CNN-Facebook Democratic Presidential Primary Debate                               Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Democratic National Committee
October 12, 2015

Democrats Host Debate Watch Parties Nationwide for First DNC Debate

On the evening of October 13th, Democrats from 41 states, including 31 State Democratic Parties and 205 County Democratic Parties, will hold 236 watch parties for the first Democratic debate of the 2016 cycle. Democratic state parties will also partner with Snapchat in order to showcase watch parties from around the country on their Story.

“With more than 230 events across the country where Americans will gather in support of policies that help the middle class, what happens in Vegas, definitely won’t stay in Vegas,” said Kaylie Hanson, DNC spokeswoman.

Watch parties across the country are opportunities for Democrats to engage and mobilize supporters in key states nationwide and celebrate our shared values of strengthening the middle class and supporting working families across the country. Democrats will ensure that Americans understand the choice between a Democratic presidential candidate who will fight for all Americans, and Republicans who prioritize the wealthiest Americans and most powerful Washington special interests over the middle class.

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Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
October 9, 2015

Vets to Dem Candidates: Lay Out Vet-focused Policies in Debate

IAVA urges RNC and DNC to dedicate upcoming debate to veterans issues

LAS VEGAS (October 9, 2015) – Next Tuesday, as the 2016 presidential race continues with the first Democratic primary debate moderated by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) will hold a pre-debate press conference at Wynn Las Vegas putting candidates on notice that they will be held accountable to veterans. IAVA, the nation’s first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, also looks to moderator Anderson Cooper to press candidates to outline specific policies that address the issues facing our nation’s post-9/11veterans and their families. IAVA also encourages veteran members and supporters to use the hashtag #IAVAVotes throughout the debate to focus social media attention on vets issues.

“In the past decade since IAVA’s founding, the presidential campaigns and succeeding administrations have dealt with questions of active wars concerning three operations across two countries. Despite monetary and strategic support from Washington, the true burden of war was placed on less than one percent of the population — the 2.8 million service members who voluntarily served in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Paul Rieckhoff, IAVA Founder and CEO. “During the two prior presidential debates, veterans were only mentioned in throw away lines. The post-9/11 veteran community will not stand on the sidelines while our issues are ignored. This is why we will be on hand in Las Vegas, as a nonpartisan organization, to challenge every candidate to stand with our vets and to ensure our voices are heard.”

To spur the debate around veterans’ issues, IAVA today sent letters to the DNC and RNC chairs urging them and the debate sponsors to select an upcoming presidential debate to be focused exclusively on veteran and military issues. Alternatively, IAVA asked the national parties to support an IAVA-hosted event focused on one-on-one conversations with each candidate on veterans issues. IAVA believes that in so doing, the American people will better understand how each candidate will take care of those who have served the highest calling in our nation.

“Of the 20 candidates remaining from both parties, only seven have a section on their official campaign website that acknowledges veterans issues while only one candidate has offered a detailed policy platform for veterans. This is disappointing. Especially when only three candidates have ever served in uniform,” said Bill Rausch, Iraq War veteran and IAVA Political Director.

“CNN and Anderson Cooper have a strong track record of covering veterans issues,” Rieckhoff continued, “and Tuesday night is a perfect opportunity for them to ask questions like:

• - How would you stop the outrageous rate of veteran suicide in America?
• - How would you have reacted to the VA scandal that emerged in Phoenix last year?
• - Would you privatize the VA?
• - Would you keep or replace VA Secretary Bob McDonald?
• - How specifically would you provide better care to our women veterans?
• - Why did you choose to not serve in the military?
• - What is your reaction to the historic recent news of two women graduating from Army Ranger school for the first time?”

“One year from now, IAVA and it’s members will be back at this very location for the final presidential debate before voters head to the ballot box,” added Rausch. “As candidates go through the next year campaigning, we expect them to provide post-9/11 veterans and our families concrete policies that address the issues we face on a daily basis.”

The first Democratic debate will take place at the Wynn Las Vegas at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. To stay up-to-date on which of the 20 candidates have provided positions on veterans issues, voters can visit IAVA’s Presidential Tracker at IAVA.org/iavavotes.

WHAT: CNN Democratic Primary Debate Pre-Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, October 13, 2015
12:30 p.m. PT

WHERE: Wynn Las Vegas
Wynn Main Gate Dr. & Las Vegas Blvd (North West Corner)

WHO: Bill Rausch, IAVA Political Director
Bruno Moya, IAVA Member, President, UNLV Student Veterans of America

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Lessig2016.US
October 7, 2015
Media Contact: Brandon Hersh

ABSURD: Left Out of Dem Debates Lessig Raised $1M, Qualifies for Fed Matching Funds

Cambridge, MA – The Presidential campaign of Harvard Law Professor Larry Lessig has cleared yet another hurdle of viability as it announced today that it has raised at least $5,000 in at least 20 states in contributions of $250 or less making the Lessig campaign eligible for federal matching funds.

With this hurdle jumped, Lessig, has now done the following:

• 
  
• - He has raised over $1 million in a matter of weeks since announcing
• - He has secured donations from over 8,000 donors
• - He has hired a seasoned and professional campaign team
• - He has a substantial advertising buy in Iowa and New Hampshire
• - He has raised significant funds across America in order to meet the Federal Matching Funds criteria.

Yet, while Lessig, the ultimate outsider on the Democratic side, had done these and other Democratic candidates for president have not – namely Senator Jim Webb, Governor Lincoln Chafee and Governor Martin O’Malley.  All three of those candidates have been invited to the first Democratic debate next week in Las Vegas – and Lawrence Lessig has not.

So much for the party of inclusion. “It is ridiculous and frankly ‘un-Democratic’ for the Democratic National Committee to exclude Lessig from the debate next week when he has shown more viability in this race in four weeks than half of the other Democratic candidates arguably have done in four months or more.  That is not a criticism, that is merely a fact,” Lessig for President Senior Advisor Steve Jarding said Wednesday.

“But I fear it is not just the DNC who is playing kingmaker in this primary season – and we all know where their support likely is – but sadly it is our national media as well.  Where is the outcry?  CNN is hosting the first debate, they could demand that Lessig be allowed to compete, but they seem strangely quiet on the matter.  Yet, Larry Lessig has shown more viability than half the field of candidates who have been invited.  What’s wrong with this picture?” Jarding asked.
BACKGROUND:

• MSNBC: Larry Lessig Announces Ad Buy
• WATCH AD HERE Outsider Candidate Gains Momentum by Raising $1 Million in Three Weeks, Increasing Staff, & Televising Ads in Early States
• WATCH Get Larry in the Debates!
• The Washington Post: Harvard law professor Lawrence Lessig raised more than $1 million in one month for his insurgent presidential campaign
• Politico: I’m Trying To Run For President But The Democrats Won’t Let Me

For More Info on Larry Lessig’s Historic Presidential Campaign Visit Lessig2016.us

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Culinary Workers Union Local 226

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 6, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT:
Bethany Khan

Culinary Union Welcomes Democratic Presidential Debate with a Week of Political Action

Las Vegas, NV – Next week, the first Democratic Presidential Debate will take place at a union hotel, Wynn Las Vegas. Union members from the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165 will welcome the candidates and their campaigns by hosting a week of political action.

The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest immigrant organization with over 55,000 members - a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 56% Latino. Members -who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers- come from 167 countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men and women in Nevada for 80 years.

The Democratic Presidential Debate will be hosted at one of many union properties on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip. The Culinary Union is encouraging members of the media, political candidates, and attendees of the Presidential Democratic Debate in Las Vegas to avoid staying at hotels under an active labor dispute such as Station Casinos, Palms Casino Resort, and Trump Hotel Las Vegas. To see the full list of properties with an active labor dispute, go to: VegasTravelAlert.org.

Politically, union members have been active in everything from City Council to Presidential races. In 2008, the Culinary Union was the first in the country to endorse then Senator Barack Obama. By mobilizing members in 2010, the Culinary Union re-elected Senator Harry Reid. In 2012, 110 union workers took a leave of absence from their jobs to work with the Culinary Union to register and turn out members and their families to vote – approximately 70,000 voters across Clark County are credited to the Culinary Union’s massive get-out-the-vote effort. The Culinary Union has not made endorsements in any of the 2016 races.

As part of the political week of action, workers will rally at the Trump Hotel, watch the Democratic Presidential Debate, and host an immigrant voter registration day. Workers and the leader of the Culinary Union, Geoconda Arguello-Kline, will be available for interviews throughout the week. To attend any of the events below or schedule interviews with union members or Trump workers, please contact Bethany Khan.

Sunday, October 11 - Roundtable

• Union members and leadership will be available for interviews 11am at the Culinary Union’s Big Hall (1630 South Commerce Street Las Vegas Nevada, 89102) regarding the debate and 2016 issues. Please RSVP for access.

Monday, October 12 – Rally at Trump Hotel

• Thousands of workers will rally outside the Trump Hotel Las Vegas from 5-7pm to support the union organizing drive. All Democratic presidential candidates, elected officials, and politicians from across the country have also been invited.

Tuesday, October 13 – Labor Watch Party  

• A few hundred union members will gather at the Culinary Union to watch the debate at 5:30pm. The Nevada State AFL-CIO is also inviting union members to participate.

Wednesday, October 14 – Political Academy

• The Culinary Union will host a political academy with Las Vegas Strip and Downtown Las Vegas workers. This will be the third class of this 6-week training which will be done in Spanish (10am) and in English (5pm).

Thursday, October 15 – Immigrant Voter Registration Day

• Culinary Union members have a goal of registering 500 people to vote throughout the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas.

Friday, October 16 – Debrief

• Members, staff, and union leadership will gather 4pm at the Culinary Union to discuss the week’s actions, debrief, and plan ahead for 2016.

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Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 55,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.

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Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease
October 6, 2015

PFCD Nevada Calls on Presidential Candidates to Address Chronic Disease as a Major Health Issue Facing Nevada Residents

RENO, Nev. (October 6, 2015) – The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) of Nevada – a broad coalition of state and local leaders representing patients, providers, businesses and seniors – is urging presidential candidates to address chronic diseases in their health care proposals.

Chronic diseases, including diabetes, asthma, heart disease and lupus, are the number one health care cost driver in the United States, accounting for more than 86 percent of the $2.9 trillion spent. Chronic diseases are also the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S.

PFCD Nevada and its partners will work to promote greater chronic disease awareness during the 2016 presidential campaign, focusing on educating candidates about the devastating impact of chronic disease on Nevadans.

WHAT: PFCD Nevada is traveling across the state to discuss the impact of chronic disease on Nevadans. The coalition will run television spots on CNN during the primary debates held in Nevada, including the Democratic debate on October 13 and the Republican debate on December 15, and will also use print and billboard advertising throughout the presidential campaign.

WHEN: Thursday, October 8, 2015 8 a.m. – noon Pre-scheduled interviews available for Ken Thorpe and Jack Packham.

WHERE: Campaign will launch in Reno, Nevada PFCD Nevada is available to schedule interviews at your convenience.

WHO: Kenneth Thorpe, Chair, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease Jack Packham, PhD., Director of Health Policy Research, University of Nevada School of Medicine

VISUALS: Preview of television spots, print and billboard advertising

PFCD Nevada is co-chaired by Ann Lynch, president Las Vegas HEALS; former state senator Bernice Mathews; John Packham, Ph.D., Director of Health Policy Research, University of Nevada School of Medicine; Don Havins, M.D., Touro University; and Tom McCoy, JD, Nevada Government Relations, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, Inc.

Partner organizations include:

• ALS Association, Nevada Chapter
• American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Nevada
• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Nevada Section
• Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health
• International Foundation for Autoimmune Arthritis
• Las Vegas HEALS
• Lupus of Nevada
• National Alliance on Mental Illness Nevada (NAMI Nevada)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness Western Nevada (NAMI Western Nevada)
• Nevada Biotechnology & Health Sciences Consortium
• Nevada Cancer Coalition  Nevada Osteopathic Medical Associa

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America Rising email
October 6, 2015
Colin Reed<AmericaRising@americarisingpac.org>
Subject:  5 Democrats Walk Onto A Stage

Friend,

After much delay, the Democratic Presidential candidates are finally having their first debate one week from today. Here at America Rising, our War Room will be holding Secretary Clinton accountable every step of the way.

That’s why today we’re launching America Rising Live, an interactive tool to provide you with exclusive, live updates from our War Room that will fact-check everything Secretary Clinton says against her troubling record.

At America Rising, we want to make sure voters have all the information about Secretary Clinton’s many contradictions and hypocrisies and how her campaign rhetoric is often completely at odds with her past actions. 

We want you to be a part of our efforts by signing up for America Rising Live today at live.americarisingpac.org and sharing with your friends!

Thanks,

Colin Reed

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NextGen Climate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
CONTACT: NGC Press Office

 
To: Anderson Cooper, CNN
From: Tom Steyer, President, NextGen Climate
CC: John Podesta, Chair, Hillary for America; David Hamrick, Campaign Manager, Martin O’Malley for President; Jeff Weaver, Campaign Manager, Bernie 2016; David Saunders, Advisor, Jim Webb 2016; Jerauld Adams, Treasurer, Chaffee 2016
Date: September 29, 2015
Subject: Climate Change, Clean Energy and the Democratic Primary Presidential Debate
 
Introduction
Last week, Pope Francis stood side by side with President Obama and told the American people, "climate change is a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation.” Pope Francis’ moving call to action capped off a remarkable year in which we’ve seen clean energy start to compete head-to-head with fossil fuels and our leaders take dramatic and substantive steps to cut carbon pollution and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.
 
Now, the key question is how will our next president build on this momentum—and set even more ambitious targets to tackle climate change head-on and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders have all recognized that climate change is an urgent threat to our economic and national security. They’ve all made clear that they oppose the Keystone XL pipeline and drilling in the Arctic, and they all support the full implementation of the Obama Administration’s Clean Power Plan. O’Malley has also signed the #50by30 pledge committing to power our country with more than 50 percent clean energy by 2030 and a spokesperson for the Clinton campaign has said her clean energy framework meets this goal.
 
But the candidates have yet to discuss their specific plans to comprehensively address climate change and build a clean energy economy. That’s why NextGen Climate has called for the Democratic Party to add a debate entirely focused on climate change solutions and clean energy. We also believe that, as the moderator of the first Democratic presidential primary debate, you have a unique opportunity to push the Democratic presidential candidates to move beyond platitudes and engage in a robust debate about solutions.
 
A Top-Tier Issue for Democrats
Climate change is a top-tier issue for Democratic voters—and in the past few years taking action on climate change has become central to Democratic elected officials’ policy agendas across this country. An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll from May showed that climate change ranked as one of Democratic voters’ top three priorities (along with health care and economic growth/jobs). Polling conducted by Hart Research shows that 84 percent of Democrats want our leaders to commit to powering our country with more than 50 percent clean energy by 2030. Climate change and clean energy are also set to play a significant role in the general election: 61 percent of voters in eight battleground states say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who addresses climate change by significantly increasing the amount of clean energy used to power our country. 
 
This strong support for climate action comes as Democratic leaders have made climate action central to their efforts to drive economic growth and protect public health. From the Clean Power Plan to landmark climate agreements with China and India, President Obama has made transitioning to a clean energy economy a top priority in his second term. Democratic governors are currently implementing bold policies that build a clean energy economy and cut carbon pollution. And just last week, Senate Democrats introduced a bill that would repeal fossil fuel subsidies, create and support at least 3.5 million jobs and cut carbon emissions by at least 34 percent. 
 
This action is a reflection of voters strong support for climate action. To be a leader of the Democratic Party—and the country—you have to lead on climate change. Democratic voters have come to expect much more than concern about climate change from their leaders: they expect concrete action.  
 
The Urgency of Addressing the Climate Crisis
Why do Democrats care about this issue so much? The fact is climate change is an urgent threat to our health, economic and national security—and would exacerbate poverty, income inequality and conflict across the world. From heat-related deaths to increased cases of asthma, the health effects of climate change disproportionately impact the most vulnerable in our society—particularly children, the elderly, and communities of color. And just last year, 16 retired three- and four-star generals and admirals issued a report identifying climate change as a “catalyst for conflict,” and the Pentagon’s 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review laid out the very serious threat posed by climate change—including poverty and political instability.
 
Transitioning to clean energy not only mitigates these harmful impacts—it also represents a remarkable opportunity to build an economy that works for everyone—while cutting pollution, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, creating jobs and driving economic growth for decades. In the first half of 2015, renewables accounted for more than two-thirds of new electricity generation across the United States—and solar jobs have been growing 20 times faster than the broader economy. The fact is, a clean energy future is within our reach.
 
Conclusion
We’ve heard from Democratic candidates about the Keystone XL pipeline, Arctic drilling and the Clean Power Plan. Now on October 13th, Democratic voters want to know specifically how they will prevent climate catastrophe and create a fairer, stronger clean energy economy. During the first Democratic presidential primary debate, I urge you to push the candidates to articulate, defend and refine their plans—ensuring that they will be prepared on day one to address climate change. Democratic voters—and the urgency of the climate crisis—demand nothing less than a robust discussion about how tackle this issue and build a clean energy future.