Mediaboss Marketing

John Delaney says hes a different kind of Democrat.

I work to pursue goals that I think the Democratic Party shares broadly, but I think about how you do that differently, Delaney says.

Delaney is a member of Congress from Maryland and the first officially declared Democratic candidate for president in 2020.

It bears reminding that the 2020 presidential election is more than three years away, and even Iowas first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses are roughly 2 years off.

Yet here was Delaney, making his way around the 2017 Iowa State Fair this past week, holding multiple media interviews and meeting with people interested in his campaign over the span of a couple of days in Des Moines.

The 54-year-old Delaney said he is not a typical Democrat because he believes the best government work is done when both major political parties work together, and that he has a different view on economic issues because of his experience as an entrepreneur.

Assuming he stays in the race for the long haul --- during the interview he assured he would --- Delaney will be among what almost assuredly will be a large crowd of Democratic candidates. (CNN political analyst Chris Cillizza recently estimated more than 20 possibilities --- and that list did not include Delaney.) So Delaney will need a message that differentiates himself from the crowd.

A key element of Delaneys message is that he thinks federal officials are, as he said it, having the wrong conversation. He said too much political debate is about re-litigating battles of the past, and not enough about looking toward the future.

And a critical piece of that forward-looking debate, Delaney said, is technology and the disruption it will have on the global workforce.

Technology, automation, global interconnections, these are changing everything, Delaney said. These things are going to have profound effects over the next 20 or 30 years, and theyre going to create large-scale opportunities and challenges, and were doing nothing to prepare our country and our citizens.

Delaney said the federal government should be doing more to prepare for those profound effects by creating a more competitive and entrepreneurial business climate, creating a better educated and more well-trained workforce, investing in communities, and make smarter investments of government resources to create a healthier budget and environment.

That, to me, is a blueprint for the future, Delaney said.

Delaney founded two companies: a finance company for health care providers and a commercial lender. Both went public within three years of their founding, according to Delaneys biography.

He was first elected to Congress in 2012 and serves on the financial services committee.

Delaney said his business background gives him a different economic perspective that is different that some Democrats, that he does not view the private sector as the enemy.

And that message, Delaney said, is what will help Democrats regain voters they lost in 2016 --- including in Iowa, which went twice for former President Barack Obama but flipped for Trump.

I dont think its the policy goals of the Democratic Party are wrong. But I definitely think that we are not talking to people about what they care most about. We tend to talk to people about what we care most about. And those are very different things, Delaney said.

Obviously what most people care about is their job and the economy in their local community. Because really at the end of the day everything flows from that: a persons sense of dignity, their ability to raise a family, their ability to support their kids, the ability to make sure the community has the resources it needs so its vital and vibrant. And Democrats arent talking enough about that.

As for his early entry into the race, Delaney said part of the reason is his desire to be straight with voters, who he thinks are tired of all the b.s. in politics.

We all know there are a lot of people running for president right now, Delaney said. Theyre just not saying it.

Erin Murphy covers Iowa politics and state government for Lee Enterprises. His email address is erin.murphy@lee.net.

More here:
Murphy: A 'different' Democrat comes to Iowa - Mason City Globe Gazette

Following Donald Trumps equivocating of white supremacists and those who oppose them in the wake of violent clashes in Charlottesville, Virginia, another Democrat has signaled his intention to file articles of impeachment against him in the House of Representatives. Rep. Steve Cohen of Tennessee, a ranking member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, sent out a press release Thursday announcing his intention to begin the impeachment process against the president for his widely condemned reaction.

Related: Impeaching Trump may not be necessary to remove him from the White House

I believe the president should be impeached and removed from office, Cohen said in the release. Instead ofunequivocally condemning hateful actions by neo-Nazis, white nationalists and Klansmen following a national tragedy, the president said there were very fine people on both sides. There are no good Nazis. There are no good Klansmen.

Daily Emails and Alerts - Get the best of Newsweek delivered to your inbox

One person, Heather Heyer, died in Charlottesville on Saturday after a white supremacist allegedly drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters. But in an impromptu press conference Tuesday, Trump said there were very fine people among a group protesting the removal of a Confederate-era statue, despite videos showing them chanting anti-Semitic and racist slogans.

President Trump has failed the presidential test of moral leadership, Cohen added. No moral president would ever shy away from outright condemning hate, intolerance and bigotry. No moral president would ever question the values of Americans protesting in opposition of such actions, one of whom was murdered by one of the white nationalists.

President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn after arriving via Marine One at the White House in Washington, D.C., on August 14. Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Cohen went on to detail other potentially impeachable actions Trump has committed, claiming he had no choice but to begin the process to remove the president from the White House.

Not only has he potentially obstructed justice and potentially violated the Constitutions Foreign Emoluments Clause, but he has also shown that he is incapable or unwilling to protect Americans from enemies, foreign and domestic. Neo-Nazis and the KKK are domestic terrorists, he said. It is morally and legally incumbent upon me, based on my oath of office, to introduce articles of impeachment.

It is not the first time articles of impeachment have been introduced in the House. Last month, another Democrat, Rep. Brad Sherman, of California, introduced his own articles, accusing Trump of obstruction of justice. The move followed Trumps firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into possible collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia.

However, any hopes of impeaching Trump at this stage remains largely a pipe dream for Democrats. A majority vote in the House of Representatives and a two-thirds majority in the Senate is required to remove the president. Republicans currently have control of both houses.

More here:
Trump Impeachment Process Begins as Democrat States President 'Failed Test of Moral Leadership' - Newsweek

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu on Thursday urged his counterparts around the country to take down the Confederate statues, and took a veiled shot at Trump by citing a lack of national leadership on this issue that mayors should step up to fill.

"Once again, mayors have been asked to fill a void of national leadership," wrote Landrieu, a Democrat and president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, in a letter released Thursday. "I hope our combined efforts have put us on a path toward equity and reconciliation. But no matter how America navigates these troubled times, the courage and conviction of our cities will ultimately chart our course."

While Landrieu's letter never named Trump, it's a direct shot at the president, who said Thursday he opposes the removal of the statues. The president also drew broad criticism for waffling on issuing explicit condemnations of the white nationalists who rallied in Charlottesville, Va., and emphasizing that counter-protesters also committed acts of violence.

"You had some very bad people in that group," Trump said Tuesday. "You also had some very fine people on both sides."

White nationalists gathered Friday and Saturday in Charlottesville to protest the removal of a statue of Robert E. Lee. They celebrated Nazism and chanted Friday evening that "Jews will not replace us." That display drew counter-protesters affiliated with Antifa, a group of anarchist leftists who clashed with the original rallygoers and assaulted reporters documenting the scene. The violence turned deadly when someone drove a vehicle into a crowd of Antifa members, killing one and injuring 19 others; police say the driver was one of the white nationalists.

Landrieu made clear that he aspires to be a national leader on this issue. "I pledge to you today the full resources of the U.S. Conference of Mayors to help you unite your community," he said. "As president of this conference, I will commit to do everything we can to stand up to those who seek to divide us and perpetuate hate. If you choose to do the same in your city, we will stand with you."

He said that "the Confederacy's shameful legacy will be with us, whether we memorialize it in marble or not," but argued that "there is a difference between remembrance of history and reverence for it." He also asked mayors to help guide their cities through the issue.

"I encourage each of you to lead your community through a conversation on race and equity," Landrieu wrote. "This process can be painful, and I know it may feel like you're choosing the path of most resistance. But your city, and our entire union, will be stronger for it."

Landrieu ordered the removal of Confederate monuments from New Orleans in May, providing opponents of such statues with one of their biggest successes in recent years. His subsequent defense of that decision stoked speculation that he could be a dark-horse presidential candidate in 2020.

Read more:
Democrat mayor claims 'void of national leadership' under Trump - Washington Examiner

Associated Press August 17, 2017 - 4:55 PM

MADISON, Wis. The Latest on the Wisconsin state Assembly debate of the $3 billion Foxconn bill (all times local):

4:50 p.m.

A $3 billion tax break bill for Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn Technology Group is poised to pass the Wisconsin Assembly on a bipartisan vote.

Democratic state Rep. Cory Mason said during debate Thursday that he intends to vote for the bill. He is the first Democrat to publicly say he will back the measure that is being championed by Gov. Scott Walker and fellow Republicans.

Most Democrats have assailed the measure, saying it's a corporate welfare giveaway that weakens environmental standards and doesn't have enough protections for workers.

The plant that Foxconn said could employ up to 13,000 people would be located near Racine, where Mason is running for mayor.

He says the measure is not perfect, but the prospect of thousands of jobs is too good to pass up.

___

12:30 p.m.

Democrats in the Wisconsin state Assembly are arguing that a vote on $3 billion in tax breaks for Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group should be delayed until the bill can be improved.

Democratic Assembly Leader Peter Barca argued Thursday that changes are necessary to ensure the environment and workers are protected and Wisconsin businesses will be involved in construction of the $10 billion campus where television display panels are to be manufactured.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says it is important for the proposal to pass with bipartisan support. He says the project that could employ up to 13,000 people will transform the state's economy.

Republicans control the Assembly 64 to 35.

___

11:15 a.m.

Wisconsin Republicans say they are not moving too quickly on a bill that would extend up to $3 billion in tax breaks to Taiwan-based electronics giant Foxconn Technology Group to locate a massive $10 billion factory in the state.

The state Assembly scheduled a vote on the measure Thursday, just three weeks after it was introduced. Assembly jobs and economy committee chairman Rep. Adam Neylon says the bill has been improved to include changes Democrats wanted, including $20 million for job training and improved environmental regulations.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos predicted the bill would pass on a bipartisan vote. Many minority Democrats have been outspoken against the measure.

The bill must also pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Scott Walker before becoming law.

___

12:06 a.m.

The Wisconsin Assembly plans to approve a $3 billion tax break bill for Taiwan-based Foxconn Technology Group to build a new display panel factory in the state.

The incentive package up for a vote Thursday would be the largest in state history and the biggest to a foreign company in U.S. history. Democratic critics have said the state is giving away too much, while Republican backers, including Gov. Scott Walker, say it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

A deal signed by Walker and Foxconn officials call for the electronics giant to invest $10 billion in the state and hire up to 13,000 people at the massive plant. Construction would begin in 2020.

Critics say they worry about environmental regulations waived under the bill and the cost of the tax breaks.

Go here to read the rest:
The Latest: At least 1 Wisconsin Democrat backs Foxconn - Minneapolis Star Tribune

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff Photographer

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat from El Paso, will visit Pearland Saturday on a statewide tour in his campaign to replace Sen. Ted Cruz.

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat from El Paso, will visit Pearland Saturday on a statewide tour in his campaign to replace Sen. Ted Cruz.

A woman lies on the floor using her phone to capture a speech by Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, during an April campaign stop in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

A woman lies on the floor using her phone to capture a speech by Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-Texas, during an April campaign stop in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Sen. Ted Cruz debates with audience members over health care during a town hall meeting in Austin.

Sen. Ted Cruz debates with audience members over health care during a town hall meeting in Austin.

Houston resident Gaby Dian questions Sen. Ted Cruz and Dan Caldwell, director of policy for Concerned Veterans of America.

Houston resident Gaby Dian questions Sen. Ted Cruz and Dan Caldwell, director of policy for Concerned Veterans of America.

Pearland draws attention of Democrat seeking suburban votes

Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke will bring his statewide campaign tour to Pearland Saturday, hoping to connect with voters in a traditionally Republican area that overwhelmingly supported Ted Cruz - whose job O'Rourke covets - in the 2012 election for the U.S. Senate.

O'Rourke, a three-term Democrat from El Paso, has visited 80 counties about halfway through the 34-day trip. But even the most energetic campaigner cannot visit every town in Texas, and the venues for town halls and meet-and-greets are not chosen at random. So, why Pearland?

One clue lies in the results of Pearland's city election in May and runoff in June. These elections are officially nonpartisan, but the Texas Democratic Party provided assistance to mayoral candidate Quentin Wiltz, who got Republicans' attention when he forced longtime incumbent Tom Reid into a runoff.

A late contribution of more than $30,000 from Republican congressman Pete Olson's campaign helped turn out thousands of additional Republican voters, and Reid, then 91. prevailed. Even in defeat, though, Wiltz and a young City Council candidate who campaigned with him, Dalia Kasseb, received far more votes in the runoff than in the general election, reversing the usual pattern.

The message: There are votes to be had for Democrats in suburbs like Pearland, even though they sit in counties that continue to be GOP strongholds. The changing mix of voters in these communities will be a key factor in Democrats' efforts next year to win statewide office for the first time since 1994.

The high turnout in the runoff election probably figured in O'Rourke's decision to appear in Pearland, according to Wiltz, who has been active in Democratic Party politics in Pearland for years. Wiltz said this was the first time he had seen a statewide candidate campaign in the city some 15 miles south of downtown Houston.

"Prominent figures always go to Houston," he said.

As Jeremy Wallace of the Chronicle's Austin bureau reported in July, O'Rourke and Cruz are both visiting parts of the state where the opposing party is dominant. In this context, the suburbs of the state's biggest cities hold a distinct strategic significance. Cruz also visited a Houston suburb this week, touring the Igloo Products Corp. plant in Katy and chatting with employees about helping businesses grow and create jobs.

"These fast-growth suburban places are some of the places where we think we can make our case to voters," said Manny Garcia, deputy executive director of the Texas Democratic Party.

O'Rourke made the same point in a phone interview this week.

To read this article in one of Houston's most-spoken languages, click on the button below.

"We've been to Sugar Land and Baytown and The Woodlands since our campaign started" on March 31, said O'Rourke, who will appear at the Pearland ISD administrative building at 10 a.m. Saturday. "We're hearing from folks on all sides who are contributing to the changes in the greater Houston area."

The opportunity that O'Rourke and his advisers see in these suburbs lies in their growing diversity - coupled, perhaps, with concerns among some Republican voters about the words and policies of those on their party's extreme right wing.

At the national level, this concern is focused on President Donald Trump's controversial comments about recent violence at a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va.

In Austin, it's a response to the continued push for measures like the so-called "bathroom bill," which failed in the recent special session. State business leaders opposed the bill, which would have limited the public bathroom access of transgender Texans.

Cruz sees these shifting dynamics as well, said Robert Stein, a Rice University political science professor.

Stein said he was startled when he saw reports that Cruz had called for a federal civil rights investigation of the Charlottesville episode. Cruz took a far stronger stand than Trump had, denouncing the "lies, bigotry, anti-Semitism and hatred" of the white nationalists involved.

"He (Cruz) has figured out that something is happening in this state," said Stein, adding that his recent polling shows fewer Texans identifying as strong Republicans. "He is smart enough to be where voters are before they know where they are."

Stein and other analysts I spoke with agree that an O'Rourke victory is a long shot. But if the 44-year-old ex-punk rocker gets enough votes to throw a scare into the incumbent, it may boost the party's fortunes in future campaigns.

"I don't think he's going to be senator," Stein said of O'Rourke. "But nobody expected Donald Trump to be president."

Read more from the original source:
Pearland draws attention of Democrat seeking suburban votes - Houston Chronicle