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Re: DRAFT: Birmingham News Op-Ed

It will post online at al.com this afternoon after her remarks at ADC and run in the print edition of the Birmingham News tomorrow. -- Ian Sams (423) 915-6592 On Oct 17, 2015, at 9:01 AM, Nick Merrill <nmerrill@hillaryclinton.com> wrote: Thanks guys. On Sat, Oct 17, 2015 at 8:56 AM, Tyrone Gayle <tgayle@hillaryclinton.com> wrote: > Believe it's running in Sunday edition > > Tyrone Gayle > Regional Communications > Hillary For America > 904.612.3495 > @TyroneGayle > > On Oct 17, 2015, at 8:55 AM, Nick Merrill <nmerrill@hillaryclinton.com> > wrote: > > Did this run? > > On Fri, Oct 16, 2015 at 11:41 AM, Ian Sams <isams@hillaryclinton.com> > wrote: > >> Thank you, Lauren! I am moving this to the AL.com <http://al.com> >> opinion folks now. >> >> On Fri, Oct 16, 2015 at 11:37 AM, Lauren Peterson < >> lpeterson@hillaryclinton.com> wrote: >> >>> Hi all, >>> >>> The attached draft has been approved by HRC. >>> >>> Thank you! >>> >>> Lauren >>> >>> ### >>> >>> >>> >>> In Alabama, without an ID, you can’t vote. Yet Governor Bentley >>> announced plans this month to close 31 driver’s license offices across the >>> state, including in every single county where African Americans make up >>> more than 75 percent of registered voters. The closings would make getting >>> driver’s licenses and personal identification cards much harder for many >>> African Americans, putting up new barriers to voting. As many Alabamans >>> have said in recent days, that’s just dead wrong. >>> >>> >>> >>> Governor Bentley is insisting that the closings had nothing to do with >>> race, but the facts tell a different story. The parallels are inescapable: >>> Alabama is living through a blast from the Jim Crow past. Fifty years >>> after Rosa Parks sat, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. marched, and John Lewis >>> bled, it’s hard to believe Americans are still forced to fight for their >>> right to vote—especially in places where the civil rights movement fought >>> so hard all those years ago. >>> >>> >>> >>> Governor Bentley has offered the same excuses we’ve always heard to >>> justify laws that disproportionately affect people of color—or, for that >>> matter, low-income people, women, young people, and seniors. It reminds me >>> of that old saying: “You find a turtle on a fence post, it didn’t get there >>> on its own.” Institutionalized racism doesn’t just happen. People make it >>> happen. >>> >>> >>> >>> But for every Republican governor working to dismantle voting rights >>> across our country, there are Americans determined to keep marching >>> forward. I’m proud of everyone in Alabama who leapt to confront this >>> injustice. The outcry has been so strong, it’s forced politicians in >>> Montgomery to reconsider. Governor Bentley and the legislature should >>> listen to those voices and immediately reverse the decision to close DMV >>> offices. >>> >>> But the reforms can’t stop there. Alabama is one of 17 states with no >>> early voting. That needs to change. Alabama should make sure those who >>> serve time have their voting rights restored. And they should eliminate >>> the discriminatory requirement that people provide proof of citizenship >>> when they register to vote. Too many people don’t have access to their >>> birth certificate or passport—especially college students who are living >>> away from home. We should be doing everything we can to get more people >>> involved in our political process, not turning them away when they try to >>> participate. >>> >>> >>> >>> Alabama isn’t alone. Over the past few years, many states have passed >>> laws that make voting harder. Since the Supreme Court gutted a key >>> provision of the Voting Rights Act, the situation has gotten even worse. >>> And some people —including many Republican candidates for president—would >>> keep pushing our country in this shameful direction. >>> >>> >>> >>> Jeb Bush says he wouldn’t reauthorize the Voting Rights Act because >>> voting conditions have improved since it was passed. As Justice Ruth Bader >>> Ginsburg put it, that’s like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm >>> because you’re not getting wet. When asked recently about voter ID laws, >>> Marco Rubio replied, “What’s the big deal?” John Kasich restricted early >>> voting in Ohio after the 2008 election, when 77 percent of early voters in >>> the most populated county were African American. What part of democracy >>> are all these candidates afraid of? >>> >>> >>> >>> Many of the leaders and activists who led the original fight for the >>> right to vote are no longer alive to stop these abuses. But we are. And >>> we have an obligation to act. >>> >>> >>> >>> First, Congress should put principle ahead of politics and pass the >>> Voting Rights Advancement Act. This bipartisan bill would restore the full >>> protections of the Voting Rights Act. >>> >>> >>> >>> Second, we should set a standard across this country of at least 20 days >>> of early, in-person voting—including opportunities for weekend and evening >>> voting. >>> >>> >>> >>> Third, we should enact universal, automatic voter registration, so every >>> young person in every state is automatically registered to vote when they >>> turn 18, unless they opt out. I applaud California for beginning to >>> implement a similar approach last week. More states should follow their >>> lead. >>> >>> >>> >>> These steps alone won’t solve all of the challenges we face. But we owe >>> it to future generations to fight back against attacks on voting. We also >>> owe it to them to make sure our voting system works for a modern America. >>> We need to meet this moment with the bravery and determination of those who >>> came before us. It’s time for leaders in every party, at every level >>> of government, to be on the right side of history. And once again, the >>> movement can start right here in Alabama. >>> >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Oct 15, 2015 at 3:59 PM, John Anzalone <john@algpolling.com> >>> wrote: >>> >>>> Well that is a new spin. But glad you have talked to them to get the >>>> real scoop. >>>> >>>> *John Anzalone* >>>> >>>> *Partner * >>>> >>>> Anzalone Liszt Grove Research >>>> >>>> (o) 334.387.3121 >>>> >>>> Website <http://algpolling.com/>*| *Twitter >>>> <http://twitter.com/anzaloneliszt>*|* LinkedIn >>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-anzalone/5/aa2/563>*|* Facebook >>>> <http://facebook.com/anzaloneresearch> >>>> >>>> From: Karen Finney <kfinney@hillaryclinton.com> >>>> Date: Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 2:53 PM >>>> To: John Anzalone <john@algpolling.com> >>>> Cc: Emily Aden <eaden@hillaryclinton.com>, Tyrone Gayle < >>>> tgayle@hillaryclinton.com>, Lauren Peterson < >>>> lpeterson@hillaryclinton.com>, Speech Drafts < >>>> speechdrafts@hillaryclinton.com>, LaDavia Drane < >>>> ldrane@hillaryclinton.com>, Ian Sams <isams@hillaryclinton.com>, >>>> Brynne Craig <Bcraig@hillaryclinton.com>, Christina Reynolds < >>>> creynolds@hillaryclinton.com> >>>> >>>> Subject: Re: DRAFT: Birmingham News Op-Ed >>>> >>>> In Alabama today and just met with state legislators and political >>>> folks; I would not put it on the legislature - essentially the Gov is now >>>> saying he "found" the money but holding it hostage to force black rural >>>> democrats to agree to raise taxes on some of the state's poorest people >>>> So its promise to raise taxes on poor people in order to get your >>>> offices back. >>>> >>>> Sent from my iPhone >>>> >>>> On Oct 15, 2015, at 2:46 PM, John Anzalone <john@algpolling.com> wrote: >>>> >>>> I would consider running this by Senator Hank Sanders from Selma but >>>> yes I think we should change it and move the focus onto the legislature to >>>> make it happen. It was after all the super-majority in the legislature who >>>> made these cuts. While the Gov signed the budget after the special >>>> session, Bentley actually had a funding plan that included big tax >>>> increases to fill the hole in the budget that the legislature would not go >>>> along with. So to make the legislature the focus I think would be the >>>> right place. >>>> >>>> *John Anzalone* >>>> >>>> *Partner * >>>> >>>> Anzalone Liszt Grove Research >>>> >>>> (o) 334.387.3121 >>>> >>>> Website <http://algpolling.com/>*| *Twitter >>>> <http://twitter.com/anzaloneliszt>*|* LinkedIn >>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-anzalone/5/aa2/563>*|* Facebook >>>> <http://facebook.com/anzaloneresearch> >>>> >>>> From: Emily Aden <eaden@hillaryclinton.com> >>>> Date: Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 11:07 AM >>>> To: John Anzalone <john@algpolling.com> >>>> Cc: Tyrone Gayle <tgayle@hillaryclinton.com>, Lauren Peterson < >>>> lpeterson@hillaryclinton.com>, Speech Drafts < >>>> speechdrafts@hillaryclinton.com>, Karen Finney < >>>> kfinney@hillaryclinton.com>, LaDavia Drane <ldrane@hillaryclinton.com>, >>>> Ian Sams <isams@hillaryclinton.com>, Brynne Craig < >>>> Bcraig@hillaryclinton.com>, Christina Reynolds < >>>> creynolds@hillaryclinton.com> >>>> Subject: Re: DRAFT: Birmingham News Op-Ed >>>> >>>> Flagging that Gov. Bentley announced a plan to reopen the 31 offices, >>>> should this be changed to call on him/legislature to do that? Given his new >>>> plan, is the 'excuses' language too strong? >>>> http://www.al.com/news/index.ssf/2015/10/bentley_plan_would_reopen_clos.html >>>> >>>> change including those in eight of the 10 counties with the highest >>>> percentage of African Americans to: including in 8 out of 12 total >>>> majority-minority counties or including in 7 counties where the African >>>> American population is more than two-thirds. >>>> >>>> Alabama is one of 17 states with no early voting, would adjust >>>> "handful" language >>>> http://www.ncsl.org/research/elections-and-campaigns/absentee-and-early-voting.aspx >>>> >>>> Change Rubio hit to Marco Rubio asked "what's the big deal" about voter >>>> id laws. >>>> >>>> Change Kasich hit to: ...a state where 77 percent of early voters in >>>> 2008 were African American in the most populated county >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> On Thu, Oct 15, 2015 at 11:11 AM, John Anzalone <john@algpolling.com> >>>> wrote: >>>> >>>>> One thing I would consider up front is helping readers understand the >>>>> link between closing these offices and voting, meaning that people get >>>>> personal identification cards here. We assume people get it but I actually >>>>> don’t think people do. So I would add as second line to help them out, >>>>> something like: >>>>> >>>>> This means that getting drivers licenses and personal identification >>>>> cards required by law to vote is doubly hard for these mostly rural voters. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *John Anzalone* >>>>> >>>>> *Partner * >>>>> >>>>> Anzalone Liszt Grove Research >>>>> >>>>> (o) 334.387.3121 >>>>> >>>>> Website <http://algpolling.com/>*| *Twitter >>>>> <http://twitter.com/anzaloneliszt>*|* LinkedIn >>>>> <https://www.linkedin.com/pub/john-anzalone/5/aa2/563>*|* Facebook >>>>> <http://facebook.com/anzaloneresearch> >>>>> >>>>> From: <speechdrafts@hillaryclinton.com> on behalf of Tyrone Gayle < >>>>> tgayle@hillaryclinton.com> >>>>> Date: Thursday, October 15, 2015 at 10:04 AM >>>>> To: Lauren Peterson <lpeterson@hillaryclinton.com>, Speech Drafts < >>>>> speechdrafts@hillaryclinton.com> >>>>> Cc: Karen Finney <kfinney@hillaryclinton.com>, LaDavia Drane < >>>>> ldrane@hillaryclinton.com>, Ian Sams <isams@hillaryclinton.com>, >>>>> Emily Aden <eaden@hillaryclinton.com>, Brynne Craig < >>>>> Bcraig@hillaryclinton.com>, Christina Reynolds < >>>>> creynolds@hillaryclinton.com> >>>>> Subject: RE: DRAFT: Birmingham News Op-Ed >>>>> >>>>> This is great Lauren. Just a reminder, we have to submit by *COB >>>>> today* to have this run on Sunday. If folks could take a look and >>>>> make edits so we can get HRC approval, thatd be great >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> *From:* Lauren Peterson [mailto:lpeterson@hillaryclinton.com] >>>>> *Sent:* Thursday, October 15, 2015 12:49 AM >>>>> *To:* Speech Drafts <speechdrafts@hillaryclinton.com> >>>>> *Cc:* Karen Finney <kfinney@hillaryclinton.com>; LaDavia Drane < >>>>> ldrane@hillaryclinton.com>; Ian Sams <isams@hillaryclinton.com>; >>>>> Tyrone Gayle <tgayle@hillaryclinton.com>; Emily Aden < >>>>> eaden@hillaryclinton.com>; Brynne Craig <bcraig@hillaryclinton.com>; >>>>> Christina Reynolds <creynolds@hillaryclinton.com> >>>>> *Subject:* DRAFT: Birmingham News Op-Ed >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Hi everyone, >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Sending around this Birmingham News op-ed to coincide with Hillary's >>>>> trip to Alabama. The op-ed will run this weekend. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Please take a look and let me know your thoughts - this reflects >>>>> preliminary input from many of you, which has been much appreciated! I >>>>> could definitely use research's eyes on the statistics and the GOP contrast. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Thanks! >>>>> >>>>> Lauren >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ### >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> This month, Alabama announced the closing of 31 driver’s license >>>>> offices in counties across the state, including those in eight of the 10 >>>>> counties with the highest percentage of African Americans. Despite >>>>> Governor Bentley’s insistence that the decision—which came a year after the >>>>> state’s voter ID law took effect—has nothing to do with race, the parallels >>>>> are inescapable: Alabama is living through a blast from the Jim Crow past. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> It’s hard to believe that 50 years after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. >>>>> marched and Rosa Parks sat and John Lewis bled, Americans are still >>>>> fighting to exercise the most fundamental right in our democracy. >>>>> Meanwhile, Governor Bentley is offering the same excuses we’ve heard for >>>>> half a century to justify laws that disproportionately affect people of >>>>> color, low-income people, women, young people, and seniors. It reminds me >>>>> of a saying from Arkansas: “You find a turtle on a fence post, it did not >>>>> get there on its own.” >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> But for every Republican governor working to dismantle voting rights, >>>>> there are Americans determined to keep marching forward. I’m proud of the >>>>> outcry in Alabama from people who have come together to demand better. >>>>> It’s time for Governor Bentley to listen to your voices and reverse the >>>>> decision to close DMV offices in the Black Belt and other rural counties. >>>>> But the reforms shouldn’t stop there. Alabama is one of a handful of >>>>> states with no early voting—that needs to change. Alabama should also >>>>> eliminate the discriminatory and demeaning state requirement that people >>>>> provide proof of citizenship along with their voter registration forms—a >>>>> law modeled on one that has stopped more than 30,000 would-be voters from >>>>> registering in Kansas. And they should make sure that Americans who have >>>>> served time should have their voting rights restored once they’re released. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Unfortunately (but not surprisingly), Alabama isn’t an outlier. Over >>>>> the past few years, many states have passed laws that make it harder to >>>>> vote. Since the Supreme Court gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights >>>>> Act, a dire situation has gotten even worse. And there are those—including >>>>> many of the Republican candidates for president—who would continue to push >>>>> our country in this shameful direction. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Jeb Bush says he wouldn’t reauthorize the Voting Rights Act—because >>>>> it’s gotten easier to vote since it was passed. As Justice Ginsburg has >>>>> said, that’s like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you’re >>>>> not getting wet. Marco Rubio has supported harsh voter ID laws. John >>>>> Kasich restricted early voting in Ohio—a state where 77 percent of early >>>>> voters in 2008 were African American. What part of democracy are they so >>>>> afraid of? >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Many of the people who fought and sacrificed for the right to vote are >>>>> no longer alive to witness these abuses. But we are. And we have an >>>>> obligation to stop the systematic and deliberate effort to disenfranchise >>>>> voters. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> First, Congress should put principle ahead of politics and pass the >>>>> Voting Rights Advancement Act—a bipartisan bill that would restore the full >>>>> protections of the Voting Rights Act. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Second, we should set a standard across this country of at least 20 >>>>> days of early, in-person voting—including opportunities for weekend and >>>>> evening voting. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Third, we should go even further. We need universal, automatic voter >>>>> registration—so that every young person in every state is automatically >>>>> registered to vote when they turn 18, unless they choose to opt out. I >>>>> applaud California for implementing this measure last week—an incredible >>>>> victory in our most populous state. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> These steps alone won’t solve all of the challenges we face. But we >>>>> owe it to future generations to fight back against attacks on voting, and >>>>> to meet this moment with the bravery and determination of those who have >>>>> come before us. It’s time for leaders in every party, at every level of >>>>> government, to be on the right side of history. >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> *Ian Sams* | Rapid Response >> Hillary for America >> (423) 915-6592 | @IanSams <https://twitter.com/iansams> >> Gchat: icsams >> > >