After praising former Rep. Donna F. Edwards in 2012 despite others in the Jewish community of Maryland's Montgomery and Prince George's Counties criticism Susan Turnbull wrote the following letter that was published in the Washington Jewish Week. The WJW uses a paywall that makes linking to articles impossible for readers who haven't paid for a subscription. Copy and paste below:
Breadth of Thoughts not in article
The writer missed several of my key points in our conversation about Emily's List participation in the Maryland Senate Democratic primary race. Yes, "we" are "rankled" on so many levels. Unfortunately, what the writer didn't capture is why I am ("Edwards' Emily's List support rankles Van Hollen backers," March 31 [2016]).
Like state Sen. Cheryl Kagan (D-District 17) as a Maryland voter and longtime Emily's List donor, I am concerned that millions of dollars are being spent by Emily's List on commercials attacking a candidate for "dark money" when the money raised for those ads is from out of state and largely from the sources being attacked.
I'm upset that Emily's List is spending millions of dollars against a talented progressive Democrat with a proven record instead of working hard against anti-choice Republicans where these dollars would have a positive impact. I'm also upset that Emily's List is spending millions in a race where the candidate is primarily supported by out-of-staters and not Marylanders who have working experience with the two candidates and understand their strengths and weaknesses.
I'm concerned that Emily's List is bankrolling a woman, Rep. Donna Edwards, who the vast majority of the women leaders in Maryland do not support.
I have engaged in this election with my time, energy, personal contributions and endorsement for Rep. Chris Van Hollen for Senate because it is much more than "personal." I know his accomplishments and his value to our state. That is why Emily's List's commercials won't have an impact on me or people I know - Van Hollen has worked with, promoted and supported women his entire career and has a legacy of accomplishments for our Jewish community, state and nation. Marylanders know Van Hollen's record and the voters will be informed and intelligent in their choices.
This newspaper's editorial endorsement is an indication of just that.
Susan W. Turnbull
Bethesda
Emily's List stands for "early money is like yeast" to elect progressive, originally pro-choice, women candidates. The 'out of state donor' objection made by Susan Turnbull is meaningless unless one supports overturning Citizens United v FEC and McCutcheon v FEC and goals of April 3-18, 2016 democracyspring.org, past bills such as the Government by the People Act, Fair Elections Now act and Democracy for People amendment to get money out of politics. The mention of "our Jewish community" at the end of Turnbull's letter shows importance of comparative like and dislike of Van Hollen and Edwards for their votes on AIPAC bills and resolutions as well as relationship-building with J Street or JCRC and AIPAC for purposes of in whose company and at whose expense a candidate, elected or aspiring, travels to Israel to learn about near east/middle east/Levant Israel-Palestine peacemaking issues.
My response, if I could have written it within a reasonable period of time to have a chance at publication would have been as follows:
Rep. Donna Edwards worked with her colleague Rep John Conyers (D-MI) to introduce enabling legislation for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United vs Federal Election Commission within a month after the Jan 21, 2010 release of the democracy-killing decision.
(http://www.pfaw.org/press-releases/2011/10/congresswoman-donna-edwards-introduces-constitutional-amendment-to-reverse-ci H. J. Res. 74 Feb 2, 2010)
Rep Donna Edwards also worked, in a bipartisan manner, with Roscoe Bartlett (former R-gerrymandered out of MDCD6 in 2012 lost to John Delaney D-MD)
to write the 21st Century Investment Act of 2011, H.R. 689,
to increase the federal R&D tax credit from 20 to 25% permanently and raise the domestic manufacturing tax credit from 9% to 15% for 10 years.
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) stopped advocating for the Disclose Act to enough of an extent that the bill's other supporters gave up. There was an effort by citizens to lobby the SEC Commissioner (https://secure.avaaz.org/en/where_is_mary_jo_white/?pv=103&rc=fb
secdisclose.org) to require public equity corporations to disclose their political donations. The 2016 budget, finally passed in December 2015 at the last minute to avoid another government shutdown, contained a policy rider to prevent disclosure of publicly traded corporations' political spending. At least Rep. Van Hollen signed a letter demanding continued rule-making process that hasn't, in fact, continued. http://www.commoncause.org/press/press-releases/corporate-political-spending-disclosure-rule-can-proceed-despite-omnibus-rider.html
After an election year of a Republican-controlled Congress (continuing in the 2017-2019 Congress) hewing to the meme of "limited government and free markets" by passing few meaningful bills beyond budget continuing resolutions the same rider to prevent publicly-traded companies from being forced to disclose their political contributions was placed into the 2017 budget. Sen. Elizabeth Warren drew attention to it in the 'heat' of the presidential campaign after the latest CR was passed:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/markets/2016/10/14/sen-warren-blasts-new-target/92055712/
With more limits on nearly unlimited donations to campaign committees (overturning McCutcheon vs FEC) and the re-enactment of limits on donations to IE (independent expenditure) groups (overturning Citizens United vs FEC) the out-of-state donor concerns of Susan Turnbull would be addressed.
secdisclose.org) to require public equity corporations to disclose their political donations. The 2016 budget, finally passed in December 2015 at the last minute to avoid another government shutdown, contained a policy rider to prevent disclosure of publicly traded corporations' political spending. At least Rep. Van Hollen signed a letter demanding continued rule-making process that hasn't, in fact, continued. http://www.commoncause.org/press/press-releases/corporate-political-spending-disclosure-rule-can-proceed-despite-omnibus-rider.html
In the 2016 primary campaign of former DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz against Tim Canova an email asking for funds based on the same process complaint about 'out of state' donors was sent.
Reply-To: info@dwsforcongress.com
GROUND GAME
July 12, 2016 9:05 AM
We write to you a lot about our fundraising goals. In fact, we’re already thinking about our July deadline (it’s our last monthly one before the primary!)
But we want you to know why we are so grassroots-goal oriented. The short answer is that we have to be.
One of Debbie’s opponents has raised more than $2 million dollars, the overwhelming majority coming from outside of Florida.
Early voting in the primary starts in just over 30 days.
In order to fight back, we need to make sure our ground game is pumping on all cylinders. Can you help us get started on our July goal by chipping in $5?
If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:
You might not think $3, or $5, or $10 is a lot -- but it makes a major impact when thousands of grassroots contributors are pitching in a few dollars each.
We use this money to support our field organizers, pay for gas to transport volunteers around the district, pay our phone bank bills, and print lawn signs and campaign flyers.
Setting goals each month helps us make sure we have enough resources to meet our plan and respond when Debbie’s opponents try to smear her record.
Your impact on this campaign cannot be overstated. When you help us hit goals, you help bring Debbie closer to victory. We need you. Contribute $5 toward our July goal.
Thank you,
Team DWS
We use this money to support our field organizers, pay for gas to transport volunteers around the district, pay our phone bank bills, and print lawn signs and campaign flyers.
Setting goals each month helps us make sure we have enough resources to meet our plan and respond when Debbie’s opponents try to smear her record.
Your impact on this campaign cannot be overstated. When you help us hit goals, you help bring Debbie closer to victory. We need you. Contribute $5 toward our July goal.
Thank you,
Team DWS
Debbie Wasserman-Schultz used the same process complaint, more than an issue complaint, of 'out of state donors' against Tim Canova that Susan Turnbull used against Emily's List for their out of state fundraising for Donna Edwards. Again, bashing out of state political campaign donors without taking a stand for overturning, by law and public policy change if not constitutional amendment, to overturn Citizens United vs. FEC and McCutcheon vs. FEC is effectively crying with 'crocodile tears.'
