Statement from our Iranian-American Democrats about the attacks on NIAC

From: BAIAD [mailto:mehdi@baiad.org]
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 3:50 AM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: BAIAD Releases Official Statement about Recent Attacks on NIAC

BAIAD Releases Official Statement
about Recent Attacks on NIAC

San Francisco, California -- Wednesday, November 18, 2009 -- Recently, a few extreme right-wing circles have been confronting National Iranian-American Council, NIAC, not by debating the merits of its positions and arguments, but through defamation and character assassination, accusing NIAC of being an agent of the Iranian government.

As an organization that has been working with Iranian-American grassroots for years on issues of great importance to this constituency, Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats, www.BAIAD.org, finds these accusations just as baseless as trying to link the groups behind these accusations to the Iranian government.

As Americans, we pride ourselves for being a nation of law, a country where people and organizations are presumed innocent until proven guilty. As such, if the accusers have evidence that implicates NIAC, they should offer it and must otherwise refrain from making unfounded accusations.

As American advocacy groups, BAIAD and NIAC -- despite having different missions -- only represent one constituency: Iranian-Americans who have a vested interest in participating in the American democracy.

Even though BAIAD does not see eye to eye with NIAC on every issue, on balance we have been -- and continue to be -- proud of the work NIAC has been doing in standing up for the interests of Iranian-Americans. Furthermore, NIAC has consistently demonstrated that it does not shy away from strong criticism of Iranian government on various grounds including human rights and foreign policy -- for example during the months that followed the contested presidential elections in Iran earlier this year.

BAIAD strongly condemns the use of defamation and slander as a way of winning political arguments and believes that these attacks serve the aim of intimidating pro-diplomacy Iranian-Americans, suppressing open political participation by Iranian-Americans, and poisoning the much needed debate about the best foreign policy toward Iran.

Furthermore, we strongly urge those who believe in the power of democracy and healthy political discourse to speak out and not allow slander, character assassination and defamation to propagate unexamined and unanswered.


About Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats – BAIAD
Founded in 2004, Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats is the first chartered Iranian-American Democratic organization in the history of the Bay Area.

BAIAD is a non-religious, not-for-profit organization that stands for protecting the rights and interests of Iranian-Americans by encouraging active participation in American democracy and empowering the Iranian-American political voice and influence.

BAIAD is a chartered Democratic Club and is officially recognized by the Santa Clara County and Alameda County Democratic Parties.

Bay Area Iranian-American Democrats
It’s time to take a stand!
w w w . b a i a d . o r g
415.315.9959

Help us push healthcare reform!

Action alert on healthcare reform for progressives in WA-03 and WA-09

http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/

Telephone numbers are included in blog post.

Please join me in phoning Congressman Brian Baird (WA-03) and Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09) requesting their support of HR 3962. I just called and left message - it's easy, quick, and important.

--
Thank you,
Susan Sheary

Fwd: Yes, We Did!!! Chris Roberts for Shoreline City Council

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Christopher Roberts <robertsforshoreline@gmail.com>
Date: Thu, Nov 5, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Subject: Yes, We Did!!! Chris Roberts for Shoreline City Council

Dear Friends and Supporters,

After watching the results for the past few days in my race for Shoreline City Council, I want to share some exciting news - we won!!! 

As of today's release of results from King County, I am ahead of Ron Hansen 57% - 42% with about 60% of the ballots counted. I want to thank all of you for supporting my campaign. Without your help, support, and enthusiasm, this campaign would not have succeeded. 

I especially want to thank my opponent for his 14 years on the Council. Ron was one of the first members on the Council and he has committed countless hours of public service to our community, both for the City, including a term as Mayor, and as President of the Rotary Club of Shoreline. Ron's active participation in our community is something that we should all seek to exemplify in our own lives.  

From the beginning, this was a grassroots campaign. I qualified for the ballot via petition. Instead of paying the usual filing fee, with your help, I collected four times the number of signatures necessary for a spot on November's ballot. During the summer and early fall, I canvassed nearly 80% of the city -  listening to your concerns and your ideas of how we could make Shoreline a better place.

Now, the hard work is about to begin. One lesson that we learned following the Obama campaign and echoed during this election, is that we must remain active in our neighborhoods. I encourage everyone to participate in your local neighborhood association, your place of worship, your local political party or civic organization, or to organize a Block Watch on your street. We all have a role in building a stronger, safer, more cohesive community. 

Furthermore, we must continue to make our concerns known to our elected officials. In Shoreline we continue to face important questions about our collective future. How do we want to manage the growth that will come to our City? What can we do to retain our existing businesses and attract new entrepreneurs to the City? How can we create budget that reflects our values without breaking the backs of Shoreline taxpayers? What is the best way to manage the traffic on our neighborhood streets (both speed and volume)? How can we preserve our remaining open spaces in the City for our children and grandchildren?

The future of our City remains in your hands, and I will continue listening to and seeking out your ideas from all parts of Shoreline. Please keep a lookout for town hall forums that I will sponsor in your neighborhood about the issues that matter the most to you. Only together, we can make Shoreline a better place to work, live, and play.

Again, thank you, thank you, and thank you for your support and your confidence in me to serve you on the Shoreline City Council. 

Fired Up and Ready to Serve!

Chris

Friends for Christopher Roberts

robertsforshoreline@gmail.com

www.robertsforshoreline.com

206-708-1734

PO BOX 55621

Shoreline WA 98155

Fw: King County Strategic Plan feedback needed

----- Original Message -----
From: King County Council
To: suzie2004@comcast.net
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 5:05 PM
Subject: King County Strategic Plan feedback needed
Dear King County Resident:

At the request of the King County Council, the County is developing a
strategic plan for the next five years. You've had the opportunity to
participate through surveys, public workshops, and online. Now it's
your turn again: please visit www.kingcounty.gov/strategicplan to read
the public review draft of King County's Strategic Plan for 2010-2014
and provide your comments.

We want your input to make sure the plan reflects your priorities and
values as a King County resident. Please make sure to comment by
November 19 to ensure your feedback is considered in the draft plan
that will be reviewed by the King County Council.

Thank you for your input!

FW: Larsen Announces Support for Affordable Health Care for America Act

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen

2^nd District, Washington

 

For Immediate Release: November 4, 2009

Contact: Kimberly Johnston, Chief of Staff

Cell: (202) 420-8354

 

Larsen Announces Support for Affordable Health Care for America Act

 

Washington, D.C. —U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement today announcing his support for the Affordable Health Care for American Act (HR 3962) which is scheduled for a vote in the House of Representatives on Saturday:

 

The status quo is unacceptable

"After a full review of the Affordable Health Care for America Act, I am announcing my support for this important legislation.  I support health care reform.  The status quo is unacceptable. 

 

Health care help for families

"The Affordable Health Care for America Act brings stability and security to families struggling with increasing health care costs.  It gives much-needed financial relief to small business owners who cannot afford coverage for their employees.  It provides coverage to the 104,000 individuals lacking insurance in Washington's 2^nd Congressional district.  The bill improves the Medicare program for our seniors.  And the bill stops the discrimination for people who have been denied coverage, or charged through the roof, because of their age or gender, or because they have a pre-existing condition such as diabetes or cancer.

 

Unprecedented outreach

"Since July, I have held two in-person town hall meetings on health care reform that were attended by over 3,000 people, and two telephone town halls listened to by over 7,600 people.  I participated in a League of Women Voters health care forum in Coupeville that was attended by over 300 people.  And I held nearly 30 meetings on health care reform in the district with local doctors, patients, small businesses, families and hospitals.  I have responded to nearly 5,000 constituent letters, emails and calls on health care reform to this point, and will respond an additional 5,000 letters, emails and calls after I take this vote.

 

Major victory for Washington state

"Since the House of Representatives began crafting health care reform legislation, we have made great progress for Washington state.  I brought local concerns to the attention of leadership in Washington, D.C. and fought hard to make sure the health care reform bill includes a fair deal for Washington state.

 

"Specifically, I pushed to protect access to health care for Washington state patients by ensuring that Washington state is rewarded, not penalized, for providing high-quality, low-cost patient care. 

 

"This bill includes language to fix the long-standing Medicare reimbursement problems that have hurt access to health care in Washington state.   This is a huge victory for our state.

 

Help for those with healthcare

"The bill also bans discrimination for pre-existing conditions, age and gender.  No one should be denied coverage, or be charged through the roof, because of their age or gender, or because they have a pre-existing condition.

 

"It is also important to point out that this bill protects people's choice of doctors and health plans.  If you like your doctor or your health plan, you can keep your doctor or health plan.  If you have good insurance that you like, nothing in this bill will take it away from you.

 

"And the Affordable Health Care for America Act expands access to quality, affordable health insurance options by setting up a Health Insurance Exchange that includes a public option that works for Washington state.  This exchange provides one-stop, comparison shopping for qualifying individuals and small businesses.

 

Small business advantages

"Small businesses currently pay 18 percent more than larger firms to provide the same health insurance benefits to their employees.  This exchange will help bring much-needed financial relief and stability to small business owners and their employees.

 

Help for seniors

"And finally, the bill improves Medicare benefits, strengthens the solvency of the Medicare program, and closes the "donut hole" in the Medicare Prescription Drug Program to better serve our seniors.

 

"I believe that a vote in favor of the Affordable Health Care for America Act is the right vote for Washington's 2^nd Congressional district.

 

###

 

 

 

Brooke N Davis

Political Director

Congressman Rick Larsen

PO Box 326

Everett, WA 98206

www.ricklarsen.org

brooke@ricklarsen.org

425-259-1866 office

425-259-0117 fax

425-830-2031 cell

November 1st Edition of "The King County Democrat"

The November 1st edition of "The King County Democrat" is available
for viewing at,

http://wa-demchairs.org/kcdems/documents/nov2009.1.pdf

Just a friendly reminder to make sure that you have signed and mailed
your ballot - November 3rd is fast-approaching and we need every
Democratic vote.

Thank you,
Susan Sheary

Looking for victory parties?

Here's a great map that shows where some of the victory parties will be on Tuesday night. Join your favorite, and celebrate your victories!

And don't forget the King County Victory Party on November 15th!