Payne County Democrats

May Monthly Meeting Rescheduled

Jeff Pickens — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:16:15 +0000

Members and Friends,

We will not have a monthly meeting/event for May. Instead, we will take a break. We will resume monthly meetings June 14.

An unexpected time conflict requires that we reschedule Linda Hatfield’s presentation. She will now speak July 12.

Linda is the current Payne County Clerk and running for reelection this November. She is a Democrat and needs our help.

May 18, 5:00pm-8:00pm, we have a casual social (pot luck) at our headquarters, 302 N. Main, Stillwater.

May 19, 10:30am-noon, there is a campaign meeting for Linda Hatfield at our headquarters.

Please attend this meeting to help and/or learn more about Linda’s reelection campaign.

Peace 2 ya,
Jeff Pickens
PCD Chair

Update From New PCD Chairman Jeff Pickens

Dennis Whiteman — Thu, 03 May 2012 17:52:30 +0000

First, I want to thank everyone who came out for the Diamond Donkey Gala. Other than my novice microphone skills, I think the night went pretty smooth. We shared great food, productive ideas, and excellent company. We are still adding up the numbers, but it looks to be another successful fundraiser as well. Thank you again to all volunteers and the Diamond Donkey Committee members.

During the Diamond Donkey, I listed several major goals we must achieve:

Increase Democratic voter registrations
Increase volunteerism
Win public support for our candidates and platform

How are we going to achieve these goals?

We will have a local, statewide and even national plan. This “Election Season Strategy” will utilize our resources to best achieve our goals.

Our volunteers are researching statewide elections. We will evaluate various candidates and campaigns for opportunities to assist.

An “Executive Committee” will be assembled consisting of active Payne County Democrats. This committee will be utilized to develop and implement various aspects of the “Election Season Strategy”. All Payne County Democrats are welcome to take part in this committee. We need your input to make important decisions.

Last week, I was appointed to the Chairman position. I want to thank everyone who supported that decision.

The Secretary position is now open. Any Democrat residing in Payne County is eligible for consideration. Interested members should contact us at 405-533-5310 or simply reply to this email. The position includes recording meeting minutes, working with volunteers and organizing with the other officers.

Remember, we have a casual social this Friday, May 4, 5pm-8pm.

Peace 2 ya,
Jeff Pickens
PCD Chair

Diamond Donkey Tickets Now Available Online

Dennis Whiteman — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:06:06 +0000

You can now purchase tickets to Diamond Donkey 2012 to be held April 26th here on the website. Tickets are $50 purchased either online or by mailing in your registration so that your payment is received before the event. Tickets will be $65 at the door so please take advantage of this opportunity to save some money. If you did not receive an invitation, please be sure and download one if you need to mail it in via snail mail.

Who: Payne County Democrats
What: 2012 Diamond Donkey Banquet
When: Thursday, April 26, 2012
Time: Cash bar and silent auction begins at 6 p.m., dinner and program begins at 7 p.m.
Where: Meditations, 1205 N Country Club Road, Stillwater, OK
Cost: Prepaid prior to event $50; a ticket $65 at the door

Guest Speakers: Rep. Scott Inman (Democratic Minority Leader) and Rep. Cory Williams (Secretary of the Democratic Caucus and Assistant Minority Whip).

Checks may be mailed to:
Payne County Democratic Party
P.O. Box 2738
Stillwater OK 74076

Silent Auction Items Needed for Diamond Donkey

Dennis Whiteman — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 22:02:31 +0000

Payne County Democrats will hold their annual fundraising dinner April 26, 2012, with a cash bar starting at 6 p.m. and dinner being served at 7 p.m. sharp. Speakers this year are Rep Scott Inman, Democratic Minority Leader, and Rep. Cory Williams, secretary of the Democratic caucus and Assistant Minority Whip.

We are currently gathering items for the silent auction which will start at 6 p.m. If you have items to donate, contact Linda Sanders, silent auction chair, at 624-8582 (leave a message) or via e-mail at dd@paynecountydemocrats.org with information about your silent auction donations.

President Obama Visits Payne County

Dennis Whiteman — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 11:49:42 +0000

President defends oil policy during Cushing stop

President Obama shakes hands with Payne County Democrat Linda Sanders on Thursday in Cushing.

“The fact is,” President Barack Obama said Thursday in Cushing, OK, “that my administration has approved dozens of new oil and gas pipelines over the last three years – including one from Canada.

“And as long as I’m president, we’re going to keep on encouraging oil development and infrastructure and we’re going to do it in a way that protects the health and safety of the American people. We don’t have to choose between one or the other. We can do both.”

Read more from this Tulsa World article…

Details About Obama’s Oklahoma Visit

Jeff Pickens — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:04:40 +0000

---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Susan McCann Date: Wed, Mar 21, 2012 at 4:07 PM Subject: Cushing Memorial Park - Festivities

There are NO Public Activities scheduled by the President. But if interested in joining in the Presidential visit festivities, join other supporters Thursday from 8:30am- 12:30pm at:

Cushing Memorial Park

500 S. Little

Cushing, OK

NO GUARANTEE that the Presidential will swing by, but it’s within a few miles of the Press Conference! You’ll see planes, helicopters and who knows… hope for a surprise!

I would bring a lawn chair, and a drink, and SIGNS if you have or want to make one.

Speakers appearing at Payne County Demo HQ on March 8

Jeff Pickens — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 04:51:55 +0000

Lynn Powell, president of OK CURE and Ryan Kiesel, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (OK) will discuss prisons of our state and prisoner issues when they are the guest speakers of the Payne County Democratic Party during the regular monthly meeting at their Stillwater headquarters on Thursday, March 8th, beginning at 7pm.

Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE) is a grassroots organization that was founded in Texas in 1972. It became a national organization in 1985. Powell has stated, “We believe that prisons should be used only for those who absolutely must be incarcerated and that those who are incarcerated should have all of the resources they need to turn their lives around. We also believe that human rights documents provide a sound basis for ensuring that criminal justice systems meet these goals.” CURE is a membership organization. “We work hard to provide our members with the information and tools necessary to help them understand the criminal justice system and to advocate for changes.”

The ACLU of Oklahoma is an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, a national not-for-profit, non-partisan, voluntary organization founded in 1920. Its purpose is to protect those rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government for a redress of grievances, freedom of association, the right to privacy, the right to due process of law and the right to equal protection under the law. The Oklahoma affiliate was established in 1964. Kiesel is an attorney and former representative in the Oklahoma House from 2004 until 2010 from Seminole.

Doors of the PCD headquarters open to the public at 6:30pm at 302 N. Main. Light refreshments will be served.

Photos from Personhood Protest

Katherine Smith — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 20:40:54 +0000

The Personhood Act is not OK

Jeff Pickens — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 01:32:08 +0000

Emily States, Democrat, emily.states@gmail.com

The Personhood Amendment that passed in the Oklahoma State Senate last week is similar to other bills that have been brought to state legislatures across the nation recently. They tried to pass a similar measure in Mississippi (it failed), Colorado (failed twice), and Virginia (just killed in their state senate today). It seems possible that this could pass in Oklahoma. While I realize that many people in this state are opposed to abortion we need to educate the public so they realize that much more is at stake. Contraception, fertility treatments, and our right to privacy are also at risk.

The Senate Bill (SB1433) essentially states that the life of each human being begins at conception and as such “The laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge on behalf of the unborn child at every state of development all the rights, privileges, and immunities available to other persons, citizens, and residents of this state.” Then there’s the House’s proposed legislation.

House Joint Resolution 1067 is a little more detailed. Its purpose is to add a new amendment to Oklahoma’s Constitution that will likely be voted on by the people in November (provided that it passes and most people think that it will). It states “With respect to the right to life, the term ‘persons’, as used in Section 2 of Article II of this Constitution, applies to every human being from the beginning of the biological development of that human being.” They later write, “The intentional killing of any innocent person is prohibited.” Since fertilized eggs would now be considered human beings with full rights abortion would be illegal. But that isn’t the worst of it.

There are a few exceptions listed that say only birth control that kills a person is affected, only in vitro fertilization that kills a person is affected, etc. They do not define what has to occur to determine whether or not birth control kills a person. They are likely targeting emergency contraception here, but once again the language is vague. I’m not sure what would count as murder in regards to in vitro fertilization. A number of fertilized eggs do not end up getting used. Would each instance of this count as murder? These issues are precisely why the Oklahoma State Medical Association has come out against the Personhood Bills.

This is extreme. HJR 1067 explicitly says, “No innocent child created through rape or incest shall be killed for the crime of his or her father.” Oklahoma is ranked 23^rd in the country for cases of violent rape. Even people who are opposed to abortion are usually in favor of making allowances for rape.

This bill is just about as big as big government can get. Conservatives are saying that women and their families can’t be trusted to make decisions about their bodies and their lives. This is not just an invasion of privacy but it also represents a major setback for women’s rights. This is dangerous and we can’t afford to be apathetic.

What We Can Do:

1. The March. There is a march on the State Capitol to oppose this legislation next Tuesday, February 28^th 12pm-3pm on the North Plaza.

2. Facebook. I have started a Facebook Page (today – so please bear with me it is a work in progress) called Stillwater Citizens Against the Personhood Act. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Stillwater-Citizens-Against-the-Personhood-Act/258591220887212

I plan to keep this as up to date as possible and include links to articles, events, etc. There are other groups on Facebook (i.e. Stop the Oklahoma Personhood Bill March, Oklahomans Against the Personhood Act, etc.) but I wanted one specific to our community to help us coordinate locally. For example, I have reserved a room at the public library for Monday, February 27^th from 6-9 pm for making signs and planning efforts for making flyers, pamphlets, etc. Please contact me via email or the Facebook page if you would like to join (space is limited and if more want to attend we may need to change rooms or venues). We can also try to connect and plan carpools. If you plan on attending the march and have space in your car let others know via the Facebook Page or let me know if you want to go and need a ride and I can try to coordinate.

3. Join Other Groups. There are some groups who are working really hard on this. For more info please check out the Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive (one of the groups organizing the march) – http://ocrj.org/ (they also have a Facebook page). I attached a great info sheet that they put together.

4. Petition. An online petition has been started at Change.org. You can sign by clicking here:

http://www.change.org/petitions/persons-against-personhood-in-oklahoma

5. Old School. You can also write letters to our representatives or to the Newspress. I haven’t seen anything written in the Newspress yet.

6. Read SB 1433 and HJR 1067.

Thanks for reading. Let’s not allow Oklahoma to be the first to enact Personhood legislation.

Emily

emily.states@gmail.com

It’s both Valentine’s Day and Election Day

Dennis Whiteman — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:50:24 +0000

Show your community some love by voting.

This special primary election is the first of half a dozen elections this year that will help shape the future of our city, county, state and country. It will feature Democrats Noel Bagwell and Bobby Farley facing off for the party nomination to compete in the special general election on April 3, 2012 for the District 1 County Commissioner seat. In addition, the ballots for everyone in the county includes a question to extend the three-eighths percent sale tax that was first approved by voters in 1998. Without this sales tax, our roads and county infrastructure will fall apart and us with them.

According to the Stillwater NewsPress, “In the past 12 months, the three-eighths percent sales tax brought in approximately $3.6 million. Of that, 53 percent is used for road and bridge improvements, 15 percent goes to the county’s general fund, 20 percent goes to capital and operations for the Payne County Expo Center and Fair Board, 7 percent goes to help fund operations at the county extension center and 5 percent goes for capital and operations of fire departments in the county.”

So, while you’re out shopping for candy and cards, stop by your local polling place and cast a ballot for the future of Payne County!

Click to see the election results.