Democracy for New Mexico

NM-Sen: New DSCC Videos, Tom Udall the Un-Politician

The videos above were released by the DSCC as part of their Road to Victory series on Democratic Senate candidates being conducted by Amy Rubin, who's been hitting the road with a video camera and interviewing Dems running for U.S. Senate. Visit the Road to Victory website for more videos and Amy's travel diary.

Also see this diary by liberaltruthsayer on Daily Kos about Rep. Udall, his family and the videos. And don't miss the New Mexico Independent's exclusive interview with Rep. Udall. Nice work. Excerpt on Rep. Udall's position on endorsing a Dem presidential candidate:

NMI: Your party’s presidential primary looks like it’s pretty much over. So, as a superdelegate to the national convention in Denver, you’ll be voting for Obama, right?

TU: I promised New Mexico citizens that I would let the voters speak first and I told them I would wait until June 3rd until all the voters in the nation had spoken. So I’m going to keep that promise and then shortly after that be visiting with superdelegates with both campaigns and make up my mind.

NMI: Just in terms of practical politics, one reason you’re not endorsing anyone is because you don’t want to unnecessarily alienate any Clinton supporters, right?

TU: Well, one of the practical reasons I chose not to endorse was so that I could be a healer and I could bring both camps together. I think that’s a very important role for some of us to play so that we have a united party going into the fall.

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(Updated) Barack Obama to Visit Las Cruces Monday

UPDATE 5.24.08: According to a press release from the Obama campaign, the early afternoon event will be a Memorial Day Veterans Town Hall with Barack Obama and Gov. Bill Richardson. Attendance is by invitation only and the Town Hall is not open to the public. The location of the event is not yet being made public.
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Barack Obama will be in Las Cruces on Monday, May 26, 2008 for a public event of some kind according to his campaign. No other details are available yet, but the word is the event will be related to honoring veterans. I'll let you know when more info is released. In the meantime, content yourself with checking out the video above. Yes We Can!

Michelle Obama, John McCain and George Bush will also be in New Mexico next week. Click for info.

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NM-02: McCamley Endorsed by Democracy for America

Go, Bill, go! We're very pleased to announce that the nation's largest progressive political action community, Democracy for America, just endorsed Bill McCamley for Congress in New Mexico's Second District. McCamley is now part of the grassroots group's "DFA-List" that supports selected candidates across the country who meet certain criteria and are backed by local DFA members. The DFA-Democracy for America Meetup group is one of DFA's coalition groups.

McCamley is a big favorite of grassroots Dems in NM-02 and all over New Mexico. He's earned our respect by running a passionate, energetic and positive campaign for real change. He's conducting a creative and effective grassroots effort based on hard work, lots of personal outreach and small donations from ordinary folks. If we want McCamley to be the nominee, we have to help him win with our active financial and volunteer support. And we have to do it NOW. Hope you'll take action today and help McCamley in his campaign for the people and against the special interests that are dedicated to protecting the status quo. Please give what you can today. The June 3rd primary is less than two weeks away.

Here's the notice sent out to DFA members across the country today:

We have all seen what can happen when big oil men get sent to Washington: profits over people and $4 dollar gas -- with no relief in sight.

Big oil money can buy you a fancy car, a mansion and maybe even a private jet. But it shouldn't be able to buy you a seat in the House of Representatives.

That's why DFA is proud to endorse Bill McCamley for Congress in New Mexico's second district. This is a Republican-held open seat that we can win with this election, but Bill has to face a self-funding oil man in the primary first.

Bill is running a true grassroots campaign and has the progressive record to back it up. With your support, we'll send another people-powered progressive to Congress.

Contribute $25 today to put Bill over the top.

Bill McCamley grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico and returned home after receiving a Master's in Public Policy from Harvard. In his first year as a county commissioner, Bill was elected to serve as the Chairman where he rewrote the county ethics policy, revamped spending for County Healthcare funds, allowing clinics to provide more services and longer hours, and negotiated a new contract with the local AFSCME to increase pay for city employees.

We need a new generation of leaders who are dedicated to getting things done for the people they represent, not pandering to special interests. Bill McCamley is ready to lead the people of New Mexico to a brighter future.

Click here to send Bill McCamley to Congress.

With a district the size of Pennsylvania, Bill has a lot of ground to cover. He is off to a great start and has already visited with folks in every county.

But Bill is up against a self-funding oil man who already put over $700,000 of his own money into the race to blanket the district with TV ads. You and I need to make the difference for Bill's grassroots campaign.

This is what people-power is all about. Join us today.

Your $25 makes the difference for Bill.

Thank you for taking action,

Jim Dean, Chair

Democracy for America is our nation's largest progressive political action community. With over 675,000 members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up. We provide campaign training, organizing resources, and media exposure so our members have the power to support progressive issues and candidates up and down the ballot. Join us in the fight to take our country back!

To read our previous coverage of the NM-02 Congressional race, visit our archive.

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NM Featured on Travel Channel Show Tonight, Saturday

And now for something completely different. After all the turmoil roiling the blogs and news outlets this week related to negative campaigning of one sort or another, it's satisfying to post something about New Mexico, nature and outdoor adventures. Peter St. Cyr sent along the following info about a new TV show on the Travel Channel. By the way, if you haven't yet checked out St. Cyr's new blog, Word for Word, be sure to do so. St. Cyr, who is KKOB's morning news reporter, does some PR work and writes for Albuquerque magaine, is uploading complete interviews and other audio material that only gets aired in short clips on the radio.

Into America’s West debuts this week on the Travel Channel. Emmy Award Winner Jeff Corwin’s trail of discovery and adventure shows off the state of New Mexico to an international audience.

Corwin and his crew explore the Land of Enchantment with a visit to the Taos Pueblo, a National Historic Landmark and World Heritage Site, a ride on the Sandia Peak Tram, and a snowmobile race through Red River Ski Area. Corwin gives viewers a close look at a den of Western Diamondback rattlesnakes after he climbs inside a rock cave. He also photographs and shows off a huge Gila Monster.

Wearing a cowboy hat, Corwin saddles up, rides a horse and ropes a few steer at a New Mexican ranch.  The show takes viewers on a tour to White Sands where Corwin shows off beetles, insects and turtles. Later he races through the Taos Box on a guided whitewater rafting adventure. The show also takes viewers to Santa Fe.

During the program, Corwin floats over the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge in a colorful hot air balloon.  Viewers also watch as Corwin’s crews relax during an afternoon soak at Ojo Caliente  Mineral Springs Resort & Spa.

The one hour program is scheduled for Thursday, May 22nd at 9:00 PM (MT) and re-broadcast  on Saturday, May 24th at 4:00 PM (MT) on the Travel Channel (check local listings for channel number in your community). For more information on the program visit https://www.TravelChannel.com.

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NM-Sen: Udall to Air First Two TV Ads in Tandem

"Doing What's Right" on NM roots and record as prosecutor and AG

"Same Opportunity" on veterans' benefits

These two ads will begin airing tomorrow across New Mexico according to the Tom Udall for U.S. Senate campaign. They're the first of what promises to be a long election season for Rep. Udall. As is conventional, they're designed to communicate biographical and experience information -- to introduce the candidate. As we know, Tom Udall doesn't need much introduction to many voters, but I'm sure there are young voters and newcomers out there who aren't aware of the info the ads provide.

In a statement, the campaign described the ads this way:

The first, a 60-second advertisement entitled “What’s Right”, highlights Udall’s roots in New Mexico, beginning with his grandmother Louise Lee who was born in Luna, N.M. in 1893. The ad focuses on his record as a prosecutor and Attorney General, working to pass tough anti-stalking laws, a tougher DWI law, and prosecuting corrupt political officials, regardless of party. The ad also touches on Udall’s strong record of doing what’s right for New Mexico in the United States Congress, helping save Cannon Air Force Base, fighting for new counterterrorism jobs at Los Alamos and requiring utilities to use more alternative energy.  To watch “What’s Right” click HERE.

Also debuting tomorrow is a 30-second spot emphasizing Udall’s commitment to doing what’s right for our nation’s veterans. In the ad, entitled “Same Opportunity,” Udall reflects on his father’s military service and the G.I. Bill that helped him start a new life. The ad highlights his work increasing support for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. Udall also discusses the need for a new G.I. Bill to help veterans afford college. To view “Same Opportunity” click HERE.

“These first ads will help New Mexicans see that Tom Udall has the integrity to do what’s right for New Mexico,” said Udall Campaign Manager Amanda Cooper. “As Attorney General and Congressman, Tom has a long record of fighting for the people of New Mexico.  He’s repeatedly taken on the special interests because it was the right thing to do for the people of New Mexico.  And he’ll continue to do that in the United States Senate.”

PS: Have you checked out the Udogs yet? Ruff, ruff!

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Michelle Obama, George Bush, John McCain Heading to New Mexico

Get ready for the general election onslaught -- even though we're technically not yet out of primary season. Bush, McSame and Michelle Obama will all be at events in New Mexico next week -- the start of what will no doubt be an unprecedented torrent of A-list politicos, surrogates galore and 24/7 campaign ads blanketing our political landscape. With three open Congressional seats and one Senate seat up for grabs, and with New Mexico expected once again to be a much sought after swing state in the prez race, this should be a doozy of a general election cycle in Enchantment Land.

The Failed President
Bush himself will be here next Tuesday, March 27, at a $1000 per person fundraiser for Senate candidate Darren White and the New Mexico Repub Party. It looks like the event will be held at a private residence in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque. Could it be that the GOP bigwigs will gather once again at the home of Los Ranchos Mayor Larry Abraham? Bush appeared at a fundraiser there for Pete Domenici back on August 27, 2007, when Domenici still claimed he was running for another Senate term.

If so, it would be ironic given that the ACLU has filed suit against Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and others for their actions during Bush's August '07 visit. The suite complains that law enforcement officials kept protestors out of sight, more than 150 yards away, while a group of people holding a banner reading “God Bless George Bush! We Pray for You!” were allowed within feet of Abraham's house.

Michelle Obama Fundraisers
Also scheduled for next Tuesday, May 27, are two fundraisers with Michelle Obama -- one in Santa Fe and one in Albuquerque, according to the AP. A $500 per guest - $2300 per co-host reception and luncheon with Gov. Bill Richardson and Michelle Obama will be held at Yanni's Mediterranean Bar and Grill in Albuquerque. A $1000 per person fundraiser with Michelle will take place later that day at the home of former AG Paul Bardacke in Santa Fe. These events are a little rich for my taste. Sure would be nice if Michelle squeezed in a low dollar event for People Like Us, or we're out of luck catching Michelle this time around.

The Man Who Would Be Bush II
John McCain will be in Albuquerque on Monday, May 26th, to speak at a Memorial Day tribute to veterans that's open to the public. It will take place from 10 AM to Noon at the New Mexico Veterans' Memorial at 1100 Louisiana SE. McCain will attend another event in Albuquerque that day, but details haven't yet been released.

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(Updated) NM:03: I Take It Back - Shame on Shendo (and Wiviott Weighs In)

UPDATE 5:40 PM: Benny Shendo has issued a statement explaining his aims and reasons for confronting Lujan about "lifestyle." You be the judge.
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I posted yesterday about my decision not to cover the negative campaigning that's erupted in the NM-03 Congressional race. I said I believed that any one of the top three candidates -- Don Wiviott, Ben R. Lujan, Jr. and Benny Shendo, Jr. -- would make a wonderful Congressman for the Third District. I take it back in the case of Shendo. As far as I'm concerned, he's gone way over the line with comments he made last night about Lujan's personal life. Shendo's attack is lower than low in my book, representing the very worst of what a campaign for public office should be about.

Shendo raised the issue of Lujan's "lifestyle" -- read sexual orientation -- in a candidate forum yesterday in Farmington. He provided no documentation for his accusation. Kate Nash and Steve Terrell of the Santa Fe New Mexican report:

Benny Shendo Jr. caused a stir at a Monday night candidate forum in Farmington when he asked a question of Ben Ray Luján that implied Luján is gay. "You say that you stand up for the people of New Mexico," Shendo said, "and I want to know how you can stand up for the people of New Mexico if you can't stand up to your mom and dad about your lifestyle."

The question was supposed to continue, but Shendo said he was cut off by raucous members of the audience.

Lujan responded at the forum:

"Mr. Shendo, I'm very honored to have parents like I have as you are with your parents as well. It's with great honor that I'm before you because of my great parents. I'm not sure what you are referring to, Mr. Shendo, but I honor my mom and dad, and I believe that I represent them well."

The Lujan campaign quickly responded:

Luján's campaign manager, Carlos Trujillo, said Tuesday: "For a fringe candidate like Benny Shendo to use such a personal issue to try to gain political points is despicable and has no place in this race. Obviously Benny's been unable to gain traction in this race so he's decided to stoop to a whole new level."

... Trujillo said .. Ben Ray Luján has "a loving and committed relationship with his girlfriend."

Shendo's campaign later expanded on the claim:

Shendo's campaign said in an e-mail later that before he was interrupted, he had planned to continue his question by asking Ben Ray Luján about lifestyle "choice, especially, in this day and age when it's much more accepted to be openly gay in public life, but your parents made you pretend to have a girlfriend at public events, for political reasons."

While Shendo didn't offer any evidence that Ben Ray Luján is, in fact, gay, he said in an interview Tuesday that he raised the issue because Luján has been "purposely and aggressively introducing a young woman at numerous political events as his girlfriend."

Shendo also said he doesn't care if any candidate is gay. "If he is gay, and he's deceiving people, that's wrong," he said. "The voters have a right to be concerned about the deception — not whether one is gay or not. The issue is deception. That's relevant."

Sorry, whether Lujan is gay or not, making accusations of this sort about a fellow Democrat at a public forum can only be considered to be inflamatory, unnecessary, unwarranted and just plain sleazy. Especially when the accuser has nothing to back up his claim. I agree with what spokespersons from Equality New Mexico have to say about the incident:

Negative campaigning aside, some members of equal-rights groups said Tuesday that Shendo's move was mean-spirited. "That kind of gay bashing is extremely inappropriate, especially coming from a candidate," said Alexis Blizman, executive director of Equality New Mexico, a prominent gay-rights organization. She said it's wrong to question peoples' sexual orientation, saying, "Until someone tells me otherwise, I take them at their word."

Blizman said her organization hasn't endorsed anyone in the congressional races. "We only endorse in state races," she said. However, she said both Ben Ray Luján and Wiviott "have been supportive of (gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender) issues. Benny Shendo has too."

Linda Siegle, a lobbyist for Equality New Mexico, said, "Whether he's gay or not shouldn't be an issue. Whether he has a girlfriend or not shouldn't be an issue. The issue should be the issues. Why would another Democrat be bringing this up?"

Given Shendo's behavior last night, I now urge anyone who's been considering voting for Shendo to think again. In my view, we shouldn't stand for this kind of nasty, innuendo-based politicking to happen anywhere near a Democratic primary.

Wiviott Weighs In
Don Wiviott's campaign just released the following statement criticizing Shendo's statements at the forum:

"I was unable to attend the forum, but I was disgusted by comments made by Benny Shendo in today's paper and I'm disappointed that a candidate would resort to such tactics,” Wiviott said.

“If someone made a racist remark in this campaign, I'd speak out about it.  If someone made a sexist remark in this campaign, I'd speak out about it.  This is no different.  Rumors and innuendoes regarding the personal life of any candidate should play no role in this election.”

“Northern New Mexico faces a real choice between candidates with different qualifications and positions on the issues.  That, and only that, should guide how Democrats make their decision on June 3rd.”

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Video-David Iglesias on Darren White: "A Shoot from the Hip Kind of Lawman"; Also Disses Heather Wilson

Here's a blockbuster clip of New Mexico's former U.S. Attorney, David Iglesias, answering a question about Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White at a recent appearance at Bookworks in Albuquerque. Iglesias, a Republican, was discussing his new book, In Justice: Inside the Scandal That Rocked the Bush Administration. White, also a Republican, is running for Congress in NM-01.

Iglesias quotes from his book to describe White as "a shoot from the hip kind of lawman" who "shoots first, aims later." Iglesias also says,"I've been very disappointed in Darren. He doesn't understand his duties as a Sheriff. He put, and, this is what I'm very critical of people like [Alberto] Gonzales [as well], they put loyalty to their party at a higher level than their loyalty to the Constitution. Darren did the same thing. So I hope the voters understand that, come November."

He then discusses White's unprofessional behavior in pushing him to file voter fraud charges despite their being no evidence of such fraud in New Mexico.

George Bush is coming to Albuquerque on Tuesday, May 27th, for a big-ticket fundraiser to benefit Darren White's Congressional campaign and the New Mexico GOP. Could White be more joined at the hip to Bush and his administration's often unconstitutional or illegal actions related to the U.S. Justice Department? Never forget, White served as Bush's campaign chairman in Bernalillo County during the 2004 presidential race.

UPDATE: Also see an expanded clip of this exchange from the New Mexico Independent that includes Iglesias' criticism of Heather Wilson and her phone call pressuring him about issuing indictments in a political corruption case involving Democrats. Heather Wilson is battling Steve Pearce in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate.

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Must See: Guild Cinema to Host Phil Donahue and "Body of War"

Tomas Young and family at March on Washington

Albuquerque's Guild Cinema will screen the new documentary, Body of War, on May 25-27, 2008. Legendary talk-show host Phil Donahue and award-winning filmmaker Ellen Spiro, the film's producers/directors, will appear at a live Q & A session at the 6:30 PM showing of the movie on May 27. Call for showtimes: (505)255-1848

The critically acclaimed antiwar film, which was three years in the making, tells the story of Tomas Young, a 26-year-old veteran, who was shot and paralyzed after serving five days in Iraq. Body of War is an intimate human drama wrapped in a political documentary -- full of emotion, humor and hope. As Tomas deals with his disability, he evolves into a new person, finding his own passionate voice against the war. Body of War also captures the historic debate in the Congress in the fall of 2002 authorizing the war and celebrates those that stood up against the rush to invade.

Tomas Young visits Ground Zero

Body of War was voted "Best Documentary of the Year" by the National Board of Review, nominated for "Best Documentary" by the Producers Guild of America, and received multiple audience awards at film festivals from Toronto to Palm Springs. It's been acclaimed in the media and by the public. The film features two original songs by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. A companion double-CD compilation “Body of War: Songs that Inspired an Iraq War Veteran” is available from Sire Records.

Bill Moyers interview with Donahue and Spiro about the movie and the real costs of war.

Phil Donahue's statement about the film:

The first time I saw him will be with me forever - paralyzed from the chest down - he had that morphine look, droopy eyed, sallow, sunken, lifeless. Body of War is a film provoked by my own questions as I stood on my functional legs at his bedside:

Who is this young man? Why him, not me?

I had accompanied my friend Ralph Nader who had been invited by the patient's mother. "She is caring for her son who was seriously wounded in Iraq. Wanna go?" A week later the two of us entered America's most famous military hospital.

The closer you get to Tomas Young, the more reality sets in. T-4 is the spot on the spine that is severed. Anatomists know what this means: Not only can't Tomas walk - he can't cough, his bodily functions are paralyzed, his bladder must be manually drained several times daily.

And no small issue for a male, just married. Twenty-six-year-old Tomas Young can't - in the language of the locker room - get it up.

This film, Body of War, is our effort to spread news that is not good - news that is hidden behind the doors of homes all over this country. Dwellings occupied by the mere five per cent of our population actually sacrificing for this war.

This film's story mirrors the stories of thousands of young soldiers who, like Tomas Young, have sustained life-altering injuries in a war mission that was "unnecessary" as Tomas tells Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes. This foreign policy decision was not only unnecessary, it was ill-considered and misguided from the start- a mission that has never been - and in Tomas' opinion - never will be "accomplished."

Our film also revisits one of the most tragic errors of judgment ever made by a United States Congress. After engaging in a superficial dialogue, robotic Senators and House members are seen voting to approve the Iraq War Resolution in October, 2002. Members take the floor, one by one, reading talking points of the White House Iraq Group, the assembly of advertising agency warriors whose job was to sell the war. It was WHIG who gave the nation a litany of untruths:

Saddam has "unmanned aerial vehicles" to deliver toxins "over wide territories" and scary doomsday scenarios, "The smoking gun could be a mushroom cloud."

As the War Resolution is debated, our cameras watch as Tomas deals with the very personal consequences of this historic and unprecedented vote for pre-emptive war. It was this vote that put him in a wheel chair. Our film watches him coping with his body, his drugs, his anger, his marriage and his future. Who is Tomas Young? He's a young man who enlisted knowing he might be killed. He thought he might come home dead -

He never dreamed of coming home like this.

His is a true story of war; here is the un-sanitized harm in "harm's way." It is a story of a heartland kid who suddenly went from a social life of single bars and courtship to a daily routine of catheters, puke pans and erectile dysfunction.

I discovered a great American in Tomas Young, a warrior turned anti-warrior, a voice of courage rising above the war drums, a voice to "be heard behind the White House gate" in the words of the song Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder wrote for this film.

To all the main-streamers in the press who supported the invasion of Iraq, to the pundits who continue to talk tough while other people's kids die, to all the merry warriors who recruited Jesus to assist them in this massive foreign policy blunder -

I have a soldier for you.

Before the next President swaggers to the cameras challenging the enemy to "Bring it on," before the next Congress votes another War Resolution, my hope is that all these heavy breathing, lap top bombers take a moment to meet the First Cavalry's Honorably Discharged United States Army Specialist - Tomas Young.

Phil Donahue
New York City, May 2007

Vedder, Young, Spiro, Donahue

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NARAL Pro-Choice NM Presents ...

From NARAL Pro-Choice New Mexico: Join us for our First Annual Young Professionals Event:

Young Professionals
Thursday, May 29, 2008, 5:30 - 7:30 PM
Los Equipales, 4500 Silver Ave. SE, ABQ
Suggested Contribution: $50

Featuring special musical guest - Chokecherry Ranch! We hope to see you there! For more information, please call: 505-243-4443.

Special thanks to our esteemed host committee: Representative Al Park, County Comissioner Deanna Achuleta, City Councilor Michael Cadigan, Claire Dudley, Morgan Honeycutt, Joaquin Guerra, Kim Zamarin, Brian Nichols, Antonio Sandoval, Celeste Boyd, Helen Maestas, Greg Webb.

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