Dean cancels DNC meeting next week in Phoenix, and fundraisers.

[madfloridian]

I have permission to repost.

He is giving paid leave to any of the staff who want to go to the disaster areas and work. Here is the link to Jenny's post at MyDD.
I will post it, then back off rather than have it locked again.

Jenny Greenleaf is a DNC member from Oregon.

http://www.mydd.com/story/2005/9/1/18540/43685

Dean cancels DNC meeting scheduled for next week
by Jenny Greenleaf

In a hastily-called conference call with DNC members, Gov. Dean said that a time of national tragedy is not the right time to have a political meeting. He cancelled the DNC meeting set for Sept. 8-9 in Phoenix as well as all DNC fundraisers.
Dean mentioned that at least two DNC members had missing family members and that one employee's family had finally been rescued from their rooftop by the Coast Guard.

He said that several DNC staffers wanted to go to the Gulf Coast to help and that the DNC would continue to pay their salaries so they could. Saying that relief workers (and money) are the most important needs, he urged those that could to go help out. He encouraged the rest of us to send money.

"These are our people," Dean said. "New Orleans is a Democratic city; many of the worst hit are poor and African American."

He mentioned that Ben Jeffers, who had served on his transition team, was busy driving a bus evacuating people.

Dean did say that the Democrats would not be taking time off, however. "We will continue to defend ourselves."

The meeting will be rescheduled in the coming months.

Cross-posted at American Street.

Diaries :: Jenny Greenleaf's diary :: Thu Sep 1st, 2005 at 06:54:00 PM EDT

Here is the link from the DNC webiste:
http://www.democrats.org/a/2005/09/dnc_meeting_pos.php

There are great links from this site which give other ways to help.

I can not tell if he has cancelled his Florida fundraisers in Tallassee and Duval County, but I would assume so.

[Horse with no Name]

1. Meowwwwwwwwww

Bitchslapped Bush.
" Gov. Dean said that a time of national tragedy is not the right time to have a political meeting."

You go Dr. Dean....YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!

[Justitia]

2. Thanks Mad! I always appreciate your Dean news. Missed ya.

:hi:

[saracat]

3. While this might be the right thing to do, it has cost us a fortune in Phx

The Democratic Party deperately needed the money from a canceled fundraiser. We are donating the money we all gave to honor our volunteers to NO instead. But I hope that Dean, who was to be our keynote, helps us to replace those funds. It might sound callous to some, but our candidates need money.We need to elect people who won't let another NO happen.

[madfloridian]

4. Vice chair Susie Turnbull's comments at MyDD.

"I think that every DNC Member on the call today agrees that our number one priority is doing what we can to support relief efforts. I am proud that this is our total focus at this time. Our heart goes out to all of those affected by this tragedy."
by Susie Turnbull

I understand that one consideration was the fact that travel might be difficult even by the 8th of the month. I know that gas lines are terribly long here and everywhere, and gas is extremely costly. Some neighbors cancelled their Labor Day trips because of the uncertainty of getting gas when they need it. Just a mention of something I heard.

[MaineDem]

5. Meeting rescheduled for Dec 1-3

Same location in Phoenix.