June 20, 2019
Your Weekly News from the CCDP and Political Clubs
The Three Questions All Candidates Must Answer
By Maury Marcus

Next year, all candidates, in all parties, for any office, at any level, must be confronted with three definitive choices. Republican statements on these three issues show contradictions, but office-seekers in all parties need to come clear on these three controversies.

The first is between two interpretations of the Second Amendment. Wayne LaPierre of the National Rifle Association claims that the right to keep and bear arms is an absolute and unalienable right. Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia wrote in Heller v. D.C. (in December 2009) that the right to keep and bear arms is an individual and personal right but a limited and regulatable one. With whose Second Amendment does each office-seeker stand? Scalia’s or LaPierre’s?

Shortly after September 11, 2001, President George W. Bush addressed Congress. He said that Islam was a noble and peaceful religion, and that the terrorists who had perpetrated that crime and other acts of mass murder had hijacked Islam for their evil purposes. Thus one could not blame Muslims as a group for these acts of terror. More recently, Mr. Donald Trump has said that he believes that Islam itself hates America. With whom does each office seeker stand? Trump or Bush?

Over the past 30 years, the religious right has repeatedly claimed that America is “a Christian nation.” I have often wondered what they mean by that. Do they mean we have a strong Christian majority? If so, the answer, according to the Pew Research Center, is 71%. Do they mean that Christianity permeates our national culture? The answer to that is “Obviously!” But I suspect that the cultural reactionaries really intend that America should become an officially sectarian state.

Our Constitution does not mention any of the great world religions by name. It says explicitly in three clauses (Article VI, paragraph 3 and Amendment I, clauses 1 and 2) and implicitly in a fourth (Amendment XIV, Section 1) that government should keep out of religion. So this is the question for aspiring politicians: Do you believe: a) the United States is by founding definition a Christian state that generously tolerates other religions, or b) that the United States is by founding definition a republic of universal and maximum personal religious liberty, where every man or woman is equally free to follow his religious conscience?

Each office seeker needs to make clear his/her position on each of these issues. Citizens need to clarify to themselves their own feelings on these clashes. As one dedicated Democrat, I stand with Scalia, Bush and the framers of the American Constitution.
Get Ready for 2020 Election by Attending Training:
Blue in the Heart of Collin County
Show your true colors when you register for Blue in the Heart of Collin County (BITHOC), the all-day training session to help Democrats prepare for the 2020 election.

The countdown has started. We only have 16 months until the 2020 election. While that may sound like plenty of time, we know the GOP is already working on keeping control of the senate as well as the White House. Together, we can change the face of Collin County to reflect all the people who live here and not just the goals of a few people from other parts of Texas and even other states. In order to win in 2020, we all need to get trained, fired up, and ready to win.

BITHOC’s all-day training brings you the tools to change your neighborhood, connect with others making a difference for Collin County, and train in the best ways to make your home a bluer, better place to live.

Sign up here to get involved and active: BITHOC 2020 .
Register (yes, you need to do both) here to reserve your spot and/or sponsor BITHOC. Tickets are $20 per person and include lunch, all snacks and all handout materials.

  • Who: Anyone who wants to make a difference locally by turning their neighborhood and city Blue.
  • What: The BITHOC workshop includes training, ideas and inspiration to help participants inform non-voters of the issues and the importance of voting in 2020. We will have both large and small group training.
  • When: Saturday, June 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Training starts at 10:00 a.m.
  • Where: Collin College McKinney Campus, 2200 W University Dr McKinney, TX 75093 (map)
Podcast: Manny Garcia Visits CCDP
In this podcast episode, we are joined by  Manny Garcia , Executive Director for the  Texas Democratic Party , and John Shanks, CCDP’s 2020 Coordinated Campaign Committee Chair.

We discuss the results of the latest Texas Legislative Session, which concluded at the end of May, as well as ways we can turn Collin County and Texas blue in 2020!
CCDP Chair Candidate to Speak at McKinney Drinking Liberally Meeting
Manu Lail, who just announced he will run for CCDP Chair, will speak briefly at the McKinney Drinking Liberally meeting

When: Friday, June 21, 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Where: TUPPS Brewery, 721 Anderson St, McKinney, TX 75069 ( map ).

Stop by, have some refreshments and hear what Manu has to say .
Money-in-Politics Collin County Training Part 1
Let's Get Big Money Out of Politics! This is the first of a two-part nonpartisan training for Collin County volunteers (part 2 is July 27).

Learn about the Supreme Court decisions, including Citizens United, that opened the floodgates for big money in politics; American Promise's national strategy for a #28thAmendment to #GetMoneyOut and our plans for North Texas, and skills that will help you become an effective citizen advocate. The training is free with lunch included, but space is limited, so please RSVP in the Facebook event .

When: Saturday, July 20, 10:30 a.m.
Where: ArtCentre of Plano 902 East 16th Street (Enter at H Ave gate), Plano, TX, 75074
Learn About Gerrymandering at Plano Area Democrats Club Meeting
Come join us for another informative meeting and fun with like-minded friends!

Guest Speaker: Joan Ridley,

Topic: "Gerrymandering: An Incumbent Protection Program"

When: Saturday, June 22. Sign-in at 11 a.m.; food service is at 11:15 p.m.; meeting ends at 1:30 p.m.

Where: El Noa Noa Tex-Mex Restaurant, next to the Democratic Party Office in Plano.

RSVP is required . Click here to reserve your seat.

Plano Area Democrats Club is an action-oriented group focused on increasing political engagement of voters in the Plano area to support and elect candidates with Democratic values. We are Democrats residing in the cities of Plano, Allen or within the school districts for Plano or Allen. Come join us!
Democratic Presidential Candidates Debate Watch Parties
Save the dates - June 26 and 27  
Debate Watch Parties are NOW scheduled for the two nights (June 26 and June 27). CCDP has more locations around Collin County where you can watch the debate and learn more about this talented and active group of presidential hopefuls.

You can choose to attend the debates in the following locations:
  • Allen at Cafe Del Rio [401 Central Expy S, Allen, TX 75013]
  • Rugby House [8604 Preston Road, Plano, TX 75024]
  • Tino's Too [2205 K Ave, Plano, TX 75074]

The debates begin at 8:00 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, June 26 and Thursday, June 27.

Each evening starts with the NBC/MSNBC pre-debate commentary. The debates are organized by the Democratic National Committee and will be televised from Miami on NBC, MSNBC, and Telemundo.

Previous debate watch events have been very popular, so please plan to arrive early, have dinner during the NBC-MSNBC pre-debate commentary to assure you have a seat. So that we can give the venues an estimate of headcount, please RSVP here .

The DNC events span two consecutive evenings to accommodate the large field with ten at each. A second series of debates are planned for July 30 and 31 in Detroit on CNN) and CCDP will notify you of those plans at a later date.
You Can Make the Difference. Become a Sustaining Donor
Your Collin County Democratic Party office provides a wide range of resources throughout the year to our candidates and communities. Your contributions allow us to have a central location for candidates and voters during elections. Strengthen the Democratic Party in your city by becoming a sustaining donor to the Collin County Democratic Party. Donate with FastAction or with automatic payments from your bank to the Collin County Democratic Party 1915 Central Expy #150, Plano, TX 75075.
Yes, We Can Talk Politics
Drinking Liberally and Living Liberally provide progressive people an opportunity to meet like-minded people and speak freely. You can converse, joke, and vent to your heart's content. If listening is more your style, that's cool too. Your politics are welcomed here.

McKinney -  New location: Tupps Brewery
When:  Friday, June 21, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 721 Anderson St., McKinney ( map )

Allen - Cafe Del Rio
When: Friday, July 5, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 401 Central Expy S, Allen ( map )

Plano - Rugby House Pub
When: Friday, July 12, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 8604 Preston Rd #100, Plano ( map )

When: Friday, July 12, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Where: 2600 W, FM 544, Wylie ( map )