Yesterday afternoon, I had the pleasure of introducing Vice President Biden to a crowd of more than 200 fired up Tarrant County Democrats in downtown Fort Worth. The Vice President recognized our own national treasure, Speaker Jim Wright, and mentioned members of our fantastic Democratic delegation.

Biden spoke about the pressures felt by middle-class families and the increasing difficulty of working families to achieve the American dream — like owning a home or paying for a college education. The Vice President is a compassionate man who identifies strongly with the lives of working Americans because that’s where he’s from. It was easy for all of us to see that he embodies the essence of what it is to be a Democrat, and that he and President Obama have the determination to make the kinds of decisions that make life better for all of us — not just for the wealthy elite, which obviously is the intended beneficiary of Republican efforts.

In a one sentence summary of the three years of the Obama-Biden administration, he said, “Osama Bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive.”

We want and need four more years of protection of the middle class, a growing economy and fair and level playing field! Every dollar raised yesterday went to the Obama Victory Fund. Let’s keep in mind that it is the assignment of your Tarrant County Democratic Party to re-elect President Obama and elect Democrats from the White House down to the local courthouse. Please make a donation or set up a sustaining membership to the TCDP today. Our small staff and dozens of volunteers rely on donations from Democrats like you. Help keep us fighting for Tarrant County.

Thanks,
Steve

P.S. Don’t miss Michael Li’s excellent special to today’s Star-Telegram, “Wrangling over redistricting misses the big story in Texas”.

Texas Republicans have skipped preclearance procedures (mandated by the Voting Rights Act) of their Voter ID law with the Department of Justice by seeking preclearance with the D.C. District Court. While this is legal, they are doing so because they know it is very unlikely the DOJ will allow this law with its resulting voter suppression in Texas. You may recall that the DOJ refused preclearance for South Carolina’s Voter ID law late last year.

If this law passes, millions will be impacted. Consider these voters:

• University students who cannot use their university photo IDs
• Seniors who have no passport, driver license or other state-issued ID
• Women whose names do not exactly match from state-issued IDs to voter registration cards due to marriage or divorce
• Low-income Texans who do not have the funds to pay for the supporting documents required to obtain a “free” state-issued ID solely for voting purposes

Powerful Republicans know this will suppress the vote of women, seniors, college students and minorities. And that’s exactly the point.

Will you or someone you know be affected by this law if it’s upheld? Please let us know by emailing us.  Real-life accounts of how this horrible law will affect Texas voters are extremely important in helping us get our message out.  We want to share your story with the Texas Democratic Party.

Thanks,
Steve

Tomorrow night President Obama will address the nation in his third State of the Union. You can preview his speech online here.

Across the country and here in Tarrant County, Democrats and progressives will gather to watch it live and discuss President Obama’s Blueprint for an America Built to Last.

Find a watch party near you using www.barackobama.com. Attend and meet new people and tell them about their Tarrant County Democratic Party and how they can help re-elect President Obama and elect Democrats locally to fight for Tarrant County’s Veterans, seniors and children.

President Obama’s speech begins at 8:00 p.m. Central. Tune in, take advantage of this opportunity to meet like-minded folks and talk about your Democratic party’s plans for 2012.

And please help me welcome Taylor Holden, the new North Texas Regional Field Director of Organizing for America. Organizing for America is about to hit the ground running and is looking for organizing fellows. You can learn more about the program by contacting Taylor at atxtaylorh@gmail.com and 512.470.0181. The application is online here.

Thanks,
Steve