PDA and Democrats.com Launch www.debtslavery.org

[Kevin Spidel]

http://debtslavery.org

Democrats.com Launches Grassroots Campaign To Defeat "Debt Slavery"
Bankruptcy Bill in the House

Democrats.com, the leading online community of Democratic activists,
launched a grassroots campaign to defeat the "Debt Slavery" Bankruptcy Bill in the House of Representatives.

The House is expected to vote on the Bankruptcy Bill next week when it
returns from its two-week Easter recess.

"Because House Majority Leader Tom DeLay runs the House so ruthlessly, most observers expect the Bankruptcy Bill to sail through without opposition," said Bob Fertik, president of Democrats.com.

"For those who believe Tom DeLay is unstoppable, I have two words: Terri Schiavo," Fertik said.

Two weeks ago, Tom DeLay pushed seemingly unconstitutional legislation
through Congress to force Federal courts to consider Schiavo's case, even though guardianship disputes are purely state law matters.

"Right now, murder is being committed against a defenceless American
citizen," DeLay said at the time. "Mrs Schiavo's life is being violently wrenched from her body in an act of medical terrorism. What is happening to her is not compassion, it is homicide."

Afterwards, public opinion turned solidly against DeLay's actions, with 75% saying it was "not right" for Congress to intervene. Approval ratings for the Republican Congress have hit record lows as a result.

"Tom DeLay's political career is on a respirator," according to Fertik. "DeLay is being investigated for crimes in Texas and Washington DC. Today even the far-right Wall Street Journal editorial page condemned DeLay for his corruption. If the Journal opposes DeLay, his days are definitely numbered," Fertik said.

To fight the Bankruptcy Bill, Democrats.com unveiled a new Web site at
DebtSlavery.org.

"Middle-class Americans who use a credit card need to understand the dire impact this bill will have on their lives," Fertik said. "This bill prevents middle class citizens from discharging their debts through Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and turns them into debt slaves for the credit card companies which bought George Bush's campaigns," he added.

According to today's Washington Post, credit card behemoth MBNA was the fifth-largest contributor to Bush's two presidential campaigns. MBNA, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Bank of America Corp. and Wachovia Corp. were among the top 20 contributors to Bush, contributing more than $300,000 apiece.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3796-2005Mar26.html

"This bill is Republican corruption at its worst, and the embodiment of everything Tom DeLay stands for. We will expose the connection between the greedy credit card companies and the corrupt Republican Party, and force every Member of Congress to choose between the voters and the loansharks,"
Fertik concluded.



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[realFedUp]

1. good idea

I kick for those.

[liberalhistorian]

2. Thanks for posting this. I nominated

it because it's so important to get the word out and to do everything we can to defeat this medieval bill. The Schiavo case fits in perfectly, because medical debt and the horrendous financial problems incurred by those dealing with serious or chronic illnesses is a major cause of personal bankruptcy filings. And yet Congress has shown no mercy and no caring and no inclination to provide any relief at all to the far too many Americans dealing with overwhelming medical debt.

They have the best health insurance in the country, paid for by those who often don't have such a luxury, and they do NOTHING to help Americans with medical debts. They refuse to make an exemption in the bankruptcy law for medical debt, even though studies have shown that it is the primary cause of middle-class families filing for bankruptcy, even those who have insurance!!!!!

[Trillo]

3. I like the theme, "Save the Middle Class."

There's no way I can compete with a $300,000 donation. We do have the best government money can buy.

We were supposed to have a government by and for the people.

[Selteri]

4. Excellent piece of work. NT

[madfloridian]

5. Kevin, may I ask you something?

The other night I saw something you posted about the goals of PDA. There was one statement that bothered me, and maybe I misunderstood.

You said PDA could not work with the Democratic Party in its present form, that you would help elect progressives. Of course I agree with that, since DFA does the same. The groups are needed, and I see that some of the DFA groups partner with you.

It was a heated thread, I believe, but I got the impression that you would not support the party financially in its present form, though you endorsed Dean for chair. Did I misunderstand what you posted?

I get the emails from your group, but I don't see that there. Hope you understand why I am asking.

[Kevin Spidel]

6. sure... good question...

We do support the Party and Dean for DNC chair.. we were the first group to write him a letter and start the draft. Becasue we believe we need to reform the party in Major ways. I personaly work close with Gov Dean, and PDA works with DFA.

Differences in PDA then any other group...

We are taking a stand on this issue on Debt Slavery...
We are taking a stand on Bolton, and moving a campaign forward to try to block his nomination...
We are moving forward to try to expose this farce of a Voting Rights group with Baker as co-chair...
We are movign forward on blocking CAFTA from happening, and will begin an anti-globalization task force with Tom Hayden, Medea Bejamin of Global Exchange, etc...
We are the ONLY Democratic Group working to blog more blank checks to Iraq without a clear exit stratigy. Even MoveOn has backed away from their Iraq War stance...

The party needs a lot of reform. But we ARE Democrats. We just plan to push hard and support Progressive Democrats over Centrist Democrats... this means we plan to go after the Lieberman's the Fienstiens, etc.

That is when the party will begin worrying about us. But we are here, and are Democrats.

[madfloridian]

7. Thanks.

I am having trouble watching what is happening now. We of course are active in DFA, and know pretty much what is going to be attempted from there.

I am worried very much about how the party is going. I see some differences locally for the good, and 4 of 7 of our group of DFA got elected to the DEC or state positions. It makes a difference in attitude.

I know Howard Dean has to work from where they are in the party, but they will fight him all the way. Not just the far right in the party. The far left is doing a pretty good job. And the supporters of former candidates are saying covertly they plan to withhold financial support.

Howard is not especially far to the left, but he is being pummeled from both sides. I want to see the Democrats become what they were years ago. He could fight one side, maybe, the right. But he will have to contend with the total intolerance of the left.

Herein will be the problem. He can not change everything, in fact a lot he can't change. Intolerance is our worst enemy. Yet some things can not be tolerated anymore. Drawing the line is hard.

That is why many of us, though we are donating again to the DNC, are less than trusting. It is a confusing time, and I think they might be becoming afraid again to speak.

A bright spot tonight, he did call Santorum a liar and said he lived in VA not PA. LOL