Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley

The California Clean Money Campaign needs your help to get AB 583 passed! Go to www.caclean.org & click the letter-writing tool on the home page to send a message to

• Senate President pro Tem Don Perata
• Senate Appropriations Chair Tom Torlakson
• your state senator (Simitian or Alquist)

urging them to do everything they can to pass A.B. 583, the California Clean Money and Fair Elections Act.

Even better, hand-write a letter to each of them! You can find more details and the contact information of the senators by clicking here.

At the working meeting on Monday, July 14, 2008, the present members of the Dean Democratic Club voted unanimously to oppose Proposition 8 - the Constitutional Amendment on the November ballot that would write discrimination into the California State Constitution and deny equal marriage rights to same sex couples.

In an historic decision on May 15, 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that marriage discrimination written into the law against same sex couples violated the state Constitution's equal protection clause, making marriage equality the law of the land in California. It is notable that the California State legislature (both houses) had passed marriage equality twice previously, both times to have been vetoed by the governor.

San Jose City Councilmember Madison Nguyen is facing a recall effort - not because there are any questions about her exemplary public service, but because her detractors did not like what the city council, on her recommendation, named a strip of San Jose street - "Saigon Business District" instead of "Little Saigon". The emotions run high on both sides of this debate, but this is no issue to recall a councilmember over.

The Dean Democratic Club was proud to support Madison along with national DFA for her election to the San Jose City Council, and we are proud to stand with her against any recall efforts. At our working meeting on July 14, members voted without objection to oppose recall efforts against Councilmember Madison Nguyen.

DFA affiliated Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley Valley joined with other local Democratic clubs to register voters at the Fourth of July Chili Cookoff in Palo Alto, CA. Pictures:

Happy 4th, everyone! It looks like it's going to be a beautiful day. On America's 232nd birthday, let's celebrate, be proud to be Americans, and recommit ourselves to standing up for America's progressive values: freedom, protection, equal rights under law, and the common good.

Here's to the land of the free and the home of the brave.

We had a great time at our annual picnic on Saturday June 21. It was well attended, there was good food, and everyone had fun. Assemblymember Ira Ruskin (D-21), San Jose City council candidate Ash Kalra, staff members and volunteers on behalf of Assembly Speaker Pro-tem Sally Lieber (D-22), Assemblymember Joe Coto (D-23) and Santa Clara City Councilmember Jamie McLeod all spoke.

Here are some quick pictures from the picnic.

For full size pictures, please visit picasaweb.google.com/deandems/PicnicJune2008.

In our February Working meeting the members present of the Dean Democratic Club voted to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for President.  We had endorsed Sen. John Edwards the previous month, however, Sen. Edwards had ended his presidential campaign between the two meetings of the Club.  Sen. Obama received the required two-thirds majority for endorsement.

Sen. Barack Obama has campaigned on a compelling message of hope and transformational change.  With an impressive strong progressive record both in the US Senate and in the Illinois State Senate, Obama has earned the respect of people from east to west, from left to right. Obama has inspired new participants in the political process, and we believe he is capable of building a strong progressive majority that will be required to deliver transformational change.  In this historic Democratic primary the Dean Democratic Club is proudly endorseing Sen. Obama, and we stand ready for a terrific fall campaign with full support for the eventual Democratic nominee.