Idealism -- Integrity -- Independence

NTD NEWS    November 14, 2018

Senator, you've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency? --  
                                Joseph N. Welch addressing Senator Joe McCarthy
 
I was a boy back in the days of black and white TV when army counsel Joseph Welch confronted red-baiting Senator Joe McCarthy with those now famous words during the televised "Army-McCarthy hearings."  
     It was a brilliant use of a few select words to finally put Senator McCarthy in his place. The senator had implied that a young lawyer associated with Attorney Welch's firm had Communist sympathies. Welch then accused McCarthy of recklessly destroying his young associates future. He "put a human face" on the broad-brushed accusations that had damaged so many blameless lives.  
     "Have you no sense of decency." What a powerful slap down. How many times in the past few years have public figures deserved those words of reproach? - But I must admit that although Welch's quote was stored somewhere in my head it wasn't until a few days ago that it popped back into my consciousness.  
     Two American leaders - the Governor of Florida and the President of the United States - have now stated that legal votes cast by American citizens need not be counted. And they've gone further than that, characterizing the demands by candidates and their supporters to count every absentee and early-voting ballot as somehow being a suspicious action driven by shady motives - perhaps even a criminal activity.    
     This is a very big deal. Sure, I know that voter suppression is not a new phenomenon in the United States. It was refined in the days of Jim Crow by southern Democrats, and under modern day Republicans it has become slicker as it has spread to other regions of our country. We have seen Republican officials reduce the number of voting machines on college campuses and in ethnic neighborhoods, creating long lines, discouraging potential voters from voting. We've seen polling places move to locations more inaccessible for certain "undesirable" voters. We've seen new voter I.D. rules clearly aimed at reducing the number of black and Hispanic votes.  
     But such suppression has always been done under the guise of trying to prevent voter fraud or to save tax dollars. These rationalizations have long clouded the enormity of this undemocratic activity for many Americans.  
     Now two elected leaders, both sworn to protect the Constitution of the United States, have actually spoken out against counting every vote cast in an American election. --- I'd say that's pretty indecent of them. The right of every American citizen to make his or her voice heard at the polls is our most precious right. It is the foundation of our democracy. In fact, it is the very essence of every democrac y.    
     This week Donald Trump and Rick Scott removed any pretense about voter suppression. Wherever it is practiced its purpose is to negate the constitutional rights of targeted Americans. Purposely keeping any citizen from voting or having their voted counted is un-American and should be loudly condemned. This should be one issue that every Republican and Democrat can agree on.  
     So what happens next? The strategy of stopping American votes from being counted is, according to our president, now officially okay. In not too many days (or hours) we'll know how rough the Republican are willing to get in denying certain members of our society their most basic right.      
     Whatever the outcome of the recounts, a new Congress is only weeks away. Members of the 116th Congress are already talking about re-strengthening our democracy. I believe this is more than just post-campaign rhetoric. The United States has been going through a very dangerous time and our democracy and its institutions have indeed been weakened.  
     Congress can begin the repairs in 2019 -- maybe even in a bipartisan way. And in 2020 we can have a new leader in our White House, a leader displaying "a sense of decency, at long last."      
     It will be up to us to help make that happen.

                                                                               Nels Howard
                                                                              NTDO member since 1973  
 
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A Holiday Party With New Trier Democrats

Thursday, December 13 
at the Wilmette Wine Cellar



 
Thursday, December 13th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Wilmette Wine Cellar, 1100 Central Avenue, Wilmette

New Trier Dems will provide the hors d'oeuvres, and drinks will be available for purchase. This event is not a fundraiser. It's just an opportunity to have fun and meet other area Dems.

We will be collecting non-perishable canned and packaged food, useful paper goods, and toiletry items to donate to the New Trier Township Food Pantry. A complete list of priority pantry items is here. Anything you can donate is greatly appreciated - let's help fill their shelves!



Other events of interest:

Tuesday, December 11 in Evanston - Indivisible Evanston December Meeting & Holiday Celebration

When: Tuesday, December 11, 2018, from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Lorraine G. Morton Civic Center, Parasol Room, 2100 Ridge Ave., Evanston
What: Please join Invisible Evanston for its second annual holiday celebration and last monthly meeting of 2018! Indivisible Evanston will come together to celebrate its 2018 accomplishments, to recognize all the hard work and dedication of Indivisible Evanston volunteers after an amazing Midterm Election, and also talk about what's next for 2019 and beyond.

Your Legislators:


Legislators Democratic Legislators
who represent New Trier Township in 
Washington, Springfield and Cook County 
 



You'll be hearing a lot from these exceptional public servants. --
And they want to be hearing a lot from you. 
     The fact is, they need to hear from you and want to hear from you in order to represent you most effectively. So, the first thing you can do is get to know who these people are. The links below to their campaign websites are a good place to start. 
 
Jan Schakowsky , 9th U.S. Congressional District Representative  and Chief Deputy House Democratic Whip. The new Ninth District boundaries include all of New Trier except for Glencoe. 

Brad Schneider , 10th U.S. Congressional District Representative which includes a number of precincts in Glencoe.
     
Daniel Biss,   State Senator for Illinois' 9th State Senate District.The Ninth District includes all of New Trier Township.
  
Julie Morrison, State Senator for Illinois' 29th State Senate District. The district includes New Trier's northernmost precincts.   

Robyn Gabel, IL 18th District State Representative. The 18th District includes much of New Trier up to Hazel Avenue and Dundee Road.
 
Laura Fine , IL 17th District State Representative.
The 17th District includes the East Glenview and West Wilmette areas of New Trier Township.

Scott Drury ,  IL 58th District State Representative. 
The 58th District includes the northernmost precincts in Glencoe.

Larry Suffredin, Cook County 13th District Commissioner. The 13th District includes all of New Trier, Evanston and Niles Townships. 
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Dear Fellow Democrats, 

If you are not already an NTDO member, and enjoy our Newsletter, we hope you consider joining us as a dues-paying member. NTDO is a not-for-profit political action organization. We depend on our membership dues to support our Democratic causes and candidates.

There are two options for dues payments: by check or credit card.

 

By Check: Make check payable to NTDO and mail to our office:

NTDO

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Click on the "Join/Contribute" button

Find the link for "contribute with ActBlue"
or go directly to ActBlue by clicking here. 
Still not a member of the New Trier Democrats? Your participation in grassroots political action will make a difference. -- Come join us.

When you're a member of the New Trier Democratic Organization, you have an active role in affecting the political process; participating in grassroots campaigns, staying in touch with elected officials, playing a role in deciding which candidates are endorsed. You'll also gain free admission to select forums and events throughout the year.

Come be a part of New Trier's grassroots political community.    
About Us:
The New Trier Democratic Organization is made up of hundreds of grassroots volunteers dedicated to advancing progressive ideals through the political process. We welcome your participation.

Sincerely,
Dean T. Maragos, Committeeman New Trier Township

We are located at 800 Oak Street, Suite 112, in Winnetka, IL. Ph: 847-446-8030
Contact: newtrierdemocrats@gmail.com.

*This Internet communication paid for by the New Trier Democratic Organization and  not authorized by any federal or state candidate or campaign committee. A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections is available for purchase from the State Board of Elections in Springfield, Illinois.