A request from the Chairman of the AZ Democratic Party

[Iwillnevergiveup]

We are ALL in this fight!

"Dear Friends,

As I’m sure you are aware from recent coverage, tea party Republicans in the Arizona Legislature have passed SB1062, a bill that would open the door to legalize discrimination—particularly toward the LGBT community. Arizona Democrats have been forcefully fighting this bill along with the help of the business community and a handful of reasonable Republicans. The great news is that the Arizona public is overwhelmingly against this bill and while this bill should never have seen the light of day--we believe it is likely the Governor will veto it.

If Governor Brewer does not veto it, we believe we have many options at our disposal. (A) This bill is likely unconstitutional and is very prone to a legal challenge. (B) Arizona has a process for a citizen’s referendum—any bill passed by the legislature can be referred to a vote of the people. We would need to gather 86,405 signatures within 90 days of sine die. This is the exact same process that we used on the voter suppression bill HB2305 last year. This scared the Republicans so much that they came back and repealed the bill to avoid having the voters see the referendum -- if Governor Brewer doesn’t veto this bill, the citizens of Arizona will.

Arizona is of tremendous strategic importance to Democrats nationally. It is perhaps the most likely state to turn from red to blue in 2016. What you may not realize is that Arizona Democrats picked up 8 seats in the legislature in 2012 and won a majority of the congressional delegation. We also came within 3 points in the US Senate race. The voters of Arizona have consistently supported progressive ballot measures like independent redistricting, minimum wage increase, merit-based judicial selection and public financing of campaigns.

This is what I am asking from you: in recent days there have been calls to boycott Arizona over SB1062. In our experience this has not helped us to keep some members of the public on our side for these tough fights. We must stay on the offensive and place this at the feet of the tea party Republicans who passed it, but it is important that we not blame all Arizonans for this discriminatory bill. In fact this bill came about as backlash to the city of Phoenix passing an anti-discrimination ordinance. Right now the voters are on our side and we must keep it that way. Calls for boycotts only threaten to push swing voters into a corner. We will win this fight by acknowledging that Arizona is a diverse and inclusive state and bills like SB1070 and SB1062 are not reflective of our values.

Thanks for your help on this. We look forward to defeating this bill and continuing to work toward making Arizona a blue state.

Yours in the fight,

Bill Roe

Chair, Arizona Democratic Party"

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I am glad to see this letter!

And even gladder at its contents. There are facts here that I was not aware of, and they are powerful.

Go get 'em, Bill!

Thanks for your post, Iwillnevergiveup!

[coldbeer]

9. Arizona and Ohio are both bullied by the GOP

They get numbers and then make asinine laws. That is
the way bullies work. Take away their numbers and they
are cry babies. All we have to do is get to the polls.

[Gravitycollapse]

2. Calls for boycotts only push idiots into the corner. I fully support an economic boycott of AZ.

I'm not going to grovel at the feet of outside business because it's politically expedient. The reality is economic boycotts can work.

[Fridays Child]

5. Would you support Arizona businesses that actively oppose SB1062?

https://www.facebook.com/peopleagainstazsb1062

[Gravitycollapse]

7. Yes, I would.

[Zorra]

18. +1. Children need to be led to understand that hatred and bigotry are wrong, and have consequences.

[angrychair]

3. no way!!!

The citizens of AZ voted the very same teataliban batshit crazy twits into office that passed this piece of shit called a religious "freedom" bill. I am 100% for economically crushing AZ into dust if this "bill" is signed into "law".

[angrychair]

12. given it some more thought

And I'm more certain than ever. In fact, I would support a total economic blockade of AZ and any other state that supports the oppression of US citizens. No interstate commerce or flights into the state or federal support of any kind until it revokes the law. Its time to take a stand. We have to draw a line somewhere. The oppression of our fellow citizens, no matter the color of their skin or where their family came from or who they chose to love, can never be acceptable. We must shame them. Rebuke them. Use every non-violent measure we have to clearly and soundly say "NO!"

[Tx4obama]

4. U.S. Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) Wants Arizona Guv To Veto Anti-Gay Discrimination Bill

Jeff Flake Wants Arizona Guv To Veto Anti-Gay Discrimination Bill

Here: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/flake_brewer_arizona_anti_gay_bill

[Hekate]

6. KnR. Thanks for this news! nt

[busterbrown]

8. There is some part of me that hopes it passes..

Will put the state on the front boiler at 10,000 degrees.. Their law will be scalped, dissected and boiled to smithereens .. Fuck em... out of state Economic Conventions, Athletic Venues,
Artistic events, music concerts cancelled.... Screw em.

However... What possible business would have the guts to tell a member of the LGBT that they don’t want them inside of their doors.?. They wouldn’t, cause their small insignificant cowards..

Yea, I’d like to see them try..

[awoke_in_2003]

10. Sorry, but I will not support any Arizona businesses...

Until they force a repeal of this law. The only way I can vote in AZ is with my tourism dollars, and I will not support institutional bigotry. So, to AZ- fix this. Since business runs government this shouldn't be too hard.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

11. An unconstitutional law is still unconstitutional, no matter what my braindead home state says

And the authoritarian assclowns that run Maricopa County.

I hope the law passes and it destroys the Arizona economy. It would bring a smile to my face as money leaves my backwards, braindead, jerkwater home state.

[panader0]

14. As an Arizonan, I certainly hope this does NOT become a law.

But I see so much malice in your words--"destroys the Arizona economy". Gee thanks from the people who don't like this bill.
I certainly don't wish that on you. State bashing is so gradeschool. Grow up.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

15. I'm from Arizona, buddy

Learn to read the OP when I said "my home state."

[panader0]

16. I'm not your buddy

There are many good people here, many Democrats, many DUers. Would you like them to suffer too? What other states would you like to see destroyed? Kansas? Florida? Texas? Tennessee?
PS--you didn't post the OP.

[Nanjing to Seoul]

17. Listen, friend. . .maybe when Arizona sinks under the weight of it's own racism

We can heal. Until then, until the Phoenix 40 are broken up and Maricopa County doesn't dominate state politics, we will get more "FU gay people," "Papers Please" and "Speak English now, Mexican" law.

And, pal. . .I would have no problems seeing them all sink. Maybe when they do, the people who are voting against their own best interests will realize how bad they are getting screwed.

As for DUers in those states. . .as I am an Arizonan. . .it would hurt me (and my brother who is in Vail), but the pain is temporary.

I sort want this to happen so Arizona get sued back into the stone age. Seriously. . .let them have their racist, Ayn Randian world. And see what happens.

Okay, chum?

Thanks for listening to my rant, 朋友

[KinMd]

13. What if a business in Az says it will NOT discriminate against gays or anyonne else..

should they be boycotted anyway?. I'd like to see a list of businesses that publicly reject this law.

[angrychair]

19. all AZ businesses

All or nothing. Crush them economically. The harder you make it for them economically, the more money you keep out of their pockets, the more motivated they will be to change their ways.