Posted 4/26/2010

BEAUFORT COUNTY DEMOCRATS CONCLUDE STATE CONVENTION

What a great SC State Democratic Convention we just experienced this weekend!  More than 50 Beaufort County Democrats participated in the activities as Delegates, Alternates, and Guests.  Beginning with receptions and the Jefferson-Jackson (J-J) dinner at the Columbia Convention Center on Friday night and continuing through a spirited debate among the three gubernatorial candidates on Saturday afternoon, it was a time to energize the Democratic Party faithful.  We are the ones who will carry the message across Beaufort County and the rest of South Carolina in November.  We are the ones who will carry the message of President Obama's and the Democratic Congress' successes on behalf of the American people. 

Richland County (Columbia) Democrats hosted a reception Friday evening to introduce candidates to Convention-goers.  The J-J Dinner featured an outstanding catered dinner, a chance for candidates to mix and mingle with guests, and dynamic speeches by Congressman Clyburn and Congressman Spratt, followed by the keynote speech delivered by US House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D. Maryland).  Following the dinner, many in the Beaufort contingent journeyed downtown to the municipal parking garage to join several thousand fellow Democrats at Jim Clyburn's World Famous Fish Fry. There we saw Steny Hoyer leading a large contingent, including Democrats from Sun City, in the electric-slide.  Saturday morning came early as breakfast meetings were held including the SC Progressive Caucus and the Democratic Women's Council, which again showcased our numerous candidates.  Delegate registration began at 8:30 AM and the Convention kicked off at 10 AM.  Committee reports were presented, remarks by elected officials and candidates were made, memorial tributes to deceased SC Democrats were delivered, and demonstrations and speeches by the three candidates for Governor took place.  Of course, the convention ran over its allotted time, but no one complained; it was just like a national convention!  An old fashioned stump meeting and delicious barbeque immediately followed the convention.  Here, all state-wide and Congressional candidates (including our own Rob Miller, running in the 2nd Congressional District) spoke to the assembled group.  The wonderful weekend activities concluded with a televised debate among our gubernatorial candidates --- Robert Ford, Jim Rex, and Vincent Sheheen. 

How proud we are of these and all our other great candidates.  They have inspired us this weekend.  Now it is our turn to spread the word and deliver the message to produce a great Democratic victory in November.  Won't you consider being a delegate and participating in our next State Democratic Convention?  We absolutely guarantee a good and inspirational time will be had by all.

Blaine Lotz, Chair

Frank Holleman (Candidate for SC Supt. of Education) Steny Hoyer (US House of Rep. Majority Leader) & Terry Bergeron. Don Fowler & Steny Hoyer Jim Hodges (Former Governor of South Carolina). Blaine Lotz (Chair of BCDP) and Beverly Smith Dore (Former Chair of BCDP) Vincent Sheheen (Democrat Candidate for SC Governor) Vincent Sheheen and sons Austin( L) and Joseph ( R). Lynne Lotz, Richard Conn, Jimmy Mackey Blaine Lotz and Flo Rosse Allan Yard (Treasurer, BCDP) and Jim Hodges John Spratt (US Rep 5th Dist.SC) and Kathy Hensley (Fmr, Treasurer SCDP) Flo Rosse, Anne Yard, Kathy Hensley Kathy Hensley and Barbara Sylvester (Former DNC Member) Jim Rex (Candidate for Governor)

Many of you have asked for information you can use with friends and acquaintenances which indicates what the Obama Administration and our Democratic Congress have accomplished.  Well, here it is in the form that US House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer used in his keynote speech at the recent Jefferson Jackson Dinner in Columbia during our SC State Democratic Convention.   Blaine
 

Prepared remarks

majority leader steny h. hoyer

S.C. DEMOCRATIC PARTY
JEFFERSON-JACKSON DINNER

DEMOCRATS: I’M ASKING YOU TO REMEMBER. REMEMBER THE INSPIRATION WE TOOK FROM A YOUNG SENATOR NAMED BARACK OBAMA.

REMEMBER THE ENERGY WE BROUGHT TO THE 2008 ELECTION, THE NEW VOLUNTEERS IN THE CAMPAIGN OFFICES, THE NEW VOTERS COMING TO THE POLLS—MANY OF THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR LIVES.

REMEMBER HOW DESPERATELY THIS COUNTRY NEEDED CHANGE—CHANGE FROM EIGHT YEARS OF REPUBLICAN MISRULE AND FAILED POLICIES THAT DROVE OUR NATION INTO THE RED AND BROUGHT US THE BUSH RECESSION.

AND REMEMBER THE ODDS DEMOCRATS HAVE FACED FROM THE DAY WE WERE SWORN IN. PEOPLE WEREN’T JUST TALKING ABOUT A RECESSION—BUT ABOUT A SECOND GREAT DEPRESSION. THINK OF THE WAVES OF HOME FORECLOSURES, OF THE LAYOFFS, OF THE FINANCIAL FUTURES OF MILLIONS EVAPORATING OVERNIGHT.

IT HAPPENED BECAUSE REPUBLICANS REFUSED TO HOLD WALL STREET ACCOUNTABLE, BECAUSE THEY REFUSED TO STAND UP FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, AND BECAUSE THEY saddled the middle class with staggering debt.

THAT WAS THE MESS WE INHERITED ON JANUARY 20, 2009—ECONOMIC CRISIS, FISCAL CRISIS, AND CRISIS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.

WE DIDN’T MAKE THAT MESS—BUT WE HAVE SPENT EVERY DAY SINCE THEN WORKING TO CLEAN IT UP.

WHAT HAVE DEMOCRATS DONE? WE PASSED THE RECOVERY ACT, WHICH CUT TAXES FOR 95% OF WORKING FAMILIES AND CREATED SOME 2 MILLION JOBS. IN THE HOUSE, NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN VOTED FOR IT.

AND WHAT ARE THE RESULTS? LAST MONTH, THE ECONOMY ADDED MORE THAN 160,000 JOBS—A HUGE TURNAROUND FROM THE NEARLY 800,000 JOBS WE LOST IN PRESIDENT BUSH’S LAST MONTH.

UNDER PRESIDENT OBAMA, THE ECONOMY HAS GROWN AT ITS FASTEST RATE IN MORE THAN SIX YEARS. WHY DOES THAT MATTER FOR WORKING AMERICANS? BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT BUSINESSES ARE STARTING TO CREATE JOBS AGAIN.

ON TOP OF THAT, THE STOCK MARKET IS UP ALMOST 70% FROM ITS LOW LAST MARCH. WHY DOES THAT MATTER FOR WORKING AMERICANS? BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE CONFIDENT IN OUR ECONOMY’S FUTURE, AND THAT FAMILIES’ FINANCIAL FUTURES ARE MORE SECURE.

THAT’S AMERICA AFTER 16 MONTHS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA AND A DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS—AND EVEN THOUGH OUR WORK ISN’T DONE, AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS ARE STILL STRUGGLING, THIS IS, BY ANY MEASURE, A MORE HOPEFUL COUNTRY THAN THE ONE PRESIDENT BUSH LEFT BEHIND.

AND DEMOCRATS AREN’T DONE YET. WE’RE CUTTING TAXES FOR BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES TO CREATE JOBS. THE RECOVERY ACT CONTAINED NEARLY $300 BILLION IN TAX CUTS—TAX CUTS REPUBLICANS VOTED AGAINST. IN ADDITION, PRESIDENT OBAMA HAS SIGNED INTO LAW $20 BILLION IN TAX CUTS FOR SMALL BUSINESES AND NEW HOMEBUYERS, MORE THAN $17 BILLION IN TAX CUTS TO HELP SMALL BUSINESSES HIRE NEW WORKERS, AND $500 BILLION IN TAX CREDITS TO HELP FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES BUY HEALTH CARE.

BUT IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO CREATE JOBS AGAIN—AMERICANS WANT TO KNOW IF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ARE FIGHTING FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, OR ACHING TO BRING BACK BUSH.

DEMOCRATS MADE THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN STUDENT AID IN HISTORY, SO MORE YOUNG AMERICANS CAN GO TO COLLEGE AND MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TALENTS. AND WE PAID FOR IT WITHOUT NEW TAXES.

DEMOCRATS ENACTED A LAW TO PROTECT CONSUMERS FROM THE ABUSIVE PRACTICES OF CREDIT CARD COMPANIES AND MORTGAGE LENDERS.

DEMOCRATS ENACTED LAWS ENSURING THAT WOMEN GET EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK.

ON ALL OF THOSE FRONTS, WE’VE SPENT THE 111^TH CONGRESS ROLLING BACK REPUBLICAN NEGLECT OF THE MIDDLE CLASS. WE’VE ALSO SPENT IT REVERSING REPUBLICAN NEGLECT OF OUR FISCAL FUTURE.

WE KNOW WHAT PRESIDENT BUSH WAS HANDED AT THE BEGINNING OF HIS TERM:

A SURPLUS OF NEARLY $6 TRILLION. WE KNOW HOW HE SQUANDERED IT, TURNING IT INTO A $5 TRILLION DEFICIT, BORROWING BILLIONS FROM FOREIGN LENDERS TO PAY FOR TAX CUTS FOR THE PRIVILEGED, FOR DEFICIT SPENDING, AND FOR WAR. REPUBLICANS GAVE US THE MOST FISCALLY IRRESPONSIBLE PRESIDENCY IN OUR HISTORY.

DEMOCRATS ARE BRINGING BACK FISCAL SANITY. THAT’S WHY PRESIDENT OBAMA PROPOSED A BUDGET THAT CUTS THE DEFICIT IN MORE THAN HALF BY 2013, WHY THE HEALTH REFORM BILL IS THE BIGGEST DEFICIT-BUSTER SINCE THE CLINTON BUDGETS, AND WHY THE PRESIDENT SIGNED INTO LAW OUR PROMISE TO PAY FOR WHAT WE BUY.

AND NOT JUST THAT—THIS YEAR, DEMOCRATS SHOWED THAT WE STAND WITH ORDINARY AMERICANS, NOT INSURANCE COMPANIES. WHEN REPUBLICANS WERE IN POWER, MILLIONS OF AMERICANS LOST THEIR HEALTH COVERAGE, AND THE AVERAGE FAMILY’S PREMIUM DOUBLED—AND REPUBLICANS DID NOTHING. THEY HAD THEIR CHANCE, AND THEIR ANSWER WAS COMPLETE NEGLECT.

DEMOCRATS DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT. WE BROUGHT SCHIP HEALTH CARE COVERAGE TO 4 MILLION CHILDREN. AND, OF COURSE, WE PASSED QUALITY, AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE REFORM FOR EVERY AMERICAN. AND RIGHT NOW, DEMOCRATS ARE SHOWING THAT THEY STAND WITH ORDINARY AMERICANS, NOT WALL STREET. DON’T FORGET:

WHEN PRESIDENT BUSH TOOK THE REFEREES OFF THE FIELD, WALL STREET’S RECKLESSNESS WRECKED THE JOBS AND FINANCIAL FUTURES OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS. AND ONCE AGAIN, THE CHOICE IS STARK. IT’S THE CHOICE BETWEEN THE PARTY THAT WANTS TO HOLD WALL STREET ACCOUNTABLE AGAIN, WITH TOUGH, FAIR RULES, TO PREVENT A CRISIS LIKE THE LAST ONE FROM EVER HAPPENING AGAIN—AND THE PARTY THAT IS WORKING OPENLY WITH WALL STREET TO KEEP THE CASINO OPEN, TO KEEP YOUR JOBS AND YOUR LIVELIHOODS AT RISK.

SO THIS FALL, WE’RE GOING TO ASK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE: DO YOU WANT THE PARTY THAT HAS OUR ECONOMY CREATING JOBS AGAIN? OR THE PARTY THAT WANTS TO BRING BUSH BACK, WITH NOTHING BUT THE SAME FAILED POLICIES OF ECONOMIC COLLAPSE?

DO YOU WANT THE PARTY THAT IS PULLING OUR COUNTRY OUT OF THE RED INK? OR THE PARTY THAT WANTS TO BRING BUSH BACK, WITH THE DOGMA THAT “DEFICITS DON’T MATTER”?

DO YOU WANT THE PARTY THAT IS STANDING UP TO WALL STREET? OR THE PARTY THAT WANTS TO BRING BUSH BACK AND CARRY WALL STREET’S WATER?

DEMOCRATS, THE OTHER PARTY CAN’T BEAT OUR RECORD, THEY CAN’T BEAT OUR IDEAS—AND WITH YOUR HELP, THEY WON’T BE ABLE TO BEAT OUR CONVICTION, OUR COMMITMENT, OR OUR ENERGY.