This is what Newton Dems are saying...._______________________
Shawn Fitzgibbons Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 9:20PM At the NDCC General Meeting to be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, May 29 at Mason Rice Elementary School members will be asked to vote on two resolutions.
The NDCC Executive Committee has unanimously endorsed both statements.
Shawn Fitzgibbons Friday, May 10, 2013 at 2:24PM 
This will be a great event both because it will provide a big lift for Markey's campaign and because we love Michele Obama!! Tickets start at $500 and ever dollar goes to a critically-important cause. See details via the invitation below.
* 11:00 am, May 29, 2013 * Taj Boston * 15 Arlington St. Boston, MA
To R.S.V.P., or for further information, please contact Molly Moulton at (617) 398-0616, or Eben DuRoss at (202) 314-3228. Click here to RSVP.
Shawn Fitzgibbons Friday, May 10, 2013 at 11:37AM Ward 3 Dem Anatol Zukerman showcases his views on the NRA:
Shawn Fitzgibbons Monday, May 6, 2013 at 9:12PM Click here to have a look - the bottom line, Dems have 21 seats up and Republicans only 14. It'll be another busy year, including here in MA as that Senate seat - the one we hope Markey will win in June - will be up again.
Shawn Fitzgibbons Monday, May 6, 2013 at 8:49PM Newton organizers are already hard at work on the general election campaign. Volunteers shifts for the general election are now available. Please make time for this important campaign.
Shawn Fitzgibbons Sunday, May 5, 2013 at 8:59PM Last Tuesday Gabriel Gomez won the Republican nomination for United State Senate. So who is this guy? He is claiming to be the moderate, fresh-faced problem solver that Washington needs. Is it true?
Gomez on the issues:
Gomez is just like the rest of the Republican right wing. We don't need that in MA!
GABRIEL GOMEZ - A QUICK LOOK
There is a marvelous video of FDR during his reelection campaign in 1936. You can find it at this url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3RHnKYNvx8
FDR's words are as follows, but you should really watch it because he is so eloquent: "Let me warn you, and let me warn the nation, against the smooth evasion that says 'Of course we believe these things. We believe in social security. We believe in work for the unemployed. We believe in saving homes. Cross our hearts and hope to die.
'We believe in all these things. But we do not like the way that the present administration is doing them. Just turn them over to us. We will do all of them, we will do more of them, we will do them better and, most important of all, the doing of them will not cost anybody anything'".
This is what we are up against with Gabriel Gomez. He believes in everything we do (almost, anyway). He just doesn't like the way we are doing them. Gomez is no fool. I just went to his issues page on his web site, and he knows how to talk the talk. But what is remarkable is what he doesn't say. I have tried to point some of this out in this essay. I am sure other people can find more. You can see it at this url:http://www.gomezforma.com/issues/.
1. Gomez believes that climate change is real, but supports the Keystone XL pipeline because it will create jobs, lower energy costs and promote energy independence, in spite of the inconvenient fact that the oil will come from Canada and be shipped overseas. Not a word about Jim Hansen's assessment that Keystone XL is "game over" for climate change.
2. Gomez believes that climate change is real. He says we need a "serious energy agenda that promotes private sector innovation". This, of course, can mean anything, or nothing. Not a word about renewables.
3. Gomez supports the second amendment, and would like to close some gun show loopholes and keep weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill. Not a word about a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines.
4. On the economy, Gomez is in lock step with the Republican playbook of the past thirty years. He says we have a spending problem and a $16 trillion debt. His answer: "meaningful spending reductions without hurting military preparedness". So Gomez is talking about cutting social programs. And as Paul Krugman explains, when the economy is depressed, cuts in government spending is not only heartless, but they make the problem worse by making the economy more depressed and increasing the debt. If the government spends money on job creation, all those unemployed workers create wealth and pay taxes, which reduces the debt. The solution is more government spending to create productive jobs, not austerity which has failed badly here and even worse in Europe.
5. Gomez believes that everyone should have access to health care, but thinks Obamacare only addresses part of the problem. He thinks health care should be left to the states. In plainer language, repeal or undermine Obamacare and throw people on the tender mercies of their underfunded state governments. He says that Obamacare does not address the increasing cost of health care, but does not say anything about things that would actually address this - namely single payer and negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies.
6. The big ones - Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Here Gomez wants "entitlement reform" so that these critical programs will be solvent. This is just a nice way of saying they should be cut. Not a word about the basic solvency of Social Security, or of raising the cap on the income that is taxed. Not a word about allowing Medicare to negotiate prices with drug companies. And certainly no pledge to not cut these important earned benefits. Grandma, Grandpa, watch out! You do not want this guy in the Senate.
7. Finally, in a rather telling comment, Gomez says that he is "pro-life", but that Roe v. Wade is "settled law". He is finally realizing that, certainly for the first time in my memory, Republicans are losing on the wedge issues, and he would rather they go away. But don't be fooled. What kind of Justices do you think he would vote to confirm?
All in all, this election needs to be about the issues. Gomez is a right wing Republican who is smart enough to put a moderate gloss on his words. As for the kind of guy he is, go to his campaign's home page where he repeatedly refers to "Mudslinging Markey". The url is http://www.gomezforma.com. Haven't we had enough of ad hominem attacks?
Shawn Fitzgibbons Friday, May 3, 2013 at 3:14PM 
Brotherhood Breakfast with
Congressman Joseph Kennedy III
Sunday, June 9
9:30 a.m.—Breakfast
10–11:30 a.m.—Speaker
Joseph P. Kennedy III is proud to serve the Fourth District of Massachusetts in Congress. Having dedicated his career to public service, Joe brings a firm commitment to social justice and economic opportunity to the U.S. House of Representatives. Elected in November of 2012, he represents a diverse district that spans from the suburbs of Boston to the more industrial towns of Massachusetts’ South Coast.
Prior to seeking office, Joe served the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as an Assistant District Attorney in both the Middlesex County and Cape and Island’s District Attorneys’ Offices. A graduate of Harvard Law, he was an active member of the school’s Legal Aid Bureau—a pro-bono law firm that provided legal services to low-income families around Boston. During that time he also co-founded an afterschool program for at-risk youth in the Boston area with his wife, Lauren. Born and raised in Massachusetts, Joe holds a bachelors degree in Management Science and Engineering from Stanford University. He lives with his wife, Lauren, and their dog, Banjo, in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Shawn Fitzgibbons Friday, May 3, 2013 at 3:13PM As you all know, immigration is a key issue for the Obama administration, for Republicans (who did so badly with most immigrant groups in the last election) and with the American people in general.
Shawn Fitzgibbons Monday, April 8, 2013 at 3:18PM 
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Shawn Fitzgibbons Saturday, April 6, 2013 at 8:47AM Consider attending the Newton League of Women Voters' upcoming seminar on that very topic!
Don’t Just Stand There…RUN! How to Run a Campaign for Local Public Office: Considering public office? Helping someone run for office? Interested in how local campaigns work? The League of Women Voters of Newton and the Newton Election Commission invite candidates, potential candidates, campaign managers, campaign treasurers, and all interested citizens to a workshop that offers practical information and advice about political campaigns by a group of knowledgeable panelists:
Join us on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM at Brigham House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands. Contact the League of Women Voters of Newton at 617-383 4598 or info@lwvnewton.org with any questions.
- Jason Tait, Director of Communication and Public Education, MA Office of Campaign and Political Finance, will give an overview of the Campaign and Political Finance Law
- David Olson, Newton City Clerk, will describe local filing requirements
- Claire Sokoloff, will discuss serving on the School Committee
- Stephen Linsky, will discuss being an Alderman
- Melanie Graham, Editor of the Newton Patch, will discuss effective Press/Media communications
Shawn Fitzgibbons Friday, March 29, 2013 at 3:42PM A message from BC Dems: all are welcome - please consider attending!
On April 11th, Sister Simone Campbell of NETWORK is coming to BC to accept our 6th annual Father Drinan Award. She is most well-known for going around the country as head of “Nuns on the Bus” protesting the Paul Ryan budget for its’ detrimental effects on the downtrodden, but also for being instrumental in convincing the Conference of Women Religious to support the Obama Healthcare bill. For more information on the work her organization does, feel free to check out NETWORK’s website: http://www.networklobby.org/.
The event is from 7-9 PM at 2101 Commonwealth Ave (the former Cardinal's Residence) and entertainment and hors d’oeurves will be provided. Please contact jtlaadt@gmail.com or (631) 487-2850 if you have any questions.
Shawn Fitzgibbons Sunday, March 24, 2013 at 8:38PM For any Democrats who were not elected at their local caucus, there is still another way to join us at the State Convention on July 13 in Lowell, but time is running out! The applications for add-on delegates are due a week from tomorrow, March 30, 2013 at midnight.
To make it easy, the you can apply on line:
As you also may have heard, this year, we have added a unique opportunity for high school students to attend and participate in the convention. Send the information here to some future Democrats so we can begin to build for the future.
Shawn Fitzgibbons Monday, March 18, 2013 at 12:09PM 
State Treasurer Steve Grossman, MA Secretary of Economic Development and Housing Greg Bialecki, gubenatorial hopeful Don Berwick, NDCC Environmental Officer Gary Rucinski and many other great speakers from Newton and across the Commonwealth will gather at Lasell College this coming Sunday. The details are below - click here to register if you would like to attend.
Lasell College - Winslow Academic Center
1844 Commonwealth Avenue - Newton, Massachusetts
Nearest T-Stop: Green Line – Riverside Station
Registration fee covers food, building and administrative costs.
Or become a monthly contributor and Registration will be included! Please contact us [grassroots@progressivemass.com] if cost is a hardship; scholarships available with pre-arrangement.
Newton Dems Sunday, March 17, 2013 at 8:19PM Newton for Ed Markey invites all Democrats to join in reaching out to voters about Ed Markey's candidacy for US Senate. Please see below for volunteer opportunities this week.
Phone bank to recruit volunteers
Canvass on Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Shawn Fitzgibbons Friday, March 15, 2013 at 2:38PM The Executive Committee of the Newton Democratic Party unanimously endorsed two Democratic policy priorities at their meeting on Thursday, March 13.
Member Frank Wolpe who also chairs the Newton Crime Commission presented a letter to President Obama signed by hundreds of mayors from around the country. The letter voices support for sensible gun safety policies. The letter was unanimously endorsed by the Executive Committee which also urged local implementation of these policies as appropriate. Click here to see the full letter.
In addition NDCC Environmental Officer Gary Rucinski asked the Committee to support a campaign to reduce carbon emission levels 80% by 2050. The plan proposes a carbon tax and incentive program. The Executive Committee unanimously endorsed the concept and agreed to sign the letter of support which can be seen here.
