MORNING MESSAGE
On
a road trip to visit relatives in Georgia, our family traveled across the states
that have become the newest battlegrounds in the latest phase of the “culture
wars.” ... But this trip back home took us through states where legislatures
voted to protect the people who might have discriminated against us. That forced
us to think about the possibility that we might face discrimination, and how
best to avoid experiencing it and exposing our children to it.
Join
the Democracy Awakening mobilization – April 16 to 18 in Washington, D.C. – to
deliver a massive wake-up call to Congress.
Join
us to demand a democracy that works for all of us – a nation where our votes are
not denied and money doesn’t buy access and power. Find out more about planned demonstrations, teach-ins, direct
action, music, the Rally for Democracy, and non-violent direct action and
advocacy. Let us know you are coming.
BURNING ISSUES: CUBAN-AMEriCAN RelatioNS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Geoff
Thale of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) discusses President
Obama’s recent opening of diplomatic relations with Cuba and the reactions
of the presidential candidates in the latest Burning Issues video.
WI and NY LOOM LARGE
Battle
for NY begins. NYT: “Mrs. Clinton used a rally at the Apollo Theater in
Harlem to recall her efforts on behalf of New Yorkers as one of their senators
for eight years. In doing so she contrasted her concrete actions, like fighting
for health care aid for emergency workers after the Sept. 11 attacks, to the
ambitious promises of Mr. Sanders and the harsh language used by the leading
Republican candidate, Donald J. Trump … Mr. Sanders … plans to hold a rally in
the Bronx on Thursday afternoon.”
Bernie
opens up a Wisconsin lead ahead of Tuesday vote. NYT: “Senator Bernie
Sanders of Vermont spent Wednesday crisscrossing Wisconsin, hosting events in
three cities and arguing that his stances on trade deals, campaign finance and
foreign policy make him a stronger candidate … As a new poll showed him leading
Mrs. Clinton by four points in the Badger State ahead of Tuesday’s primary, Mr.
Sanders attacked her for supporting what he characterized as ‘disastrous’ trade
policies that led to thousands of Wisconsin jobs being shipped overseas…”
Campaigns
negotiating future debates. NYT: “The campaign for Senator Bernie Sanders of
Vermont sent out a news release on Tuesday proclaiming that Hillary Clinton’s
campaign had made ‘an agreement to debate him in New York before the state’s
April 19 primary election.’ That, however, is not exactly what the Clinton
campaign has said, at least publicly. ‘We have expressed our willingness to
debate in April, and the campaigns are discussing different options, including
the option of a debate in N.Y. before April 19,’ said Brian Fallon, the press
secretary for the Clinton campaign, in an email on Wednesday.”
TRUMP LOSING STEAM
Majority
of white men “unfavorable” to Trump in W. Post poll: “If Donald Trump
secures the Republican presidential nomination, he would start the general
election campaign as the least-popular candidate to represent either party in
modern times.”
Trump
falls behind in Wisconsin. NYT: “…Right-wing radio hosts are flaying him,
Gov. Scott Walker and other elected Republicans have endorsed Senator Ted Cruz,
and a new poll showed Mr. Cruz with a 10 percentage-point lead in the state
before Tuesday’s primary. The Stop Trump movement may never have another
opportunity like the one here…”
But
still has delegate edge. The Hill: “He faces a tricky and uncertain path to
[a majority.] Trump currently has 736 delegates. He needs to win 501 more – or
about 55 percent of the more than 900 still up for grabs … Cruz, who has only
463 delegates, would have to secure another 774 — or about 86 percent of
outstanding delegates — to win the nomination outright. That’s a near impossible
feat…”
CA, NY RACE TO $15
$15
minimum wage clears CA Assembly committee. Reuters: “One Democrat, Tom Daly,
joined six Republicans in opposing the measure, which now advances to the full
Assembly for action as early as this week. It would then return to the Senate
for a final vote … passage is not assured without backing from more moderate
Democrats, including business-friendly Assembly members in swing districts.”
NYT
edit board urges New York to beat California: “[Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s]
challenge now is to get [Republicans] to go along without giving too much away.
Some Republicans might vote for a $15 minimum for the New York City area if the
governor agreed to a lesser increase for upstate New York. A better approach
would be for the $15 minimum to be phased in for everyone on the same schedule
that is currently in place for fast-food workers in New York, which lifts their
minimum in New York City to $15 by the end of 2018 and in the rest of the state
by mid-2021.”
Progressive
Breakfast is a daily morning email highlighting news stories of interest to
activists. Progressive Breakfast is a project of the Campaign for America's
Future. more
»