Debbie Wasserman-Schultz at Netroots Nation

I haven't been able to find a video of Debbie Wasserman-Schultz's speech at Netroots Nation. Reading the transcript reminds me how much I miss Howard Dean as DNC chair. I generally like Wasserman-Schultz, but she needs to be more inspiring. Perhaps the speech was better live. At least that is my hope.

A bit of good news is Wasserman-Schultz indicated that the Justice Department will fight the restrictive voter laws signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott.

Hello! It’s great to be at Netroots Nation with all of you!

This is my first trip here and I’m very excited about it.

A couple of months ago, I was privileged to get a call from the President of the United States. He was calling to ask me to serve as the Chair of the DNC.

When the President calls and asks you to do something, the answer is “Yes!” But, more importantly, as a “gimme the ball” kind of person, I was thrilled that the coach put me in!

In 2008, President Obama ran a campaign powered by people at the grassroots level. You know that, because you were an essential part of his grassroots team! As the name of this conference implies, the netroots brought our nation together for President Obama.

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Quote of the Day

"It's like the president's not our boyfriend anymore."

Joan McCarter, editor of Daily Kos, at Netroots Nation.

If Obama loses it will be because he lost the base of the Democratic Party. Fact: Obama would not have gotten elected without the support of progressives.

Dan Choi At Netroots Nation

At Netroots Nation, a bisexual Obama volunteer hands former U.S serviceman Dan Choi a flyer. Choi was forced out of the military because of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. The bisexual Obama volunteer told Choi that he couldn't support gay marriage because Obama doesn't support gay marriage. Choi rips the man's flyer. The exchange is fantastic.

Lt. Dan Choi ripped up an Obama For America (OFA) flyer this afternoon during a panel at Netroots Nation when he was confronted by an Obama volunteer who attempted to explain away the President's opposition to same-sex marriage:
NICK (Obama volunteer): I can't say I'm for marriage equality, but as a bisexual man, I would take a bullet for both of you.

CHOI: You say you're not for marriage equality?

NICK: I can't, no as a....

[RIPPING SOUND]

CHOI: Did you not understand? Here! I believe that I'm an equal citizen.

NICK: understand that, but Obama hasn't gone officially on record for it...

CHOI: Then, don't tell me that I'm a bad person, go tell him that he should believe in my full equality and then report back.

NICK: Civil unions?

Sorry, but civil unions aren't gonna cut it with Choi and many other progressive activists.

Blogger Pam Spaulding caught words said by Choi after the video.

"I think if Obama doesn't endorse my full marriage equality and my personhood in this country, then I have no business supporting him and I don't think a lot of the people who are first time votes will either."

Obama is more concerned with triangulation and not offending the sensitive ears of Wall Street executives.

Vote For Blue Gal For Netroots Nation Scholarship

Blue Gal has been a great supporter of Pushing Rope It is time for us to show our support. Vote for Blue Gal for a Netroots Nation scholarship. Voting ends tonight.

Obama Speech to Netroots Nation

President Barack Obama gave a videotaped speech to the Netroots Nation conference. It would have been nicer if Obama was there. The President needs to better communicate his policy goals better to supporters and the general public. It isn't a good sign when the President's people edited in a clip of Rachel Maddow making the case for Obama.

Reality Check at Netroots Nation

RH Reality Check: Netroots Nation 2008 on Reproductive Health from RH Reality Check on Vimeo.

Amanda Marcotte of Reality Check interviews people at Netroots Nation about reproductive rights. My view is Democrats need to get off their collective asses and pass legislation that clearly makes abortion legal. We can not expect the Supreme Court to keep abortion legal.

Update: Because of spelling errors, I am now believed to be an anti-choicer. I am not. Just to clear things up.

DCCC Targets Florida Republicans

Democrats are targeting Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart. The Naked Politics doesn't say, but Miami Heraldblogger Lesley Clark informed me the the DCCC bought the $1.4 million in ads.

Democratic candidate Annette Taddeo was recently at Netroots Nation. She is challenging Ros-Lehtinen.

"What the netroots has shown is that they're ahead of everyone else on their predicting where the party insiders should be looking at or races that they've overlooked."

Surprisingly, Taddeo was able to have a slightly better fundraising quarter than Ros-Lehtinen.

Contribute to the Annette Taddeo campaign

Florida Progressive Coalition Meets Netroots Nation

Alison Morano interviews Netroots Nation's Gina Cooper about Turn Texas Blue and online activism.

Listen to the podcast.