Jessica Ehrlich Makes Emily's List

Jessica Ehrlich is a Democrat running in Florida's 13th congressional district. Her Republican opponent will be GOP establishment veteran and pork champion Bill Young. Ehrlich has been endorsed by Emily's List.

“Jessica is running a strong campaign to be a leader the people of Florida can count on in Congress,” said Stephanie Schriock, President of EMILY’s List. “A dedicated advocate for job creation, working families, and seniors, Jessica is ready to make sure Washington starts working for the women and families of Florida. A St. Petersburg native, she has the support and experience to win in what is sure to be a hard-fought race against a 21-term Republican incumbent. Jessica is helping lead the charge to take back the House in 2012 and the EMILY’s List community is thrilled to put her ‘On the List’ today.”

Born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida, Jessica Ehrlich attended Vanderbilt University and Southern Methodist University law school. She clerked for the Mid-Florida Federal Court Chief in 2003. Ehrlich went on to serve as a legislative aide in Washington where she gained valuable experience working with the House Financial Services Committee. A dedicated member of the St. Petersburg community, Erhlich’s top priority is ending the gridlock in Washington in order to create jobs and to help working families and seniors.

I don't see any links to policy positions on Ehrlich's website. Being against Bill Young is not enough. Ehrlich has to articulate what is is for to the voters. Ehrlich worked on congressional committees in Congress. Surely is has ideas on policy. If she doesn't define herself than she will suffer the same fate as Charlie Justice.

Benjamin Kirby is publicly backing Nina Hayden for the 13th district. Erhlich’s Emily's List endorsement has blown Hayden out of the water. Erhlich is the Democratic establishment candidate.

Erhlich's campaign needs to use social media better. Erhlich's Twitter feed only has seven tweets.

Cliff Stearns Attacks Planned Parenthood

Rep. Cliff Stearns, R-Ocala, is the chairman of the House oversight subcommittee. Stearns has requested that Planned Parenthood hand over internal audit reports from 1998 to 2010. Stearns question if Planned Parenthood is using federal funding for abortion the Hyde Amendment forbids the use of federal funds for abortions. Factcheck.org found that only 3 percent of services are dedicated to abortions and that it receives no federal funding for abortions.

Stearns is basing his investigation on the findings of the anti-choice organization Americans United for Life. AUL makes the outlandish allegations that Planned Parenthood is involved in prostitution and sex trafficking. The report's endnotes and appendix section is a mess. I cannot find anything relating to prostitution.

The prostitution allegations started from the anti-abortion group Live Action. Anti-abortion activist Lila Rose was trained in video hit jobs by the disgraced James O'Keefe. Unsurprisingly, the videos Rose made for Live Action were heavily edited hoaxes. The Americans United for Life are using debunked sex ring stories in their report. It isn't surprising that AUL would run with the sex trafficking story. What is shameful is Stearns cannot discern fact from fiction. That is assuming that Stearns cares about the truth.

There is pushback against Stearn's investigation. Emily's List is running a petition to stop the Congressional harassment against Planned Parenthood. Rep. Jan Schakowsky sent out a press release condemning the Republican attacks on Planned Parenthood.

“With the recent announcement of their needless and politically motivated investigation of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, House Republicans continue to make their extreme agenda clear: to undermine women’s access to reproductive health care and attack the health providers they rely on in their communities.

Instead of attacking unemployment, Republicans are waging a war against women. Earlier this year, House Republicans threatened to shut down the federal government over funding for Planned Parenthood. This investigation continues the Republican assault on Planned Parenthood, an organization that plays a critical role in our nation’s health care system.

Planned Parenthood serves over 3 million Americans every year. More than 90 percent of the care Planned Parenthood health centers offer is preventive. Planned Parenthood provides life-saving cancer screenings, routine gynecological examinations, contraceptive services, immunizations, and testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections.

This is not about federal funding of abortion. This is about cutting off women’s access to affordable, quality care in an effort to score political points. Now is the time to be working on the issues that are most important to Americans – creating jobs and improving the economy.”

Below the fold is Stearns' document request to Planned Parenthood.

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Emily's List Candidate: Val Demings

Val Demings has made Emily's List.

Val regularly appears on “Who’s Who” lists like “Central Florida’s Top Power Players,” and “Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful People.” Today I’m thrilled to announce she’s “On the List” -- as one of the pro-choice Democratic women candidates we’ve singled out for early and enthusiastic support -- as well! Val has been called a “trailblazer” for her successful efforts to target illegal guns and drugs, crack down on domestic violence and step up community policing, all of which resulted in a 10.1% drop in crime -- which the city’s mayor called the “most dramatic… in the history of the city of Orlando.”

Demings was Orlando's Orlando’s first female chief of police. She retired in June. Demings announced her candidacy shortly after her retirement. It is obvious that Demings has been planning on running for quite some time. Mayor Buddy Dyer supported her as police chief. It will be interesting to see if Dyer is involved with Demings campaign.

Demings will run for Congress against District 8 incumbent Daniel Webster. Demings may face Alan Grayson in the primary. Grayson hasn't announced what seat he is running for because of redistricting. Demings will have a hard time fundraising if Grayson runs in the same district.

Sarah Doesn't Speak For No One

Emily's List has released a clever video parodying Sarah Palin's "Mama Grizzlies" schtick. The women in the video point out how Palin absolutely does not stand for women's rights. Emily's List has creted the web site "Sarah Palin Doesn't Speak For Me." The web site will post submitted videos of women explaining why Palin doesn't speak for them.

Palin has not stood up for a single women's issue. Her stances on reproductive rights and single mothers is horrible. Palin is on-record saying she would oppose her daughter getting an abortion after being raped. That is just a cruel and horribly insensitive position. As governor to Alaska, she cut state aid to teen mothers. Palin is an anti-feminist. Don't let the "Mama Grizzlies" nonsense fool you.