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I'd like to share with everyone the email sent out today by Maria Weeg, Executive Director of the Idaho Democrats...
Fellow Idaho Democrats,
Yesterday was a sad day for many of us – a hard day for all of us. I can say this, though, I am prouder than ever to be a Democrat.
I’ve been grappling for the past 24 hours with the implications, both political and philosophical, of yesterday’s vote in the Senate and I wanted to take the time to share some of that with you – not as the ED of the party, but as your friend, your partner in the battle, and as a Democrat.
It was a done deal before the debate had even started, probably even before the session had started.
I sat in the Senate yesterday and heard 26 Senators argue that we need to amend our Constitution, a document whose very definition is to protect the rights of ALL Idahoans, to effectively and permanently restrict the rights of thousands of our fellow Idahoans.
I heard them argue that our children’s future health – social, economic, emotional – is at risk. But I didn’t hear them speak about how many of Idaho’s children are living in poverty because a family of four living on minimum wage cannot make ends meet. And I was tempted to count how many of them also voted to limit CHIP benefits, leaving thousands of Idaho’s kids without any access to healthcare or had voted against living up to the state’s responsibility to provide safe schools for our kids.
I heard them argue that we are in a cultural war. But I didn’t hear them speak about how a very real war is taking husbands from their wives, mothers from their children and the lives of so many brave Americans.
I heard a room full of people speak of minorities as if they had ever once walked in the shoes of a person who is a true minority. But I didn’t hear them speak about providing meaningful ESL programs in our schools and, again, I was tempted to count how many of them voted against a federal match program that would have provided access to health care for thousands of Idaho’s women.
I heard them speak of the importance of letting the people decide on such important issues. But I didn’t hear them talk about respecting the sovereignty of our Indian Nations or the decision of the people to allow tribal gaming. And I wondered how many of them had voted to repeal the citizen’s decision to impose term limits on our elected officials. It seemed yesterday as if that body only believes in letting the people decide when it is something they agree with.
Some of them, at least, were willing to call a spade a spade and speak to the real reason behind this vote – the Republicans need it to turn out the conservative vote in November. Even more reason for us to focus on electing Democrats and in turning out our base vote – that’s where our focus has to be this year.
I am proud to be a Democrat and more committed than ever to electing more Democrats so that we can begin focusing, really focusing, on the kinds of policies and legislation that really does – in a meaningful and substantive way – prioritize and honor our families and our children. And I am proud to be a member of the party who will always value the civil rights of individuals, the right of self-determination, and the right to personal privacy.
Yours in the fight,
Maria
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