth rate of about 7.50%.

 

“Social media and the ability to communicate swiftly and effectively is a key component to our democratic resurgence in Georgia. Being the most-followed state Democratic Party in the nation on Twitter is a tremendous benchmark,” said Chairman of the Democratic Party of Georgia Mike Berlon. “Thanks to the dedication and hard work from Eric Gray and all our staff.”

These new media successes are one key part of a broader strategy to re-engage Democratic voters throughout the state. “Whether it is on the internet through Twitter and Facebook, or through opening new brick-and-mortar headquarters like we did last weekend in Savannah, our goal is to reach all of Georgia,” said Berlon.“That’s the way that we’ll win in November and beyond.”

 

New DPG Savannah Office Promises ‘Future Political Success’

Savannah – Saturday’s grand opening of the Democratic Party of Georgia office in Savannah promises to bring future political success to southern and eastern Georgia. Lawmakers including Congressman James Clyburn (D-SC), Mayor Edna Jackson, Councilman John Hall, State Senator Lester Jackson and State Representatives Bob Bryant, Craig Gordon,  Mickey Stephens and Al Williams will be on hand to celebrate the exciting event.

“Opening a Savannah office is part of our 5% strategy,” said Mike Berlon, DPG Chairman. “We believe that we can raise Democratic turnout this election cycle and win many of the races in November. Having a headquarters in this part of the state allows us to strengthen our grassroots network close to home.”

Savannah residents will staff the office, located at 406 East Bay Street, after undergoing intensive training with the DPG. Georgia Democrats’ ultimate goal will be to provide a hub to organize, canvass and register new voters in Chatham County and beyond.

“When this state turns blue, we will point to Saturday as one of the main reasons,” said Berlon. “We’re happy that Congressman James Clyburn is making the trip to Savannah to congratulate us.”

All ages are welcome to the grand opening of Savannah’s Democratic Party of Georgia office at 406 East Bay Street on Saturday from 2 pm to 3:30 pm

Mike Berlon in the AJC: “Georgia deserves better”

Below is Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon’s Op-Ed in the Atlanta Journal Constitution printed January 29, 2012.

Georgia faces significant challenges, but not one is more important than our job crisis.

We’ve lost more than 300,000 jobs, third-highest in the nation, since the beginning of the Great Recession. Georgia has one of the highest rates of bankruptcy filings and foreclosures. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Georgia has the third-highest poverty rate and, every single month for more than four years, Georgia’s unemployment rate has exceeded the national average.

When people worry about their jobs, they have to worry about their homes, their children’s education — everyone’s future is impacted by the lack of available jobs in our state.

Our leaders believe the solution is to cut corporate taxes and give additional tax credits to big Wall Street businesses, yet Georgia already has one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the country. While other states are adding jobs and growing their economies, businesses avoid us and turn to our neighbors like Tennessee and Florida.

Georgia deserves better.

The real solution to the state’s job crisis is not lowering an already scant tax rate. Let’s instead concentrate on things that create a pro-business environment. We need better transportation options to move our goods from manufacture to market, and a better-educated workforce to attract more companies.

We need to convince business leaders that if they open a new plant in our state, their kids, and their workers’ kids, will attend a good school and achieve the American dream.

Instead of laying off our teachers, let’s respect them. They deserve better pay; our students deserve better outcomes. Instead of unacceptably low graduation rates, we should challenge our students with better schools and teachers who are valued, not discouraged.

Instead of combining colleges to save money, we should invigorate them to attract the best and brightest from other states, while keeping our own best students close to home. Instead of misguided HOT lanes on I-85 that restrict an entire lane of highway from commuters, we should explore better mass transportation so that moving around the city is trouble-free, not troublesome. Bold leadership created Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, now the busiest airport in the nation.

Our state can do big things. We’ve done them before. However, we need strong leadership that attacks our problems head-on, not stumbles with tired policies that don’t work. Our HOPE scholarship and pre-K program were once a model for all states to follow.

Last year, both of these programs were cut to provide tax incentives to companies that still aren’t hiring in Georgia.

It’s been a lost decade for the average Georgia resident. It’s time to find a real solution to these problems. There is a difference between being outstanding and standing out.

Let’s pay our teachers, renew our schools, respect our students and fix our roads. Let’s put Georgia back to work. Let’s make the real choices that will make us outstanding again.

 

Chairman Mike Berlon on Hearing to Address President Obama’s Inclusion on the Georgia Presidential Primary Ballot

Georgia –Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon releases the following statement on tomorrow’s administrative hearing to address President Obama’s inclusion on the Georgia Presidential primary ballot:

“Several lawsuits were recently filed against President Obama questioning whether he is an American citizen in an attempt to remove him from the Georgia primary ballot.  Despite the fact that these issues have been thoroughly litigated, a hearing has been scheduled in these cases for Thursday, January 26, 2012.  The Democratic Party of Georgia is not a party to any of these lawsuits.

“This afternoon we received a letter from counsel for the President directed to the Georgia Secretary of State asking him to intervene in these lawsuits and bring them to a halt, because it is well established that there is no issue here – a fact validated time and again by courts in this country.

“In the letter, counsel also indicated that they had no interest in continuing to appear or participate further in the litigation and have suspended their involvement.

“We respect the President’s position and urge the Secretary of State to bring this matter to a conclusion.  We also believe that each political party has the absolute legal right to determine who should appear on their primary and general election ballots according to their own rules without interference from outside parties.

“In light of these developments the Democratic Party of Georgia has no plans to continue to be involved in these baseless cases.  Furthermore the Democratic Party of Georgia will cooperate with the President and his campaign in any way requested to make sure that his name appears on the primary and general election ballots for 2012.”

Democratic Party of Georgia’s Statement on Release of Mitt Romney’s Tax Returns

Georgia – Today, after years of resistance, Mitt Romney has released limited information about his finances.  In response, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Mike Berlon released the following statement:

“Mitt Romney has spent years refusing to release his tax returns – and though he finally agreed to do so today, he offered just one full year of returns.   During the vetting process to become John McCain’s running mate, Romney released 23 years of tax returns. Why doesn’t Mitt Romney believe that Americans should see the full picture?

“This decision flies in the face of precedent set by previous presidential candidates – Romney’s father released 12 years of returns, President George W. Bush released returns back to 1991, and President Obama released eight years of tax returns during the 2008 campaign.

“Today, Romney failed to release sufficient information for the American people to be able to evaluate his investments, see exactly how he acquired his mass fortune during his time as a corporate raider for Bain Capital, and determine whether he has any financial conflicts that could cloud his judgment.  For instance, he closed a Swiss investment account only because an advisor was worried it might cause political problems should it stay open.  And Romney has made a fortune using offshore investments, from Swiss bank accounts to investments in the Caymans to Bermuda to Luxembourg to Ireland – all famous tax havens that cost American taxpayers about $100 billion a year in lost revenue.  But today’s returns don’t show how much in U.S. taxes Romney is avoiding by keeping his money in these foreign accounts – what else is he hiding from voters?

“Clearly, Romney doesn’t want us to know what releasing multiple full years of tax returns would reveal: he doesn’t believe we all have a responsibility to do our fair share, and he wants to continue to exploit the loopholes, special deductions and other gimmicks that he and other extraordinarily wealthy Americans use to pay a lower tax rate than working and middle-class families.

“With these priorities, it’s no surprise that Romney’s tax plan would cut his own 2013 taxes by nearly half.  That’s where Romney stands – and that’s exactly why he still refused to fully come clean with the American people today.”

Georgia Democrats Celebrate 50th Anniversary of Freedom Rides

Georgia – The Democratic Party of Georgia and Georgia Association of Black Elected Officials (GABEO) are teaming up to honor the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides this Saturday, November 12.

The special luncheon will include Ambassador Andrew Young, Congressman David Scott, State Representative Tyrone Brooks, and several of Georgia’s own Freedom Riders. This group of brave individuals defied accepted practice by testing the interstate bus system’s segregation laws, often resulting in imprisonment, injury or both.

“These courageous individuals were truly freedom fighters,” said Page Gleason, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Georgia. “Five decades later, their contributions to our state remain incredibly important.”

The luncheon will be held at Paschal’s Restaurant at 180 Northside Drive in Atlanta from 11 am to 1 pm on Saturday, November 12. Sponsorship levels start at $1,000, with individual tickets priced at $100. GABEO members receive a 50% discount.

# # #

Democrats open new Georgia headquarters with Debbie Wasserman Schultz

(Article found at the Washington Examiner.)

Democrats aren’t conceding any region of the country in their quest to re-elect President Barack Obama in 2012, the party’s chairwoman told Georgia Democrats on Wednesday at the opening of their new state party headquarters.

Democratic National Committee Debbie Wasserman Schultz said that includes Georgia, a state Obama lost three years ago by five percentage points.

“We are planting a flag in the South,” Schultz told a crowd of about 300. “We need to make sure we explain to voters that 2012 is personal.”

Schultz’s visit comes as Obama makes a three-day swing through the South touting his jobs plan, which failed to pass the Senate last week. Schultz, a Florida congresswoman, said there is a growing groundswell of Democratic momentum in the state and region, bolstered by the area’s changing demographics.

“We’re just building off the momentum we started in 2008,” she said, noting that the Obama campaign pulled out of Georgia several weeks before the general election. “It just became clear that it would be political malpractice to assume that the South is assumed to just be red.”

Schultz highlighted the growth of the country’s Latino population, in Georgia in particular, and said those voters could be key to an Obama victory.

“We are going to continue to quietly organize, slowly but surely,” she said. “I know the perception is that Georgia is a red state, but we’re slowly turning it purple around the edges.”

State Rep. Pedro Marin, a Georgia Democrat who was the first Latino elected to the state legislature, said he has heard frustration from Latinos about what they perceive to be a hostile attitude from Republicans. Marin said about 100,000 Latinos are registered Georgia voters, but another 100,000 are unregistered. The goal is to get them signed up and at the polls in November, and to convince them that Obama is still their best choice, Marin said.

“The resentment of Latinos is strong in Georgia,” he said, citing the state’s immigration law passed earlier this year by the Legislature. “It’s a big goal, but we have some groups out here doing voter registration. It’s working.”

Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, who also spoke at the opening, said he was encouraged by the packed building and cheering crowd, and urged them to rest up over the holidays ahead of a busy 2012 election season.

“We have a new energy, we have a new sense of purpose and a sense of mission,” Reed said. “This is exactly the kind of energy we’re going to need to re-elect Barack Obama.”

Reed added that the choice for voters is becoming clearer as the Republican presidential field continues to campaign and debate.

“They’ve been comparing [Obama] to the Almighty since the day he got in office,” Reed said. “Last night … you saw their alternative.”

Berlon statement on tenth anniversary of the start of Operation Enduring Freedom

Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Mike Berlon issues the following statement regarding the tenth anniversary of the beginning of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan:

“A decade ago today, the United States began fighting on foreign soil to defeat an enemy that had taken thousands of lives. The operation that began with 50 Tomahawk missiles has now extended a decade and lasted two and a half times longer than World War II.

“We would like to thank all of our military personnel fighting for this country, and the families that they have left behind. Good men and women have been hurt and lost in this war, and their sacrifices will never be forgotten. The celebration of our troops and their dedication to duty is not a republican or democratic issue-it’s about dedicated, duty bound Americans protecting all of us, each of our opinions and the freedoms that we so richly enjoy in this country.  We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.

“Last week, I was flying back from Washington and an Honor Flight arrived bringing several World War II veterans to see their Memorial at the National Mall.  When the veterans came off the plane, many in their late 80’s and in need of help, the airport erupted in tears, cheers and applause that made you feel proud to be an American.  Among those there to meet them were veterans from the wars in Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf Wars.

“Let’s remember all veterans from all wars who have done so much for us.  When you have the opportunity, make sure to thank a veteran for their sacrifice.”

Democrats demand resignation of state senators Ligon & Loudermilk

From 11 Alive:

ATLANTA– The racial discrimination case appears to be rooted in room 323 of the Legislative Office Building across from the Capitol.

It’s the office of state senators William Ligon (R-Brunswick) and Barry Loudermilk (R-Cassville) — two men implicated by Democrats questioning the settlement of the case.

“$80,000 of the people’s money has been spent and we know nothing about it,” said Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta).

Democrats say the payment was authorized this summer during a secret committee meeting chaired by Sen. Tommie Williams (R-Lyons) to settle a claim against the two senators. But details have been kept under wraps.

Democratic Party chairman Mike Berlon is calling for state and federal investigations — and the resignations of the two senators.

“I understand that sometimes these decisions have to be made to settle claims,” Berlon, an attorney, said at a news conference. “But it’s the manner in which this was done. It was completely in secret and it looks like there were going to be no ramifications whatsoever for the Republican senators.”

Full story is here.

GOP/Tea Party Budget Would Cost 9.5 Million Jobs; More than 225,000 in Georgia

Atlanta, GA – In advance of tonight’s GOP Presidential debate, Democratic Party of Georgia Chair Mike Berlon released an estimate of the number of jobs which would be lost in Georgia as a result of the Republican Party’s presidential candidates support for extreme economic policies.

A new analysis conducted by the Democratic National Committee concludes that the balanced budget amendment called for in the plan, if in place in 2012, would result in the loss of 9.5 million American jobs and over 225,000 lost jobs in Georgia. This enormous loss of jobs could sink the U.S. into the largest economic crisis since the Great Depression.

This new analysis looked at the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office’s (CBO) August deficit projections for 2012 ( $991 billion deficit with CBO options for Iraq drawdown, extension of all tax provisions and Alternative Minimum Tax indexing and accounting for the so-called “Doc” fix), and used the conservative Romer-Bernstein rule of thumb that 1 percent of GDP equates to 1 million jobs. The report concludes that if the plan were fully phased in in 2012 and nearly a trillion dollars in federal spending was slashed, the balanced budget amendment would cost 9.5 million jobs nationwide.

In essence, the balanced budget amendment envisioned by the Tea Party plan would cut spending so deeply as a percentage of GDP that it would grind the economy to a halt and devastate middle class families and small businesses. And, because of the amendment’s strict requirements for deep cuts, hard spending caps and a two-thirds majority to raise revenue, Congress would be virtually helpless to reverse the negative effects of these Tea Party Republican policies. Despite these negative consequences, every Republican presidential candidate, courting the extreme Tea Party vote, has come out in favor of a balanced budget amendment to the constitution or the Tea Party plan which contains one.

State Chair Mike Berlon releases the following statement regarding the impact of extreme GOP-Tea Party policies on the state of Georgia:

“9.5 million American jobs and 225,000 jobs here in Georgia. Possibly a second Great Depression and devastation for the middle class, small businesses, students and seniors. An economic morass that could last generations. Ending Medicare and slashing Social Security. That’s the price Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann, Ron Paul and the rest of the Republican Party are willing to pay to appeal to the most extreme and narrow elements of the Tea Party. There’s not a Democrat or Republican in this country who doesn’t think we need to get our fiscal house in order, but what this crop of Tea Party-loving Republicans has signed on to would lay ruin to our country and is beyond irresponsible.

“The drastic cuts to education, health care, infrastructure, research and development, higher education, Social Security, Medicare and job training supported by Republicans would cost us millions of jobs if the plan were fully implemented in 2012 and would ensure that we aren’t making the very types of investments we need to create jobs and be globally competitive in the 21st Century. The Republican approach is like setting dynamite to your home to fix a leaky faucet – and these poor policy choices are the result of a Republican Party which has turned over an increasing amount of power to its Tea Party fringe.

“Americans want real solutions to the problems we face and they want a plan to create jobs in the short term and lay a foundation for long term economic prosperity. What Republicans are proposing falls flat on all fronts.”

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Report summary (PDF) at http://my.democrats.org/DNC-report

Chairman Mike Berlon Statement on HD 113

Georgia – Democratic Party of Georgia Chairman Mike Berlon issues the following statement regarding yesterday’s election in Georgia House District 113:

“We are very proud of Dan Matthews of Oconee. He ran a strong race against long odds, and we appreciate his willingness to strive for a better community.

“We are also proud of the new generation of political strategists and community activists that assisted with Dan’s campaign. We are building a new generation of rising stars, and we expect that their hard work will result in many future successes.

“During my campaign for Chair, I described the ‘5% solution’. This is my plan to increase democratic performance in individual races throughout the state by 5% or more during the next few years. We surpassed this goal in HD 113 with an increase of 10 points over the November results less than a year ago.

“We also saw a higher voter turnout in this runoff election than in the previous special election, which demonstrates our get-out-the-vote strategy is becoming more effective.

“Even more impressive, we raised our democratic performance by over 50% in Oconee and Oglethorpe and flipped a portion of Clarke that voted republican in 2010 to a 62% democratic district.

“Congratulations to Dan Matthews for his strong race. While we continue to crunch the numbers from yesterday’s elections, one thing is clear. Georgia is bluer today than it was in November of last year.”