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WHAT’S AT STAKE THIS NOVEMBER
The challenges President Obama inherited were immense—two wars, an economy in crisis, a broken health care system, record deficits. The size of our challenges had outgrown the smallness of our politics, and Americans of all walks of life were hungry for new ideas and new leadership.
Working with the President, Democrats in Congress helped prevent a second Great Depression and put our economy on the road back to recovery. They stabilized the financial system, and by standing up to insurance companies, big banks and credit card companies established the strongest consumer protections ever. And with the help of grassroots supporters across the country, we were finally able to make real the ideas that every American should have access to affordable health care, no one should be denied coverage because they get sick or have a pre-existing medical condition, and no one should go bankrupt just because they get sick.
But for nearly two years, Republicans have tried to block progress at every turn. They’ve rooted for failure and worried more about the next election than the next generation.
Now they want to take us back—to a time when special interests made the rules and American families paid the price. Where tax cuts for the very wealthiest drove deficits while ordinary Americans found it harder and harder to make ends meet.
They want to take us back to the same failed policies that saw 8 million jobs lost, lives interrupted, dreams deferred.
That’s what’s at stake this November. And that is why we cannot let up—not for one minute or one year or one election. Not when there is so much left to do.
• If you care about educating our children for the challenges of the 21st century; if you care about protecting the health care of working families; if you care about civil rights and equal pay for equal work; if you care about creating jobs and making our economy more prosperous for all Americans—then we’re going to need you to step up and work hard in this election.
• If you are interested in a clean-energy future that creates jobs right here in America while ending our dependence on foreign oil, then you need to support Democratic candidates for Congress, because Republicans are going to say ‘no’ to that.
• If you care about building a new foundation for our country, from the bottom up, instead of returning to the same tired, worn-out theories that didn’t work for the past decade, then we’re going to need you to talk to your neighbors, knock on doors, and make phone calls for Democrats who are willing to stand with the President and move our country forward.
We’ve come too far to turn back now. We can’t afford to slow down or sit back and watch everything we’ve fought for slip away—not when there’s so much at stake.
We have a lot of work to do. But with your help, we can continue moving our country forward and fulfill the promise of change.
Next: Why we need you.
WHY WE NEED YOU THIS NOVEMBER
The November elections will decide whether Democrats can continue to move America forward or whether Republicans will be given the power to move us backward into the failed policies of the past. We are counting on you to relay to voters what's at stake this fall, the choice they'll have to make, and why it's crucial they participate.
Our plan, as always, revolves around working hard on the ground all across the country from here until Election Day. Here's how:
FACE TO FACE, NEIGHBOR TO NEIGHBOR. We know that the single most effective messenger is a friend, a family member, or a neighbor. This kind of face-to-face interaction from someone familiar is incredibly effective at persuading and getting folks to participate in our democracy. That's why we ask OFA supporters to focus on organizing in their communities.
TELL YOUR STORY. It's no surprise that the best messages we have are your personal reasons for voting this fall. Tell voters you talk to why you care, why you're involved, and why you believe it is so important to vote this November. It's the personal connections to the issues that resonate. So if you have a health care story that casts light on the importance of historic health reform, share it. If student loan reform has made it easier for you or someone you know to pursue higher education, tell the people you talk to why we can't afford to go backward.
IT'S AS SIMPLE AS ASKING. People who are asked to vote are far more likely to do so. Success on Election Day comes down to turnout—and so much of the battle is simply making sure each voter is asked. They need to know not just why you're participating but also why it's important they do as well.
GET OUR KEY SUPPORTERS TO COMMIT TO VOTE. Our job is to ensure as many of the President's supporters as possible get out to vote. Studies show that those who make a written commitment to vote are much more likely to actually cast a ballot—that's why we're collecting commitments at the doors this fall.
GET FIRST-TIME VOTERS BACK TO THE POLLS. One of the key principles behind Organizing for America's Vote 2010 strategy is getting the voters who put President Obama over the top in 2008 back to the polls. There are more than 15 million people who voted for the first time in 2008—and these are the very voters who we're working hard to get back to the polls.
MAKING THE DIFFERENCE. We've done the math, and we believe that getting just a fraction of these first-time voters back to the polls on November 2nd can change the outcome of close races across the country.
Finally, the choice between Democrats and Republicans this fall:
THE CHOICE THIS NOVEMBER: MOVING FORWARD VS. FALLING BACKWARD
This November, voters have a choice, and it couldn't be clearer. President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress have fought to repair a decade of damage and grow an economy that strengthens our country and middle-class families, not just today but over the long run.
For nearly two years, Republicans tried to block progress at every turn—shirking their responsibility to govern at a time of crisis. They've spent more time worrying about what big corporations and special interests want than what middle-class Americans need.
But they're not offering a single new idea. They want to take us back to the same old ideas and failed policies that led us into this mess in the first place and want to let the big banks, oil companies, and insurers write their own rules. We simply can't afford to move backward—not now, when we're only now beginning to climb out of the ditch that George Bush and Republicans left us in. If you want to keep moving forward, this November we need you to stand with Democrats who stand with the President.
DEMOCRATS: MOVING AMERICA FORWARD
Democrats invested to rebuild America's roads, bridges, rails, and ports to build private-sector jobs in communities across the country.
Democrats made college affordable for millions of students by eliminating subsidies to banks.
Democrats fought for the middle class by ending taxpayerfunded bailouts, cutting taxes, and protecting credit card users from excessive hidden fees and abusive practices.
Democrats ended insurance company abuses, including the practice of denying coverage to people with preexisting conditions. It's already helping millions of Americans get better, more affordable care and is helping make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
To help reduce the deficit, Democrats plan to keep taxes low for the middle class, so they can pay bills and stimulate the economy.
Democrats provided new tax credits and loans to create clean-energy jobs right here in America and proposed tough reforms that would ensure oil companies are responsible for their actions.
Democrats have fought to change the ways of Washington —pushing for ethics reform that would keep our elections fair and limit the influence of big corporations.
REPUBLICANS: TAKING US BACK
Republicans, whose policies saw the loss of 8 million jobs, stood on the sidelines and refused to govern.
Republicans stood with big banks and special interests to block student loan reform.
Republicans took millions from Wall Street lobbyists and voted against protecting ordinary Americans from abusive practices by big banks.
Republicans stood with the insurance companies to oppose historic health reform. Now they've set their sights on repeal, allowing companies to deny care based on pre-existing conditions and ending Medicare as we know it.
Republicans have fought to give tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs and profits overseas. They want to cut taxes for the wealthiest 2 percent, adding $700 billion to the deficit without boosting the economy.
Republicans sided with oil companies, opposed cleanenergy reform, and blocked efforts to hold BP accountable for the Gulf oil spill.
Republicans opposed ethics reform, going to the mat for corporations and special interests funneling millions of money to campaigns and shadowy outside groups.
If I appear to be a stenographer for the Democratic Party, it's because I am. All this information is free, it's available for download and print (on convenient one-page PDF files), and it's waiting for you to do something with it.
The floor is now open for comment.