Because This Is America!
Weekly News, Updates, and Events
We As Democrats Believe:
"Strong leadership is essential in the face of health crises. Complex public health emergencies demand a collective response with high-level political and diplomatic engagement at both the national and global levels."
-- Tedros Adhanom, Director General of the World Health Organization
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NEWS
Join Us For A Virtual Happy Hour Today at 7 p,m,
We are planning an online happy hour today. Because of coronavirus, we need to switch to meetings that do not require us to attend in person. The online happy hour will provide an easy opportunity for New Hanover Democrats to get comfortable with video teleconferencing using the Zoom service. We are expecting a cameo appearance by Commissioner Rob Zapple, and we plan to open the doors at 6:30 p,m. and to begin the Virtual Happy Hour at 7 p.m.
If you are unfamiliar with Zoom, the video teleconferencing service we are using, we recommend that you begin your efforts to sign in at 6:30. If you have difficulty signing in to the Virtual Happy Hour, we will have two volunteers who will be standing by to help you get in: Jim Fleagle at (919) 426-3355 and Stephanie Fetzer at (704) 309-3918. We want every New Hanover Democrat to get comfortable with this technology, because this is how we will be holding meetings for at least the next few months.
To join the Zoom Meeting on your laptop or computer, click this link: [link removed] If you have never used Zoom before, you may be asked to download an app. Call Jim or Stephanie if you get stuck.
To connect by phone (audio only):
To dial in on a smartphone:
13126266799,,4319003994# or 16465588656,,4319003994#
Or Dial:
(646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 431 900 3994
Democratic Conventions Postponed
Our county convention was scheduled to be held on Saturday March 28th. A week ago, we wrote to tell you that we received guidance from the North Carolina Democratic Party that we would be required to hold a virtual convention. This week we received word that the convention would be postponed until April 25th. The 7th Congressional District Convention is also postponed, to May 16th. We are waiting for details from NCDP, and they are waiting for approvals from the DNC. None of these plans are final until approved by the DNC. We will pass along further details when they are available.
Senate Candidate Cal Cunningham To Hold Virtual Town Hall Tomorrow
The Cal Cunningham campaign is adapting to developments by moving some events online, and will hold a virtual Town Hall meeting tomorrow (Tuesday) at 9:30am. They ask you to sign up for the event here:
[link removed]
The campaign plans to get back to you with log in information Monday night.
Senator Burr Dumps Stocks And Warns Donors While Publicly Minimising COVID-19 Risks
(From NCDEMS) Three weeks ago, Senator Richard Burr warned a group of donors behind closed doors that the coronavirus was “much more aggressive than anything we have seen in recent history.” In public, he struck a different tone, endangering his constituents by downplaying the severity of the epidemic. Burr used his access to highly sensitive information to profit by selling up to $1/7 million of stock just a week before the market crashed.
North Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Wayne Goodwin called on him to resign and released this statement:
“Senator Burr has betrayed the trust of every North Carolinian in a time of crisis and should resign immediately. The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Department of Justice should immediately launch investigations into whether Senator Burr violated federal law by using inside information to profit. And Senator Burr must answer immediately to North Carolina families what he heard that led him to sell his stock and when he heard it.”
Tillis Unreachable
(From NCDEMS) Last week, Republicans in the U.S. Senate grudgingly voted to pass the House’s proposed COVID-19 relief bill after days of delay. Republicans claimed they were in their home states hearing from constituents, but a local public health official confirmed that wasn’t quite the case.
In a COVID-19 press conference on Tuesday night in Mecklenburg County, the county public health director, when asked whether she was ‘in tune’ with representatives in Washington, said that her office has “not heard from Tillis.” This lack of communication and coordination one of the counties that has been the most impacted by COVID-19 in North Carolina shows just how little Tillis is doing to actively protect his constituents.
Governor Cooper Takes Action; Dan Forest Takes Potshots
(March 18 editorial from North Carolina Politics) On March 17, Governor Roy Cooper ordered all bars and restaurants closed to halt the spread of coronavirus. While closures are economically painful, they are necessary to save lives. Other states have taken similar measures. All of Italy is essentially on lock-down.
Lt. Governor Dan Forest, who is running against Cooper in November, issued a press release blasting the move as unconstitutional. His statement read, “His mandate will devastate our economy, shutter many small businesses, and leave many people unemployed, especially in the rural areas of our state where food supply is already critical.” Forest maintains Cooper didn’t have support from a majority of the Council of State. Coopers says he didn’t need it.
The episode shows how ill-informed and ill-prepared Dan Forest is. The catastrophe that’s approaching will probably kill thousands of North Carolinians. Until we have a vaccine in a year or so, the only way to slow its spread is through social isolation. People clearly aren’t going to stay away from crowded areas unless forced to do so. Cooper’s decision showed little concern for political fallout. Forest’s response had all the evidence of political opportunism. Given what’s coming, that’s irresponsible on a colossal level.
EVENTS
NHCDP Virtual Happy Hour -- March 23
When: Monday, March 23, 7 p.m.
Where: Zoom
The New Hanover County Democratic Party will be holding online virtual meetings for the foreseeable future. See the article above for directions to attend this session to introduce the use of Zoom video teleconferencing, and phone numbers to call if you find you need assistance.
Cal Cunningham Virtual Town Hall -- March 24
When: Tuesday, March 23, 9:30 a.m.
Where: Zoom
You should sign up today (Monday) here: [link removed]. The campaign plans to send log in information Monday night.
New Hanover County Democratic Party Convention -- Postponed to April 25 online
When: Saturday, April 25
Where: Online
7th Congressional District Convention -- Postponed to May 16 online
When: Saturday, May 16
Where: Online
State Convention -- June 6
When: Saturday June 6
Where: Probably online
We need to elect At-Large delegates to the Democratic National Convention at this meeting. For details about becoming a Delegate, click here. We will be in touch about plans for the convention.
Best,
Richard Poole, Chair
News Content by James Cummings
If you have any announcements, comments, questions or concerns regarding this email series, please contact the Editor here.
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| Paid for by the New Hanover County Democratic Party |
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Mailing Address:
NHCDP
PO Box 3036
Wilmington, NC 28406
Office Address:
5041 New Centre Drive
Wilmington, NC 28403
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