http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/community/blog_rss/juliarosen A year ago I knew what went wrong and I knew how to fix it. A year later, I don't know what went wrong. I don't know how to fix it. We had the money. We had a stable campaign. We had the a robust well-oiled field campaign. We had a strong campaign manager. We had the turnout we wanted. We had great coordination between the netroots and the campaign. We had a not particularly religious state. We neutralized the church issue. We had a manageable voter universe. We had an opposition with an inferior media and field operation. We had TV ads with gay people in them. We responded to their attacks swiftly. And we still lost. Our campaign wasn't perfect. But it was damn good. And that's why this loss is so hard. The lessons to be learned are not as obvious. Not knowing how to fix it makes it tempting to throw our hands up in the air and say at 0-31 we just can't win marriage rights at the ballot box. Or we have to wait a decade until we can. But that would be letting them win. That would be giving up. That would be accepting inequality. We can't. I won't. We need to learn how to neutralize the schools issue better than we did this time. We must continue telling our stories, one by one, person by person, door by door. Nate Silver as usual has some smart thoughts: I certainly don't think the No on 1 campaign can be blamed; by every indication, they ran a tip-top operation whereas the Yes on 1 folks were amateurish. But this may not be an issue where the campaign itself matters very much; people have pretty strong feelings about the gay marriage issue and are not typically open to persuasion. There's going to be an effort by many on the left to blame Barack Obama for his lack of leadership on gay rights issues; I think the criticism is correct on its face, but I don't know how much it has to do with the defeat in Maine. A more popular Democratic governor, for instance, who had been a bit quicker on the trigger in his support of gay marriage, might have helped more. Persuading voters to change their minds about marriage equality is extremely difficult, but it is possible and it happens every single day. It just takes a lot of resources and is most effective on a one-to-one level. That means we must continue to invest in grassroots organizing, training new leaders to work in their communities and supporting their efforts over time. We need to continue to build connections and relationships with faith communities. We can organize in churches. We can even organize in Mormon Temples and Catholic Churches. It has happened. It is happening. There are lessons to be learned out of Maine and the No on 1 loss. We know that we can build a massive GOTV operation. We know how to build a model where a campaign invests in the netroots and reaps the rewards. The church issue can be neutralized. It's possible to set aside differences and focus on a common goal. We can build a campaign to be proud of as a community. What we can do now is have experts in Maine politics analyze the results to understand better how we lost. We need talk to the No on 1 campaign leadership/consultants to get their advice like they did from our Prop 8 loss. We can win marriage back in California. We will win marriage back in California. We can win marriage in Maine. We will win marriage in Maine. I am not quitting. You better not be either. This weekend I am picking myself back up and getting right back to work, training hundreds of activists in Sacramento how to organize at Camp Courage . They will and I will come in with heavy hearts, but leave empowered. We will leave and fight the next fight together. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2ZN http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2ZN/commentary#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:18:37 PST http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2ZN Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2ZN/ 11 of our amazing Deputy Field Organizers and Equality Team members have come out to Maine, as part of the Volunteer Vacation program to work insane campaign ours until the polls close. They arrived over the weekend and have been put to work for No on 1 all over the greater Portland area. Mitchell is helping "cut turf" for all of the canvassing over the weekend. Jasmine has been out on the University of Southern Maine campus encouraging students to vote early and volunteer. Laura is fielding phone calls from Maine voters calling the office with questions. Derrick buried in spreadsheets, helping organize staging locations for election day. The office here has been a buzz of activity, crammed with staff, volunteers and on occasion TV camera crews. The Rachel Maddow show was here yesterday interviewing Governor Baldacci, who previously opposed marriage equality and is now one of its biggest backers. NBC News was also here filming a spot for Sunday. Yesterday some local TV stations came by to film shots of some No on 1 signs that appear to have been shot up by a paintball gun. The Yes on 1 campaign has been trying to make themselves a victim since some of their signs have been defaced and stolen. These types of shenanigans are typical during a heated election, and usually it's just a couple of numbskulls messing with signs instead of doing something productive like talking to voters. Here is a few of our Courage Campaign DFOs, Equality Team members and staff holed up in a small windowless room making calls. Much more to come over the next few days. No matter where you are you can help bring home a victory to Maine. Sign up now to be a virtual phone banker and we will get you trained and on the phones. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2q9 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2q9/commentary#comments Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:12:06 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2q9 Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2q9/ Doug Manchester played a relatively unsung role in qualifying Prop 8 for the ballot. His $125,000 donation came in at a critical time when the proponents were running out of cash during the signature gathering process. It is conceivable that Prop 8 would not have made it on to the ballot if it were not for Doug Manchester. In response to that donation and the poor treatment of his workers a boycott of his hotels was established a year ago, and has now cost Manchester upwards of $7 million in canceled reservations. He has hired gay heavyweight PR crisis man Howard Bragman to respond to the boycott. Their genius idea was to offer up $100,000 in hotel credits and a $25,000 contribution to any 501c3 organization that supports civil unions. It was a cynical attempt to try and buy-off and divide the LGBT and labor communities. And it's not working. No way. No how. Today, the Courage Campaign, Equality California, UNITE HERE and Californians Against Hate have teamed up to launch the "Say No to Manchester" website , asking our members to sign a pledge to uphold the boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt and Grand del Mar Resort. It's a relatively unique campaign with labor and LGBT organizations coming together to support workers rights and equality. Flip it for the email we sent out to our members today. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2v8 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2v8/commentary#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:37:09 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2v8 Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2v8/ That's what the Courage Campaign, Credo Mobile and Democracy for America are asking today . We are teaming up to urge Senator Feinstein to come out with a definitive statement in support of the public option. The response you get on Senator Feinstein's position on the public option varies, depending on what staffer you get on the phone. Not true of Senator Boxer ( from her campaign's blog ) who isn't afraid to be clear about her support for the public option: She laid out where she thinks these complex negotiations will lead and why it’s so important: “I do think we’ll have a public interest option at the end of the day because we have to contain the costs.” And “what is the best way to keep down the cost? I think it’s competition and I think a public interest plan will do just that.” Which is exactly why Boxer has long been a cosponsor of Sherrod Brown’s Senate resolution declaring that “any efforts to reform our Nation’s health care system should include as an option the establishment of a federally-backed insurance pool to create options for American consumers.” With the Senate about to return from the August recess, it is crucial that Senator Feinstein take a firm stance on the public option and work to get it passed. There are some rumors that she will be issuing a statement about the public option tomorrow. The best way to ensure that it happens is to keep the pressure up on Senator Feinstein. So sign the letter. Check the flip for the full email we sent out to our members today. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2vN http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2vN/commentary#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:51:20 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2vN Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2vN/ Lt. Dan Choi, from Orange County, California, is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and an Iraq War veteran. On Tuesday, he will face a panel of colonels who will decide whether or not to fire him -- to discharge him from the military for "moral and professional dereliction" under the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. An amazing 140,000 people signed Lt. Choi's letter to President Obama a few weeks ago. Now he needs your help again. Please join over 44,003 people and sign the letter of support and add your own (optional) personal message. When we told Dan earlier today about the amazing response he got choked up. It's important that Dan walks into the courtroom holding as many signatures of support as possible for his fight to continue serving his country, no matter who he loves. Will you add your name? Flip it for the email Dan sent to Courage members earlier today. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tb http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tb/commentary#comments Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:54:25 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tb Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 5 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2tb/ The gracious and disarmingly honest mentor to aspiring fashion designers on the hit TV show "Project Runway, Tim Gunn was kind enough to record this special message for Courage Campaign members. As Tim likes to say to his designers, it's time to "Make it Work!" If you're ready to get to work and have some fun, watch this video and then RSVP for a special "Make it Work!" Equality Team event near you. More than 20 “Make it Work!” events are scheduled between June 18-28. Find one near you and join the fun. Flip it for the full message from the fabulous Tim Gunn and Make it Work! http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tZ http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tZ/commentary#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:30:26 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tZ Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 1 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2tZ/ Check the flip for the email Charlize Theron just sent to our members asking everyone, no matter their sexual orientation, to come to Fresno for Meet in the Middle for Equality . The whole Courage staff will be there this weekend. Are you coming? Are you bringing a carload of your best friends and favorite family members? Please join us for this historic event. 1 pm this Saturday at the Fresno City Hall. RSVP now . There is a great line-up of speakers and there will be a bunch of tents, including a blogger tent for the netroots' finest. So come one, come all to Fresno! http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tB http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tB/commentary#comments Thu, 28 May 2009 12:29:32 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2tB Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2tB/ We finally have a day for the Prop 8 decision from the Supreme Court. They just announced that they will rule on Tuesday. Here are a couple of important links as we all get prepared for D-Day and beyond. 1) Day of Decision rallies will be held in dozens of cities across California and beyond. Go here to find one near you . 2) Meet in the Middle for Equality will be held in Fresno on May 30th, at 1 pm in front of the city hall. Go here to find out more and RSVP. 3) Do you know anyone who wants to get an alert the moment the Supreme Court rules? Tell them to sign-up to get an email , as soon as the court issues their decision. For more info flip it to see the email we sent out to Courage members earlier today. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cC http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cC/commentary#comments Fri, 22 May 2009 08:40:34 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cC Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2cC/ We are all waiting on pins and needles for the California Supreme Court to rule on Prop 8. There are only 4 possible dates left: May 18, 21, 28 or June 1. As marriage equality builds across the state we are still fighting the good fight here. Two major TV stations in the past two days have aired interviews with Rick Jacobs among others. Take a look. Here is KNBC (Los Angeles NBC affiliate) interviewing Rick and a major highlight of Meet in the Middle. And KPIX (San Francisco CBS affiliate) featuring Dustin Lance Black, Cleve Jones and Rick. Watch 'em, rate 'em and pass 'em along. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wl http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wl/commentary#comments Wed, 13 May 2009 13:55:41 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wl Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2Wl/ We just put out this memo to the press and all interested parties from Courage Campaign Founder and Chair, Rick Jacobs. Feel free to quote liberally or re-post the memo in its entirety. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wb http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wb/commentary#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 14:34:49 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wb Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2Wb/ Academy Award-winning actor Charlize Theron asked us to share an important message with the Courage Campaign community and the progressive movement in California. Her message has been quoted all over the place from E! Online to the LA Times . Here it is in its entirety. Please help us spread the word about Meet in the Middle for Equality by forwarding on the link to everyone you know. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wz http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wz/commentary#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 06:10:11 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wz Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2Wz/ Academy Award-winning actor Charlize Theron asked us to share an important message with the Courage Campaign community and the progressive movement in California. Her message has been quoted all over the place from E! Online to the LA Times . Here it is in its entirety. Please help us spread the word about Meet in the Middle for Equality by forwarding on the link to everyone you know. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2WH http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2WH/commentary#comments Thu, 07 May 2009 06:10:11 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2WH Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2WH/ "We the People" stand together for marriage equality and religious freedom Some amazing volunteers put together this video for us. Unlike some other ads out there (NOM NOM NOM), individuals appearing in this video are real people, including a carpenter, lawyer, priest, and a soldier discharged under the military's "Don't Ask Don't Tell" policy. Speaking of NOM...they are out today with their latest ad , playing the victim and trying to claim that they lose their rights when gay people want to get married. As "We the People" explains, marriage equality and religious freedom are not in conflict. The constitution provides for a separation between church and state, meaning that no religious organization can be forced to perform or acknowledge same-sex marriage if they choose not to. They are sowing fear and distorting the facts in an attempt to try and hold on to an increasingly smaller share of the American public . NOM is putting Miss California up as their spokeswoman victim. They probably correctly assume that she is a better mouthpiece than their most prominent board member, best-selling fiction writer Orson Scott Card. PFAW : http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wh http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wh/commentary#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 08:05:16 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2Wh Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2Wh/ Camp Courage San Diego closed with an amazing speech from the legendary Torie Osborn. In the grand tradition of Marshall Ganz, this is the California marriage equality movement's Story-of-Now. Please share widely and leave your thoughts in the comments. Here is: "It's Time to Make Hope and History Rhyme" by Torie Osborn as prepared for Camp Courage San Diego April 19th. You probably think this weekend is about marriage equality. That's why you signed up. Left your weekend plans, your partners and family to come here. Sorry. You've spent the last 36 hours at Camp Courage under false pretexts. This is not about gay marriage. What is being launched at Camp Courage is about something bigger. As enormous as history. And you are the force for change. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rL http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rL/commentary#comments Mon, 20 Apr 2009 00:40:32 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rL Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2rL/ Our team has been hard at work creating a central location where anyone can find and join one of our 23 Equality Teams around the state. Check out the Equality Teams page now! It has a great interactive map where you can zoom in on your area and find a team near you. If you click on those oh-so-cute little gay bears it will pop-up information on the team along with contact information and a link to their group page within the Equality Hub. I've included a screen grab to show you what it looks like, clicking it will take you to the Equality Teams page. All of the teams are listed below the map along with a featured team leader. Andrew Davey from Team Courage OC has the high honor of being our first featured team leader. In addition to helping run Team Courage OC, Andrew is also a blogger over at OC Progressive . The page also features the next 10 upcoming team events. Just click on one to RSVP and come to one of our many canvassing events across the state. You can also purchase individual team t-shirts. All proceeds go to that team to cover expenses. We will be adding new teams to the page as they are launched. As always, we love feedback on any and all aspects of our website. So please tell us what you like and what you don't here in the comments. Enjoy the page! http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rK http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rK/commentary#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2009 09:19:53 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rK Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2rK/ It was a compelling scene: Rep Dennis Cardoza and Rep. Devin Nunes brought in a bowl of 3" long smelt and pictures of unemployed farm workers and their families to a House Natural Resources Committee meeting. They were hoping to provide an effective contrast and convince their colleagues to make an emergency exemption to the Endangered Species Act. The state is in the third year of a drought and it has gotten so bad that in order to protect a federally endangered species a federal judge in 2007 ordered the state and feds to cut down on the amount of water pumped through the delta to save the smelt. This is not simply about a species of little fish. The smelt, as Kevin Freking at the AP writes "a bellwether for the health of the delta, the heart of California's water-delivery system." More from the article : With that, he offered to submit a fishbowl filled with nine minnows for the Congressional Record. The fish were rainbow smelt, not the endangered delta smelt, which are illegal to possess without a permit. Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Norwalk, responded by asking him to take the plastic wrap off the bowl so the fish could get some air, which Nunes did. Napolitano served as chairwoman for Tuesday's hearing. I can't just picture that scene in my head. Rep. George Miller, D-Martinez, said some of the lawmakers were "cherry picking history" and ignoring that water has been pumped into the valley at rates that exceeded what was appropriate. That's one of the reasons the judge ordered state and federal wildlife agencies to revise how much water should be pumped out of the delta. Most of the pumping occurs from late spring through summer. "The judge had no choice because the system was run right down to the margins where in fact he did kick in the protections of the Endangered Species Act," Miller said. We have lacked a sensible water plan for decades. To allow more pumping risks devastating the entire ecosystem. It is not about just a couple of little fish in a bowl. The farm workers are devastated right now with the cutbacks to water supplies, but we need long term solutions, not short term actions that cause irreconcilable harm. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rM http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rM/commentary#comments Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:10:52 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2rM Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2rM/ The PPIC is out with a new poll. They are a generally well regarding polling outfit here in CA. The top-lines that are getting all of the headlines are their numbers on the initiatives on the May 19th special election. Yes, folks, there is an election in a few weeks, due to the disaster that is our state budget. According to the PPIC, all of the initiatives, which were placed on the ballot by the legislature are going down, except for the one that would eliminate pay raises for legislators when there is a budget deficit. Here are the specific numbers via Dave at Calitics : Proposition 1A: About four in 10 support the measure (39% yes, 46% no, 15% undecided) to change the budget process by increasing the state "rainy day" fund. Less than half say the measure would be very (7%) or somewhat (38%) effective in helping California avoid future state budget deficits. Proposition 1B: They are divided (44% yes, 41% no, 15% undecided) on the initiative that would require future supplemental payments to local school districts and community colleges to address recent budget cuts. Proposition 1C: Half oppose (37% yes, 50% no, 11% undecided) the measure to modernize the lottery and allow for $5 billion in borrowing from future lottery profits to help balance next year's state budget. Proposition 1D: Nearly half support (48% yes, 36% no, 16% undecided) the proposition to temporarily transfer funds from early childhood education to help balance the state budget. Proposition 1E: Nearly half favor (47% yes, 37% no, 16% undecided) the measure to transfer money from mental health services to the general fund to help balance the state budget. Proposition 1F: An overwhelming majority (81% yes, 13% no, 6% undecided) support the initiative that would block pay increases to state elected officials in years of budget deficit. Anything under 55-60% at this point in the game before the campaigns heat up are in danger territory. Being below 50% is in seriously big trouble and likely to go down. CTA just put $2 million into Prop 1B, but that may not be enough to save it, particularly because 1B has a poison pill. If Prop 1A does not pass, then Prop 1B is rendered meaningless. Prop 1A has a lot more opponents than any of the other initiatives from both side of the aisle. It is hard to conceive at this point that Prop 1A passes, given that the biggest proponents are the legislature and the governor. Their terrible approval ratings do not make them good messengers. A lot depends on how the union endorsements shake out, since they bring both cash and good messengers: teachers, nurses, cops and firefighters anybody? If these all fail then the budget deficit will swell again, but the question is are the solutions in the initiatives worse than original problem. There are no easy answers here. These ballot numbers are getting the lion share of the attention, but the poll also includes new figures on marriage equality. Unfortunately, but unsurprisingly nothing much has changed. 49% are opposed to marriage equality, 44% are in favor. While the issue has been in the news due to the court case, legal arguing is unlikely to sway public opinions. Only hard work contacting voters and a sustained campaign will change hearts and minds. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cm http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cm/commentary#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 09:01:59 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cm Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 1 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2cm/ Pop quiz hot shot: when someone gets two options, and picks option A, does that mean that there was never a choice to begin with? I know, I know, that question really doesn't make a whole lot of sense. But then again neither does the response by the Chamber of Commerce to our email on the Employee Free Choice Act and Robert's blog post on Calitics about it. Here is the Chamber: Language lesson for Calitics, the word option means "The power or freedom to choose." The Employee Free Choice Act gives no choice "if a majority of them sign cards," there will not be an election. Yes, that's right. Workers would get to choose how or if they would like to unionize under the Employee Free Choice Act. Option A 50% of workers sign a card saying yes I would like to join a union. Option B the workers request a secret election. If they choose Option A and 50% of the workers sign the cards, then they do not do Option B. The Chamber is confused, because quite often workers have to do both A and B under the current law and that is what is wrong with current labor law, among other things. Why do they do both you ask....well, often workers will sign the cards, but the bosses will not want to accept the fact that their workers want to join a union. The bosses decide at that point that they want a secret election. Those usually take months to set up, giving the employers time to hire union busting consultants, spend work time threatening their workers that if they vote to unionize then they will go out of business and all too often, fire workers who are helping organize a union. The Employee Free Choice Act puts the decision making power into the hands of the employees, thus the name of the act. The end result is that workers will be able to more easily form a union when they want one. That power shift away from the corporations that make up the Chamber of Commerce is what scares the pants off of them and causes them to make up illogical arguments. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cz http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cz/commentary#comments Wed, 25 Mar 2009 07:18:01 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2cz Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2cz/ The wonderful Marta, one of our facilitators was kind enough to upload her photos from this weekend onto our Flickr photostream. There are some absolutely wonderful shots of Camp Courage Fresno. I've noticed that a number of campers/facilitators have already made the photos their facebook profile pictures. Enjoy! And here is the local NBC affiliate's story from Saturday night on Camp Courage Fresno. http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2n2 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2n2/commentary#comments Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:24:10 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2n2 Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 0 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2n2/ This weekend in Fresno we collectively changed lives. Everyone was Respected, Empowered and Included. Fresno, thank you for welcoming us into your community. We learned so much from you and are so grateful that you got so much out of the weekend. We did too. As Mike Bonin said in an email to the Camp Courage team this morning: "It is changing those creating it as much as it is changing those who are attending it." The best way for those who were not there to get a feeling for Camp Courage Fresno is to hear directly from the participants and the facilitators. By and large the wonderful participants were from the Central Valley. The incredible trainers and facilitators came from all over CA (and even one person from NM) and were either Camp Courage or Camp Obama alumni. The testimonials from the Campers are humbling and inspiring: Camp Courage was definitely one of the greatest experiences of my life thus far. To reiterate what another participant said, it feels so good to finally be PROUD to live in Fresno. One sentence conveys so much: this was the best thing that has happend to me in my life and i will continue this movement in my life thank you http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2n3 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2n3/commentary#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:36:17 PDT http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/post/juliarosen/C2n3 Julia Rosen, Online Political Director http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/profile_picture/0ca8c47d776c223f85_zb4mv24s8.jpg Julia Rosen, Online Political Director 1 http://couragecampaign.org/page/community/comment_rss/C2n3/