Sept. 9, 2012 OFA Announces Iowa African Americans for Obama Council

PRESS RELEASE from Obama for America Iowa [via River Cities Reader, Davenport]

Release: September 9, 2012

Contact: Obama for America Iowa

OFA Announces Iowa African Americans for Obama Council

DES MOINES - Today, OFA Iowa launched its African Americans for Obama Council, a new organizing operation that is comprised of members of the African American community from across the state. Over the past two decades, Iowa’s African American population has increased by 100%. Iowa’s 89,000 African Americans may make the difference in a close election

“The African Americans for Obama Council is comprised of leaders in their communities who are role models for all Iowans. They will play a crucial role in engaging and involving African Americans from Waterloo to Davenport to Council Bluffs in the election,” said Iowa State Director Brad Anderson. “We believe every community is important and believe the African American community in Iowa is crucial to our reelection efforts.”

President Obama and Mitt Romney offer African Americans and all Americans two fundamentally different visions of how to run the country. Mitt Romney embraces the same failed economic policies that led to the economic crisis that disproportionately hurt the middle class. President Obama is focused on creating jobs and restoring economic security. He understands that too many Iowans have been hurt by a decade of declining wages and unemployment and he’s fought for policies that give everyone a fair shot and the opportunity to succeed.

“President Obama’s Affordable Care Act reduced health disparities for 41 million African Americans and his Recovery Act law kept over one million African Americans out of poverty in 2010,” said Tiffany Johnson, President of the Iowa Democratic African American Caucus. “Under Romney’s plan, 2.2 million African American families will see their taxes go up, and every millionaire in America would receive a $250,000 tax cut. Mitt Romney embraces the same failed economic policies that led to the economic crisis that disproportionately hurt the middle class and African Americans.”

In November, Americans, will be focused on the clear economic choice between the President’s vision for moving our country forward - ensuring an economy built to last and economic security for the middle class- and Mitt Romney’s vision, which would take us back to the same failed economic policies that brought on the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.

African Americans for Obama is the latest group of Iowans committed to moving our country forward by reelecting President Obama in November. The campaign has already released Latino, Rural, Veterans and Women for Obama committees.

The members of the newly formed Iowa African Americans for Obama Council include:

Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, State House Representative, Des Moines
Austin Bailey, Firefighter, Council Bluffs
Rep. Debra Berry, State House Representative, Waterloo
Marscine Brown, President of NAACP Burlington
Alderwoman Sheila Burrarge, Alderwoman, Davenport
Wayne Clinton, Story County Supervisor, Ames
Brenda Drew-Peeples, Attorney, Davenport
Jacquie Easley, Diversity Director at Mercy Medical Center, Des Moines
Rev. Abraham Funchess, Waterloo Commission on Human Rights Director, Waterloo
Willie Glanton, Community Activist, Des Moines
Lt. Mayor Quentin Hart, Lt. Mayor of Waterloo
Tiffany Johnson, Iowa Democratic African American Caucus President, Des Moines
Rev. Rogers Kirk, Community Organizer, Bettendorf
Rep. Helen Miller, State House Representative, Fort Dodge
Rev. Steve Perkins, Community Organizer, Waterloo
Dolph Pulliam, Director of Community Outreach at Drake University, Des Moines
Faye Scott, Community Organizer, Waterloo
Rev. Henry Thomas, Community Organizer, Des Moines
Don Wilder, Community Organizer, Marshalltown
Twyla Woods, Community Education, Des Moines Public School, Des Moines
Shekinah Young, Public Information, City of Des Moines, Des Moines
Treyla Lee, Consultant at Lee & Associates LLC, Sioux City
Bobbretta Brewton, Community Organizer, Des Moines
Tyla Cole, Community Organizer, Davenport
Rev. Michael Coleman, Community Organizer, Waterloo
Rev. Cymaron Dawson, Community Organizer, Cedar Rapids
Rev. Damian Epps, Community Organizer, Cedar Rapids
Robert Johnson, Organizing for America Volunteer, Des Moines
Shontavia Johnson, Professor at Drake Law School, Des Moines
Khara Washington, Attorney at Lane & Watterman LLP, Davenport
Jamie Woods, Organizing for America Volunteer, Davenport
Lori Young, Organizing for America Volunteer, Des Moines
Paulette Wiley, Community Organizer, Des Moines

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WASHINGTON, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former Presidential Candidate Gary Bauer congratulated Governor Scott Walker for his win in Wisconsin's recall election, calling it "another sign that taxpayers will award office holders ready to do the hard work of reigning in out-of-control government spending."

Bauer, the chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, made the following statement:

"I congratulate Governor Scott Walker for his hard-fought victory tonight, and most especially for having the courage of his convictions to fight the good fight. But the victory in Wisconsin is not Scott Walker's alone. It is a victory for the hard-working taxpayers of Wisconsin, who foot the bill year after year. It is a victory for common sense over powerful special interests. It is a victory that taxpayers in every state can celebrate. It is a victory, yes, even for some union members.

"Since Gov. Walker's reforms were enacted, tens of thousands of state employees have opted to keep more of the money they earn rather than let the public employees union siphon off their hard-earned dollars. In other words, once given the choice, more than half of the public employees union's members decided that they didn't need the union. These reforms will pay real dividends for the taxpayers of Wisconsin. They are the real winners tonight.

"The recall election is a sign of good things to come. The power of the Big Labor bosses has finally been checked, not just in Wisconsin, but also in scores of other states across the country. More governors, legislators and taxpayers will be inspired to stand up against the liberal labor unions and do what is truly in the best interests of their communities. Wisconsin's 10 Electoral College votes are now in play, and the anti-tax, small government movement that swept the country in 2010 is about to sweep Barack Obama out of office in 154 days!"

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1drYR)