The Courage Campaign is doing amazing work in California. They've brought many issues to the forefront and helped support initiatives unlike any other organization we have here in the Golden State.
And last night I went to their first ever Spirit of Courage Awards. It was almost as awesome as the organization itself. Held at the Los Angeles Natural HIstory Museum it was an evening of food, drinks and music and a lot of interesting people. I did get an earful this morning from my eight year-old though when I showed her the photos of the T-Rex's, her first reaction was, "YOU WENT WITHOUT ME?" And then on the way to school, "So why couldn't I go to this party?" I guess I really should have brought her as my guest, huh? I don't blame her, I did show her this photo:
This is the thing, Courage Campaign is pretty damn good about being as inclusive as possible. They may have started with marriage equality but they've come a long way and have done so much beyond that.
Their recent Occupy the Golf Course here in Orange County was a stroke of genius (No pun intended of course). The OC Weekly called it the, John Boehner's Orange County Tee Party
While angry citizens in Irvine protested the cozy relationship between Wall Street and our public representatives, the Orange County GOP was holding its annual Reagan Cup on the lush greens of Newport's Pelican Hill Golf Club. Outside the gates, 50 people, led by the Courage Campaign, called for Boehner to approve the jobs bill, which stalled in the Senate last week.
While the group used bullhorns, drums and angry chants to get the attention of the Republican linksmen, the cherry on this cake was the airplane flying overhead towing a banner, which read "GOP Jobs Plan=Occupy Golf Course?"
Courage Campaign founder Rick Jacobs gained access to the clubhouse under the guise of having a morning tee time and attempted to personally hand Boehner a petition asking for republicans to move forward with the jobs bill. Boehner reportedly walked away from Jacobs after which time, the Ohio representative's spokesperson, Cory Fritz, spun into action.
Not a lot of Progressive Groups dare come to Orange County although candidates do sweep through to pick up some quick cash for their campaigns. It's a strange place you see, 500,000 registered Democrats and still pretty damn red. But Courage Campaign not only came here they asked us to support their efforts and many did, it was appreciated and everyone involved really appreciated their efforts to make an important point. Pass the damn the bill.
Courage Campaign has also been tackling another important issue and that has to do with Occupy Oakland. They're collecting signatures to pressure Oakland Mayor Quan to investigate the violence that took place during the raids on Occupy Oakland and they did wait to do so, it was the next day. Tell Oakland Mayor Jean Quan: Condemn and investigate police brutality!
Last night, Oakland police destroyed two encampments of Occupy Oakland without cause, then used tear gas and rubber bullets on defenseless Occupy Oakland protesters.
This kind of police brutality is unacceptable, and Democratic Mayor Jean Quan must immediately condemn and investigate police brutality against Oakland residents.
Sign our petition to Oakland Mayor Jean Quan and all other Oakland elected officials demanding they condemn and investigate police brutality against Occupy Oakland!
And they are working on National Issues as well, from ending the Defense of Marriage Act to bringing the concerns of Progressives in California to the White house.
Courage Campaign leads California delegation to the White House
On September 23rd, Courage Campaign led a delegation of over 100 California progressive leaders to the White House for a day of policy meetings on issues important to Californians. The day before, a Congressional reception was held on Capitol Hill where members of the California House delegation welcomed the attendees, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.
The White House convening was an amazing give-and-take of ideas and policy discussion. In attendance were William Daley, White House Chief of Staff; David Plouffe, Assistant to the President and Senior Adviser; Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor; Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator; Valerie Jarrett, Senior Adviser to the President; Jon Carson, Director of the Office of Public Engagement; Jeremy Bernard, White House Social Secretary; Brian Deese, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council; and Greg Nelson, Deputy Director
California is taken for granted by many Democrats, it's a Blue State, it's a given for Obama but we sure would love to be heard by the White House. Not only is California the 8th largest economy in the world, it produces many of the patents in the US and worldwide because of our amazing UC's , silicon valley, you name it.
And yet, California is still held hostage by the 2/3rd's rule and a minority party that currently has about two hundred thousand dollars of cash on hand and no State wide office holders.
We're like the rest of the Country, we are stuck with the ruling minority and can't move forward with much of anything because a few people who signed pledges refuse to budge.
California is lucky to have organizations like Courage Campaign, we need more of them and we need them badly because we can't afford to be stuck like this much longer, held back by those bought and sold by the 1%. Or as Courage Campaign so brilliantly called them in California, The Republican Party, AKA, The Yacht Club Party.
One of the most effective ad campaigns this state has ever seen. This is what drives things like the Occupy Wall Street movement, catering to people who can afford to buy yachts rather than the people who just want to be able to afford to keep a roof over their heads.