Tuesday E-News Briefs, 7/3/07, How Low Can They Go?

In This Issue

• Happy Birthday, America!
  
• GOP Candidates Support Amnesty For Scooter Libby
  
• Successful Training Event Held in Tampa
  
• Don't Miss the Chance to Meet Chairwoman Thurman
  
• Democratic Candidates Meet With Latino Leaders
  
• Meanwhile, Martinez's Approval Rating Plummets to 23%
  
• Hotel Rooms Available For State Convention

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!

The Florida Democratic Party wishes all E-News subscribers a happy and safe Independence Day Holiday!

GOP CANDIDATES SUPPORT AMNESTY FOR SCOOTER LIBBY

Yesterday's announcement that President Bush commuted the sentence of Vice President Dick Cheney's former Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the highest-ranking White House official to be convicted of a crime since the Iran-Contra affair in the 1980s, will have a significant impact on the 2008 presidential race. With 72 percent of Americans saying that President Bush "should not" pardon Scooter Libby, the Republican presidential candidates will have a tough time on the campaign trail defending their position. [Time Magazine/SRBI poll, March 9-12, 2007] Find out what the GOP candidates said about this miscarriage of justice here.

SUCCESSFUL TRAINING EVENT HELD IN TAMPA

Over 125 activists from all over Florida gathered in Tampa this weekend for a training seminar hosted by Democracy For America (DFA). DFA was founded by former Vermont Governor Howard Dean before he was elected Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. The group has done tremendous work, training over 12,000 volunteers in the fundamentals of effective campaigning and grass roots organizing. We look forward to working with these well-trained and dedicated activists who will help win the state for Democrats in 2008.

DON'T MISS THE CHANCE TO MEET CHAIRWOMAN THURMAN

Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman will be a making a special trip through the Tampa Bay area this month to rally support and raise funds for the 2008 elections. This will be a great opportunity for Tampa-area Democrats to discuss the big issues with their State Chair. Chairwoman Thurman will be in Oldsmar on July 15 and in St. Petersburg on July 16. The suggested contribution for both events is $50. For more info contact Kirk Sander at (813) 735- 9075 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES MEET WITH LATINO LEADERS

All of the major Democratic presidential candidates joined with Latino leaders from around the country this weekend at the annual convention of the National Association of the Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). The event was an opportunity for leading elected officials to discuss issues facing the Latino community. Notably absent from the meeting were the Republican presidential hopefuls - all of them. While Democrats welcomed the opportunity to meet with and listen to Latinos, Republicans were not interested. Even worse, the leading GOP non-candidate - former actor/lobbyist Fred Thompson - spent last week equating Cubans with terrorists while fellow Republican Mitt Romney campaigned on preventing a pathway to citizenship for hardworking immigrants. And they wonder why Florida Democrats won the Latino vote in 2006? With GOP candidates like Romney and Thompson, it shouldn't surprise anyone when we do it again in ‘08.

MEANWHILE, MARTINEZ'S APPROVAL RATING PLUMMETS TO 23%

A poll released this week by Florida Insider Magazine shows that U.S. Senator Mel Martinez's approval rating has dropped to an appalling 23%, with 47% of Floridians disapproving of the job he is doing in Washington. Even fellow Latinos disapproved of Martinez by a two-to-one margin, according to the poll, which notes that anti-Latino sentiment from Republicans "continues to harm the GOP."

HOTEL ROOMS STILL AVAILABLE FOR STATE CONVENTION!

The State Convention is right around the corner, and the Party has secured a limited number of discounted hotel rooms. Book yours now before they run out! On the weekend of October 26-28, Party supporters can stay at the Disney Yacht & Beach Club for a special rate of $229/per night + tax or you can also choose to stay right down the road at Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort for only $139/per night + tax. Self-parking is free at both locations. For more information please visit http://www.disneyurl.com/fldemocratic2007 or call (407) 934-3372. THESE ROOMS ARE GOING FAST! BE SURE TO BOOK EARLY!