Resolution of the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee on the Forty Ninth Birthday of the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama

WHEREAS, much to the joy of his parents, Barack Obama, Sr. and Ann Dunham,  Barack Hussein Obama was born on August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii; and,

WHEREAS, In 1985, Barack Obama began working on the South Side of Chicago as a community organizer for low-income residents in the Roseland and the Altgeld Gardens communities; and,

WHEREAS, In 1991, Barack Obama graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School; and,

WHEREAS, Barack Obama returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer while teaching at the University of Chicago Law School, and in 1992 did help organize voter registration drives for presidential candidate William Jefferson Clinton; and,

WHEREAS, After being elected an Illinois State Senator in 1996, Barack Obama drafted legislation on ethics, expanded health care services and early childhood education programs for the people struggling with poverty, and created a state earned-income tax credit for the working poor; and,

WHEREAS, In 2004, State Senator Barack Obama delivered the keynote address for the Democratic National Convention, where he emphasized the importance of unity; and,

WHEREAS, In 2005, Barack Obama was sworn in as a United States Senator representing Illinois, only the third African American to hold a U.S. Senate seat since Reconstruction; and,

WHEREAS, Senator Obama championed victims of Hurricane Katrina, alternative energy, and the improvement of veterans’ benefits; and,

WHEREAS, On November 4, 2008, Senator Obama defeated Senator John McCain in the election for the Office of the President of the United States; and,

WHEREAS, On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama was sworn in as the 44th president of the United States; and,

WHEREAS, his first act as President was to sign a proclamation declaring a National Day of Renewal and Recognition and called upon Americans to serve one another; and,

WHEREAS, President Obama has created a $2,500 tax credit for college tuition, secured $2 billion for Byrne Grants, designated to fund anti-gang and anti-gun task forces; and,

WHEREAS, As President, Barack Obama has signed into law health care reforms and created and saved millions of jobs; and,

WHEREAS, President Obama was awarded the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize; and,

WHEREAS, today President Obama celebrates his 49th birthday; and,

WHEREAS, in addition to celebrating this significant birthday, his accomplishments and achievements deserve both recognition and commendation; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, that we, the Virginia Beach Democratic Committee, honor the life, achievements, and distinguished career of BARACK OBAMA, 44^th President of the United States.

DATED THIS 4th DAY OF August, 2010

Contact: Susan Mariner
Chair, Virginia Beach Democratic Committee
(757) 692-0989
chair@vbdemocrats.org
www.vbdemocrats.org

OFFSHORE WIND EXPERT to SPEAK at VIRGINIA BEACH DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE EVENT

Virginia Beach, VA, May 18, 2010 — Ivy Main, Renewable Energy Chair of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club, will promote the possibilities of offshore wind versus offshore drilling at a May 22nd, 2010 Virginia Beach Democratic Committee Breakfast. The breakfast event begins at 9AM and will be held at Bubba’s Deli, 3600 Dam Neck Rd. The event is open to the public. Cost for a full breakfast buffet is $10 per person.

The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee believes that America’s prosperity and security demand an energy policy that focuses on clean, renewable sources. Committee members expressed disappointment that Governor McDonnell continues to push full speed ahead on offshore drilling in spite of the massive oil spill in the Gulf. “I am very concerned that Governor McDonnell doesn’t seem to be listening to the Navy, who has made it clear that they oppose drilling off Virginia’s coast, or to the citizens of Virginia Beach who are rightly worried about the welfare of our beautiful coastline,” said Virginia Beach Democratic Committee Chair Susan Mariner. [Virginian Pilot, May 18th, 2010]

The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee is the official branch of the Democratic Party in Virginia Beach. VBDC Chair Susan Mariner served as the Hampton Roads Political Director for Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential Campaign.

Ivy Main can be seen giving a brief 2009 presentation on offshore wind at http://tinyurl.com/ydflyyl

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In today’s announcement that Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell will involve himself in a Republican Party primary in Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District and endorse Scott Rigell tomorrow, his staff claimed that the “governor’s ‘unique, very close friendship’ with Rigell influenced his decision to endorse now rather than wait until after the primary.”

Rigell’s friendship with Bob McDonnell has generated nearly $100,000 in campaign contributions from Rigell to McDonnell’s various campaigns and committees.

“It does make you wonder how much Bob McDonnell’s endorsement means when it’s because of a friendship and built on campaign contributions,” said David Mills, Executive Director of the Virginia Democratic Party. “Maybe we’re idealistic to think that people endorse the best candidate for the job, not the best candidate for your campaign coffers. Republicans and Democrats alike now know it’s campaign contributions and friendship that are motivating McDonnell’s endorsement not the best interests of the 2nd district.”

Background

The primary in Virginia’s 2nd district was named one of the top 7 primaries in the nation. [The Hill, 11/18/09] Rigell has been attacked for his use of the cash for clunkers program and his contribution to President Obama’s campaign. [Washington Post, 5/12/10]

McDonnell to endorse Rigell tomorrow. “Gov. Bob McDonnell is expected on Thursday to endorse Republican Scott Rigell in his bid for the party nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Glenn Nye, a Democrat, in the 2nd Congressional District election in November. Phil Cox, McDonnell’s senior political advisor, said today that the governor’s “unique, very close friendship” with Rigell influenced his decision to endorse now rather than wait until after the primary.” [Virginian Pilot, 5/12/10]

Rigell’s been a longtime donor to Bob McDonnell contributing $98,100 to McDonnell’s campaigns or committees since 1999.

Check out Susan Mariner in Tidewater Women Magazine

The food and financial drive was conducted citywide by the Virginia Beach committee, and resulted in over a 1/4 ton of food and financial donations of $626.

“As poverty rates have risen over the past decade, both nationally and in Hampton Roads, more and more of Virginia Beach’s children have struggled with hunger and its long-and short-term effects,” said Susan Mariner, Chairman of the Virginia Beach Democratic City Committee. “While many organizations have been dedicated to assisting those in need, most have struggled to keep up with the increased demand. As a committee and citizens of our city, we felt strongly that by volunteering in the community and by actively supporting programs such as the FoodBank of Southeastern Virginia’s Kids Café, we could take an important step in helping to alleviate some of that suffering.”

The City Committee was also aided in their food and fundraising drive by: Congressman Glenn Nye, Virginia Beach Commissioner of the Revenue Phil Kellam, School Board members Patricia Edmonson and Brent McKenzie, City Council candidate Andrew Jackson, the Friends of Bobby Mathieson and the Friends of John Bell.