The Gateway to Opportunity

Every morning when I drop my 13 year-old son at school, I am reminded of the value of a good public education. It is his future. Protecting our public education system is one of the things that drove me into Florida politics years ago. Many of us are appalled at the policies Governor Scott and Republicans in Tallahassee are pursuing — cuts in funding, teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, and more.

These are the same kind of policies Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan would pursue across the nation. According to them, education is the responsibility of each individual family, and each family should get whatever education they can afford for their kids. Once again, “you’re on your own.” If your family can’t afford much, that’s too bad. Romney and his supporters would abandon those millions of young Americans and their futures.

President Obama understands this is wrong and that a quality public education must be available to all students – not just the few who can afford it. He has said:

“You can choose a future where more Americans have the chance to gain the skills they need to compete, no matter how old they are or how much money they have. Education was the gateway to opportunity for me. It was the gateway for Michelle. It was the gateway for most of you. And now more than ever, it is the gateway to a middle-class life.

“And now you have a choice — we can gut education, or we can decide that in the United States of America, no child should have her dreams deferred because of a crowded classroom or a crumbling school. No family should have to set aside a college acceptance letter because they don’t have the money. No company should have to look for workers overseas because they couldn’t find any with the right skills here at home. That’s not our future. That is not our future.”

Education is the foundation for a stronger economy and better jobs for Americans, and it is the gateway to opportunity for all. America can not afford to go back on education. That is why I believe we must re-elect the President and elect Democrats to Congress and our Florida Legislature if we hope to keep our economy and our middle class strong. (Note: This post also appeared last week on SarasotaPatch.com.)

Courage to Speak Out

With Sandra Fluke, reproductive rights activist, scheduled to be in the Sarasota area this Saturday, September 29 for a rally supporting Congressional candidate Keith Fitzgerald (more details here), I wanted to share more of my impressions of this remarkable young lady, both here and on Sarasota Patch. When I saw Sandra Fluke speak at the Democratic National Convention, I was so proud to be a Democrat! This young woman stood up for what she believes, and even after ridicule and hateful slurs from the far right, she stood up again and delivered her message loud and clear to the world.  Here is some of what she said about “two profoundly different futures” that await women:

“[In one America], you have a new vice president who co-sponsored a bill that would allow pregnant women to die preventable deaths in our emergency rooms. An America in which states humiliate women by forcing us to endure invasive ultrasounds we don’t want and our doctors say we don’t need. An America in which access to birth control is controlled by people who will never use it; in which politicians redefine rape so survivors are victimized all over again; in which someone decides which domestic violence victims deserve help, and which don’t. …it’s not the America we should be. It’s not who we are.

“We’ve also seen another future we could choose. First of all, we’d have the right to choose. It’s an America in which no one can charge us more than men for the exact same health insurance; in which no one can deny us affordable access to the cancer screenings that could save our lives; in which we decide when to start our families. An America in which our president, when he hears a young woman has been verbally attacked, thinks of his daughters—not his delegates or donors—and stands with all women.”

Among so many important issues, this election is about the right of women to decide their own futures, decide about their own bodies, and their right to health care when they need it. Watch the full video of her speech and you, too, will be moved – moved to choose the future “where we mean it when we talk about personal freedom, [not] one where that freedom doesn’t apply to our bodies and our voices.”

 

DNC Wrap-Up: A Vote for Life

One of the most inspiring moments for me at the Democratic National Convention – a moment that set the tone for the entire event — happened the very first morning. I mentioned it briefly in my first post from the DNC, but it made such an impression on me that I wanted to share more below (and on Sarasota Patch):

Rod Smith, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party stood up in front of the Florida delegation and told us that his 25-year-old son, Dillon, was recently diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of cancer that usually strikes children. He has undergone his first round of chemotherapy, and the family is optimistic.

The inspiration came when Rod described how the health care reform passed by President Obama may end up saving Dillon’s life.

DNC Dispatch – Day Two

As we anticipate the President’s speech yet tonight, here are the highlights I took away from all of yesterday’s excitement:

Rita and Sister Simone Campbell

Cecile Richards, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund (and daughter of the late, legendary Texas governor Ann Richards) gave an emotional speech.  We listened with tears in our eyes, as she had tears in hers: “President Obama understands women. He trusts women. And on every issue that matters to us, he has stood with women… We’ve come way too far to ever turn back. And we won’t.”

Elizabeth Warren, running for Senate in Massachusetts, also gave a rousing speech: “I believe in President Obama and his vision for the future. Not just for folks who call themselves Democrats — but for everyone who believes that when you work hard and play by the rules, you deserve a chance to succeed. For decades now, the dreams of millions of kids have moved further out of reach. Middle-class families have gotten hammered, while the rich and powerful have gotten richer and more powerful. This election truly is the fork in the road. It will decide who we are as a people and what kind of country we want to be.”

DNC Dispatch – Night One

The energy here at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte is so incredible, and Michelle Obama’s speech Tuesday night just electrified the crowd. Here one of the many gems from her speech:

“I have seen firsthand that being president doesn’t change who you are. No, it reveals who you are… And as president, you are going to get all kinds of advice from all kinds of people. But at the end of the day, when it comes time to make that decision, as president, all you have to guide you are your values, and your vision, and the life experiences that make you who you are.”

That is something to think about when we know so little about who Mitt Romney really is – the man who hides his past and whose values and positions seem to change with the wind. But about Barack Obama’s values and experiences, Michelle Obama said:

“Barack knows the American Dream because he’s lived it, and he wants everyone in this country to have that same opportunity, no matter who we are, or where we’re from, or what we look like, or who we love. He believes that when you’ve worked hard, and done well, and walked through that doorway of opportunity, you do not slam it shut behind you. You reach back, and you give other folks the same chances that helped you succeed.”

And: “For Barack, success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the differences you make in people’s lives.”

This makes me proud to be a Democrat and proud to support President Obama! It expresses in personal terms our values of hard work, inclusiveness, fairness, opportunity, and giving others a hand up. A great opening night for this exciting gathering – and I’ll be sharing more as I can!

DNC Dispatch – Day One

Greetings from Charlotte! There’s so much going on now that the Democratic National Convention is underway, and I’ll be sharing the highlights as quickly as I can. On Day One, I attended the Florida Delegation breakfast (with more than 575 delegates and their guests) and heard from an impressive array of Democratic leaders about how President Obama’s policies over the last four years have put us in a much better position today than we were in four years ago. Here are some of the highlights:

Rod Smith, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, shared a personal story about the recent cancer diagnosis of his son, 24, just three weeks ago. Because of the Affordable Healthcare Act (AHA), he was able to still insure his son and make sure he gets the critical care needed. So far his treatment has totaled more than $1 million, but it has all been covered. Furthermore, thanks to AHA, his son cannot be denied healthcare after his recovery as a person with a pre-existing condition.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA)

Senator Mark Warner, the former governor of Virginia, spoke of his 20 years of business experience and how the stock market is far stronger today than four years ago, when our financial system was basically in a complete free-fall.

President Obama and Israel

Rita and Sen. Ben Cardin at the August 2012 event

I am no foreign policy expert, but I am proud that President Obama’s steady hand on foreign policy has restored America’s influence and respect around the world.

Just how important this is became clearer last week when Senator Ben Cardin of Maryland addressed a packed house of Jewish and other Democrats, sharing his unique personal insights about Obama’s foreign policy and especially his work with Israel.

Senator Cardin first became friendly with Obama when they served together in the Senate. Since then, he has had a unique first-hand view of the President’s efforts in support of the people and state of Israel.

In addition to numerous private conversations with the President, Cardin played a key role as one of the US politicians and diplomats the Administration tapped to contact UN member nations in the successful effort to hold off the Palestinian attempt to gain recognition. Cardin firmly believes – and I agree — that the international influence and respect America has gained under President Obama’s leadership is part of what made this success possible.

A Choice for Our Families

With the conventions just around the corner, I’ll be back to sharing the latest news from on the ground, particularly as a delegate in Charlotte.  Today, here’s another piece that ran earlier this month on the Sarasota Patch site:

Most of the women I know have experienced a time when they were treated as “less than equal.”

Many have had to pay more for health insurance because they are a woman. A few, like my friend who had a heart attack, have been denied coverage. Others are like my colleague Carol, who was paid less than a man we worked with for the same work. And worse for some women, but luckily no one I know, it happens at home where they suffer abuse.

So what do these issues affecting women all have in common? They are all issues that President Obama has fought to address. They are also problems that Mitt Romney and many other Republicans have worked to make worse.

Two Visions for America

As you’ve probably noticed, I’ve been away from the blog for the last couple of weeks, but with the GOP ticket now set and the conventions just around the corner, I’ll be posting frequently again soon. In the meantime, I wanted to share a piece I did for Sarasota Patch on the contrasting visions that the two presidential candidates have for our country. You can visit the original post or read it all below:

Many of us have a vision for America where with hard work and a little luck everyone has the opportunity to succeed, live a middle class life, and maybe even become wealthy.

That’s also President Obama’s vision. He has lived the American Dream, rising from humble beginnings, the son of a single parent, to become President of the United States. He is both a champion and a poster child for the American Dream!

So it took my breath away to see our President called “the anti-American President” and a “Marxist” and a “third world socialist, anti-capitalist despot.” These words and the “call to arms” used in a recent Observer editorial are so offensive and contrary to what President Obama stands for that they seem designed only to generate fear and anger, rather than contribute to a debate.

Upholding Peace of Mind

With the dust starting to settle from the Supreme Court ruling on the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare, depending on your perspective), I shared my thoughts as mother on the legislation in an op-ed for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. My son, Christopher, has a heart murmur and although he’s thriving, the idea that he could be denied coverage because of this pre-existing condition was always hanging over me in the back of my mind. So certainly, beyond my political beliefs, the Supreme Court’s upholding of the law came as a huge relief to me, and to the millions of those people and parents facing similar circumstances. Of course, the ruling was not hailed across the board, with Mitt Romney and others vowing to repeal the act if given the chance.

The misinformation spread far and wide about the act has also led to concerns from small business owners, but it’s important to realize that, for instance, businesses with fewer than 25 full time employees are not required to provide health insurance and there is no penalty if they don’t. Moreover, new tax credits could help out businesses that do provide insurance. With this ruling and Republican vows to dismantle the ACA, this fall’s election has taken on even greater importance – particularly if you believe, like me, that investing in access to health care services and insurance coverage is as crucial to our children’s future as is investing in their education and economic opportunities.