TSU College Democrats to Host Student Forum
October 31st, 2005October 31, 2005
For Immediate Release
Nashville, Tenn. — The Tennessee State University College Democrats calls upon all Nashville and Middle Tennessee area students to participate in a non-partisan student question and answer forum with special guest, United States Senate candidate, Congressman Harold Ford, Jr.
“The 2006 elections are going to be huge for all college students across Tennessee,” said TSU College Democrat President Joseph Samuels. “Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. is just one of the many prime democratic candidates representing the voices of students rather than corporate America.”
Ford was sworn in to represent the Ninth District of Tennessee in 1996 at age 26, and is now serving his fifth term in the House of Representatives. Ford sits on the House Budget Committee and the House Committee on Financial Services.
Who: Tennessee State University College Democrats
What: Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. Question and Answer Forum
When: Friday, November 4, 2005 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Tennessee State University, T.E. Poag Auditorium
Posted in Campaign 2006
TFCD to Hold 2005 Fall Summit
October 28th, 2005October 28, 2005
For Immediate Release
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Federation of College Democrats would like to announce plans to hold its 2005 Fall Summit in Nashville on November 12th. The purpose of the summit is to organize chapters and develop a statewide strategy for turning out college students in the 2006 elections.
“The TFCD is in an ideal stage to begin working with chapters all across our state and to develop our statewide strategy for turning out college students in the upcoming elections,” said Alex Youn, Vice President of the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats. “College campuses are our territory and we plan on doing everything possible to make victory a reality next year.”
Participation from all College Democrats chapters across the state is encouraged. Those who attend will have the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions on a variety of issues, including: crafting a message, membership recruitment, fundraising, and campus activities.
The summit will be held on Saturday, November 12th. We ask that all those attending plan on staying in Nashville from 12 noon until 6:00 pm.
To attend the summit, we ask that you visit the following website and complete the registration form:
http://www.tfcd.org/2005-tfcd-fall-summit/
For more information, please contact:
Alex Youn, Vice President [alex.youn@gmail.com]
Jessica Causey, Programs Director [jmc3p@mtsu.edu]
About the TFCD
The Tennessee Federation of College Democrats of America is a group designated to unite, lead and coordinate chapters of College Democrats of America on university campuses throughout Tennessee.
Posted in Press Releases
Statement on the Republican Culture of Corruption
October 20th, 2005NASHVILLE — The American people are faced with the growing problem of Republican corruption that extends from the local levels of government to its highest levels in Washington, D.C., with the corruption of national scandals even reaching into Tennessee.
Karl Rove, widely known as the brain of Bush’s political career, has found himself in the public eye in recent months. Rove’s scrutiny surrounds his involvement in the leaking of the name of CIA operative Valerie Plame. Plame is the wife of former Ambassador Joseph Wilson, an outspoken critic of Bush’s preemptive strategies in Iraq.
“People are beginning to realize that in the time Karl Rove has spent controlling President Bush’s every move, he has neglected to ensure that his own actions are as picture perfect,” said Alex Youn, Executive Vice President of the Tennessee Federation of College Democrats. “What those within the White House have done to Valerie Plame and Joseph Wilson does not at all fit under their banner of compassionate conservatism — it flies in the face of it.”
Now there are allegations concerning Bill Frist’s dumping of millions of shares of HCA stock from his blind trust. Just days following Frist’s sell-off, HCA, a family company still run by Frist’s brother, reported disappointing earnings and the stock dropped 15 percent. A formal investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commisssion is now underway.
“This behavior is unnacceptable to the peope of Tennessee,” said Youn. “We deserve better leadership from our senators in Tennessee. We deserve much better than Frist is showing our state with his committment to personal gain and corporate interests.”
More disturbing are the circumstances surrounding Tom DeLay’s use of PAC money to influence Texas State House seats. Delay was indicted by a Texas grand jury on criminal conspiracy charges. A week later DeLay was indicted again by a different grand jury on a new charge of money laundering. Two of the three candidates seeking the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Tennessee next year, Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary, received substantial campaign contributions from PACs controlled by DeLay.
“Now is the time for these candidates to return the tainted campaign contributions they have received from DeLay,” said Youn. “If they don’t, the link between these Republican candidates and DeLay should make Tennesseans think twice about voting for any Republican in next year’s elections.”
Posted in Press Releases
Statement of Response to President Bush’s Speech on Iraq
October 8th, 2005NASHVILLE — Tennessee Federation of College Democrats Executive Vice President Alex Youn released this statement on behalf of the organization, following President Bush’s recent speech on the on-going war in Iraq:
“As Tennesseans reflect on President Bush’s speech on Iraq and the war on terror, they may find themselves asking questions – tough questions that the Democrats have been asking for some time.
“The Bush Administration took America into the war in Iraq guided by plans that didn’t match the reality on the ground. Because of this, courageous men and women have been placed in harms way and in many cases lacking sufficient resources.
“The simple truth is that Americans deserve to know whether we are making progress, in terms of troop strength and building a political consensus. This is especially true when we face the hard fact that nearly half of Americans (49%) believe that U.S. troops in Iraq do not have the resources and equipment they need to fight the war effectively.
“There are many things the Administration needs to say to answer our questions on Iraq and the war on terror. There are many things our troops, their families, and the American people deserve to know. We need to know how many capable Iraqi forces we need before our troops can come home. We need to know what progress is being made on the reconstruction in Iraq. We need to know taxpayers’ dollars are being spent wisely. We need to know what the Bush Administration is doing to forge a political consensus and what they are doing to make Iraq’s neighbors and other countries part of our strategy.
“Tennesseans do know that hoping for the best isn’t a policy and that ‘stay the course’ is not a strategy. The debate on this war can no longer go on behind closed doors. It is time for regular hearings on Iraqi progress. The American people deserve to have their tough questions answered. The American people also deserve a plan, a real plan that coincides with real-life on the ground in Iraq.”
Posted in Press Releases
