Out to Pasture (2020 Election Game) Gameplay Thread

[VirginiaAaron]

Tweet from Simitator, profile picture from Wikimedia Commons

[VirginiaAaron]

Living Room

Ad aired in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, California, Texas, and Virginia

(Ad begins with Stacey Abrams in her living room with the fire-pit on in the background, Stacey looks into the camera to have a one-on-one conversation with the viewer.)

Stacey: As we come closer and closer to the first votes cast in this presidential election, there’s gonna be speeches, debates, more ads, and more discussions. If I could sit down with you, in your living room or around the kitchen table, here’s what I’d say. Right now, the economy is getting bigger, but not necessarily better. Most Americans aren’t seeing the growth that the current administration touts. We’re treating dictators like Vladimir Putin like they are our friends. The leader of the free world is calling his opponents nicknames. Tearing Americans down. Dividing us more than ever before. Who does that? A bully does that.

We’ve got a lot to do. The first thing we have to do is elect a new president. Then we have to make the middle class secure, increase job growth, wage growth, and reduce income inequality. President Pence thinks we must do this by cutting taxes for the wealthy, again. It didn’t work the first time, it won’t this time.

We must preserve healthcare for ALL Americans by expanding the Affordable Care Act and enacting a public option. We’ve got to ensure coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions.

We’ve also got to preserve equality. No person should have an advantage just because of their race.

Let’s look at what we’re up against: In 1999, President Pence said in an op-ed movie review on his radio show that the Disney film, Mulan, is proof why women shouldn’t serve in the military.

Obviously, this is Walt Disney’s attempt to add childhood expectation to the cultural debate over the role of women in the military. I suspect that some mischievous liberal at Disney assumes that Mulan’s story will cause a quiet change in the next generation’s attitude about women in combat...Many young women find many young men to be attractive sexually. Put them together, in close quarters, for long periods of time, and things will get interesting…Moral of the story: women in a military, bad idea."

We also have a conspiracy theorist who once said that President Obama and the federal government control the weather.

“Of course there’s weather weapon stuff going on. We had floods in Texas like 15 years ago, killed 30-something people in one night. Turned out it was the Air Force.”

Are these the people we should trust making the decisions affecting you and your children?

When you go to vote, whether it’s coming up this month or in a few months, consider these people. Consider who’s running that can best defeat them. I believe I am that candidate.

I’m Stacey Abrams and I approve this message because this is the most consequential election in our history. We can’t mess this up by selecting someone who can’t win.

Image from Flickr

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams 2020- January Schedule

Logo made by me

January 1-15 | Iowa

January 1: Barnstorm Des Moines with Oprah, hold a major rally with Oprah in Des Moines and do an interview with a local news station
January 2: Meet with women running for State Legislature, hold women’s roundtable discussing issues
January 3: Hold major rally in Dubuque with Jimmy Carter, barnstorm Dubuque, start holding selfie lines after rallies to make sure everybody gets to shake hands and get a picture with Stacey
January 4-6: Tour parts of Iowa that voted Obama in 2012 and flipped to Trump in 2016
January 7-8: Take a break in Cedar Rapids
January 9: Open office in Cedar Rapids, hold town hall at Des Moines University
January 10: Barnstorm Iowa City with Oprah, host town hall discussion with President Carter, targeting older voters
January 11: Tour Iowa State Univesity with students, discuss education, unveil education plan (this will be released sometime this week IRL)
January 12-14: Meet with local leaders all over Iowa to discuss voting and voter turnout, aiming to get young people out to vote
January 15: Fly out of Des Moines, head to Reno

January 16-18 | Nevada

January 16: Hold major rally with Rep. Bass and Oprah in Reno, meet with Reno Democratic party leaders
January 17: Townhall at University of Nevada, Reno and host roundtable to discuss equal rights particularly with Latino voters
January 18: Fly to Columbia South Carolina

January 19-23 | South Carolina

January 19: Hold major rally with President Carter and Oprah in Columbia, meet with Pastors and their congregations at various churches
January 20: Make a speech at a fundraiser for Jaime Harrison, barnstorming with him all over Charleston and the Mount Pleasant area, hold major rally in Columbia for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 21: Barnstorm Charleston with President Carter and Oprah, march with Moms Demand Action to prevent gun violence
January 22: Hold town hall in Columbia with President Carter to discuss key issues, start an initiative to bring young voters out to vote for Stacey
January 23: Fly to El Paso, Texas

January 24-27 | Texas

January 24: Accept major endorsement in El Paso, campaign with said person in the El Paso area focusing on young voters and my record and plan for gun violence
January 25: Take a bus tour through various cities in Texas with the new endorser focusing on turning Texas blue
January 26: Campaign in Dallas with President Carter and Moms Demand Action
January 27: Fly to Los Angeles, California

January 28-31 | California

January 28: Major rally in Los Angeles with Rep. Bass and Oprah, hold a town hall at the University of Southern California focusing on students
January 29: Prep with campaign staff for the upcoming debate, appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live to discuss the campaign
January 30: Hold major rally in San Jose, rest for the day
January 31: Fly back to Iowa to start campaigning hard before the Iowa caucus

[VirginiaAaron]

Beto: I'm with Stacey!

Logo made by me

Former Texas Congressman and 2018 Senate candidate Beto O’Rourke endorsed Stacey Abrams for President at a rally in El Paso. Congressman O’Rourke plans to campaign with Ms. Abrams heavily all over Texas and across the country. Here’s an excerpt of her remarks at the rally today:

“Today we’ve got a good friend of mine with me today. His Senate campaign in 2018 inspired us all. He got extremely close to turning a red-state blue. He’s a valuable asset to our party and my campaign. I’m really happy to have him on board. Please welcome to the stage, my friend, Congressman Beto O’Rourke!”

Congressman O’Rourke then spoke, here’s an excerpt of his comments:

“Thank you, Stacey for having me. I’m excited to be on board with you through this journey. On August 3rd, here in El Paso where several innocent shoppers were slaughtered, two things became crystal-clear for me, which produced a turning point for our country. The first is just how dangerous Mike Pence and his administration are, the cost and the consequence of his presidency.

A racism and violence that had long been a part of America was welcomed out into the open and directed to my hometown of El Paso, Texas, where 22 people were killed, dozens more grievously injured by a man carrying a weapon he should never have been able to buy in the first place, inspired to kill by our president and his predecessor.

The second thing I realized is how insufficient our politics is to meet the threat that we have right now. The bitterness, the pettiness, the smallness of the moment, the incentives to attack one another and try to make differences without distinctions, mountains out of molehills, we have to be bigger. We have to see clearly, we have to speak honestly, and we have to act decisively. That's what Stacey will bring to the White House. There’s something missing from our leaders right now, Stacey will bring that back. I can rest easier with Stacey as President than I can with Mike Pence.”

Image from Wikimedia Commons

[VirginiaAaron]

Stacey’s Plan for Affordable Education

Stacey believes there are many paths to success. Her father worked in the shipyard, never went to college, saved money as an adult, and became a Methodist minister. Her sister, Leslie, started saving money for college when she was 6 years old, wanting to become an attorney, and in 2014, President Obama appointed Leslie to be a Judge for the Middle District of Georgia.

Today many of the fastest-growing occupations require one- and two-year degrees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that there will be 74,000 job openings for electricians over the next 10 years, 68,200 openings for plumbers, and over 137,000 openings for nurses’ assistants.

Stacey believes we must do more to connect people to affordable education for the jobs we have available today and tomorrow.

That’s why as President, Stacey will focus on championing tuition-free one- and two-year community college degrees and technical certifications, expanding apprenticeship opportunities, respecting the dignity of work by paying people a decent living wage so they can care for and support their families, as well as making it easier for Americans who need help to afford four-year degrees.

As President, Stacey will:

Provide Tuition-Free One- and Two-Year Community College Degrees and Technical Certifications, Promote Apprenticeships, and Respect the Dignity of Work

-Provide tuition-free community college and technical certifications. Today many of the fastest-growing occupations require one- and two-year degrees. As President, Stacey will create a new federal-state partnership to provide tuition-free community college one- and two-year degrees, technical certifications and industry-recognized credentials. The federal government will match $3 for every $1 invested by the state for students who qualify for in-state tuition, are enrolled at least half-time, and maintain satisfactory academic progress. When certain economic indicators show a state has increased financial need, the federal share of the match will increase. To qualify for the federal funding, states will also be required to maintain their spending on higher education, limit the rate of tuition increases and ensure that students can easily transfer their credits to four-year programs. This proposal is based on an Obama Administration proposal.

-Connecting students to jobs and ensuring the dignity of work. It is not enough to provide students and workers with an affordable education, we must also connect students to job openings and ensure the dignity of work for the jobs that are available today. As President, Stacey will invest in our workers so that everyone who works hard can earn enough to care for and support their family. That means raising the minimum wage, providing child care, and paid family leave and making sure people have a secure retirement. She will also work with high schools, community colleges, universities, businesses, labor unions, trade associations and job training centers to provide information to students earlier in their education about the availability and outlook for jobs in different careers, their expected earning potential, and the necessary educational credentials.

-Invest in apprenticeships. Apprenticeships combine academic instruction with on-the-job training to give students the skills they need to succeed while helping employers create a source of qualified workers. Stacey will direct her Secretary of Labor to analyze the use of apprenticeships for In-Demand occupations, launch a nationwide campaign, and expand apprenticeship opportunities and benefits with the goal of doubling the number of apprenticeships to over a million by the end of her first term. She will also work to pass the American Apprenticeship Act, a bipartisan bill that would help states create and expand tuition assistance programs for students in pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs.

-Adapt high school curricula to improve workforce readiness and post-secondary success and expand opportunities for dual enrollment. As part of her previously announced Progress Partnerships for K-12 education, Stacey will create incentives for state education departments to evaluate and improve student career readiness, including coursework, curriculum and other policies that prepare students for the jobs available in today’s workforce. As President, Stacey will also help school districts cover the tuition expenses of high schoolers enrolled in community colleges, apprenticeships, technical certifications, and universities through dual enrollment programs.

Lower the Cost of College and Reduce the Burden of Student Loans

-Double the maximum Pell Grant and expand eligibility to families making up to $100,000 per year. As President, Stacey will double the maximum Pell Grant — which, unlike loans, do not have to be repaid — to $12,000 per year and expand eligibility to families making up to $100,000 per year. She will also index Pell Grant levels to inflation.

-Provide financial support beyond tuition. For many college students, non-tuition expenses can present a significant hurdle to completing their education. In addition to expanding Pell Grants, which can be used for certain non-tuition expenses, Stacey will work with states to establish microgrant programs to help students with necessary expenses if they face unexpected financial hardship. In addition, she will expand categorical eligibility for SNAP benefits for low-income students and support pilot projects to increase the availability of federal housing assistance to students.

-Simplify the financial aid process. The income verification process for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be a significant barrier for low-income students. As President, Stacey will work to improve coordination between the IRS and Department of Education to streamline income verification. She will also allow previous year tax forms to be used to avoid complications from income estimates.

-Protect student borrowers and increasing financial literacy. Too many students have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous private lenders. As President, Stacey will restore and strengthen rules that allow students who believe they were defrauded by their colleges to apply for loan forgiveness, providing relief to thousands of additional students. She will also establish best practices for student financial literacy and require schools to notify student borrowers of their total loan obligations, estimated interest rate, and expected monthly payment. This proposal is modeled after the bipartisan Empowering Student Borrowers Act.

Support Multiple Paths to Success and Invest in Retraining

-Establish a Worker Training Tax Credit. Today businesses are investing less in workforce training, particularly when it comes to lower wage workers who are most at risk of losing their jobs to automation and other emerging technologies. As President, Stacey would create a new tax credit for employers that invest in training for workers at risk of being laid off through on-site training programs or provide paid time off for off-site retraining. To qualify for the tax credit, training would have to lead to an industry-recognized credential, certificate, or degree.

-Invest in adult basic education. In her first 100 days as President, Stacey will reverse President Trump and President Pence’s proposal to cut basic education programs for adults, and launch an initiative focused on increasing opportunities for adults to master literacy and basic math skills.

-Promote stackable credentials. Stackable credentials are certifications or occupational licenses that can be combined with additional coursework that will then lead to an associates degree. As President, Stacey will encourage states to work with employers, unions, trade associations, and community colleges to develop stackable credentials for In-Demand fields that provide meaningful employment skills while building towards a degree.

-Give students returning to school later in life a fair shot. Students should be able to pursue post-secondary opportunities later in life. Stacey will allow students who are returning to post-secondary education to requalify for Pell Grants by resetting their Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) and to receive additional Pell Grants even if they have reached the Lifetime Eligibility Used (LEU). She will also restore Pell Grant eligibility for incarcerated students.

-Improve GED programs. As President, Stacey will work to improve GED programs by linking them to career skills and community college curricula while increasing students’ chances of success through wraparound support services.

Provide All Students Opportunities for Success

-Strengthen and increase affordability for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). As President Stacey will invest in HBCUs and MSIs through a new Pathways to Student Success initiative. Participating HBCUs and MSIs will receive federal funding to waive or significantly reduce the first two years of tuition for low-income students at four-year schools.

-Expand and fully support TRIO and GEAR UP. The TRIO and GEAR UP programs help low-income, first-generation college students, and students with disabilities, veterans, homeless youth, foster youth, and individuals underrepresented in graduate education prepare for and succeed in higher education. The Trump and Pence Administrations has attempted to cut funding for these programs, but as President, Stacey will expand these programs and ensure that they are fully funded.

-Ensure veterans have access to the educational opportunities they have earned. Stacey has been a champion for expanding and modernizing education benefits for our servicemembers. As President, she will push to reduce the burden of student debt on servicemembers by lowering or eliminating the accrual of interest on student loans during their service. She will also ensure that members of the National Guard and Reserve receive the same GI Bill education benefits as their counterparts in active duty and adjust tuition assistance for members of the National Guard and Reserve to keep the tuition assistance competitive. And to support veterans on college campuses and expand career counseling, Stacey will launch and implement a grant program to invest in college veteran education centers.

-Invest in Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). As President, Stacey will work to ensure that Tribal Colleges and Universities are fully funded and that TCUs, Alaska Native-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions and Native American-serving nontribal institutions will be eligible for the Pathways to Student Success initiative. She will also build on her work to provide resources for tribal schools so that they can prepare students to be career and college ready.

-Support student parents. Students who have children are more likely to drop out of their educational programs without completing them. As President, Stacey will expand the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program, which provides on-campus child care services. She will also expand the eligibility for the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit to cover child care expenses while parents pursue postsecondary education and make financial aid calculations fairer for student parents.

How We Pay for It

To pay for these investments, Stacey will raise the capital gains and dividends rate for people in the top two income tax brackets, limit the amount of capital gain deferral allowable through like-kind exchanges, and implement the Buffet Rule through a 30 percent minimum tax for people with incomes over $1 million.

Image from Wikimedia Commons

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams announces one House and several Senate endorsements

Tweet from Simitator

Stacey also endorsed the following people for the U.S. Senate:

-All incumbent Democrats running for re-election
-Mark Kelly against Senator Martha McSally (AZ)
-Former Governor John Hickenlooper against Senator Cory Gardner (CO)
-State Senator Cal Cunningham against Senator Thom Tillis (NC)
-Jon Ossoff against Senator David Perdue (GA)
-Reverend Raphael Warnock against Senator Kelly Loeffler/Congressman Doug Collins (GA)
-Speaker of the Maine House Sara Gideon against Senator Susan Collins (ME)
-Amy McGrath against Senator Mitch McConnell (KY)
-Former Secretary Mike Espy against Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (MS)
-Congressman Ben Ray Luján to replace retiring Senator Tom Udall (NM)
-State Senator Royce West against Senator John Cornyn (TX)
-Former Chairman Jaime Harrison against Senator Lindsey Graham (SC)
-Former State Senator Richard Ojeda against Senator Shelley Moore Capito (WV)
-James Mackler against Ambassador Bill Hagerty (TN)
-State Senator Eric LaFleur against Senator Bill Cassidy (LA)
-Admiral Michael T. Franken against Senator Joni Ernst (IA)
-Abby Broyles against Senator Jim Inhoffe (OK)
-State Senator Barbara Bollier against Congressman Roger Marshall/Secretary of State Kris Kobach (KS)
-Former Mayor Chris Beutler against Senator Ben Sasse (NE)
-Former US Attorney Brendan Johnson against Senator Mike Rounds (SD)
-Gary Trauner against Former Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis (WY)
-Mayor Wilmot Collins against Senator Steve Daines (MT)
-Former State Representative Paulette Jordan against Senator Jim Risch
-Al Gross against Senator Dan Sullian against (AK)

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams announces gubernatorial endorsements

Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Stacey's Endorsements

-Governor Jay Inslee against State Senator Phil Fortunato (WA)
-Lieutenant Governor Mike Cooney against Congressman Greg Gianforte/Attorney General Tim Fox (MT)
-Former Congressman Jim Matheson against former Governor Jon Huntsman/Lieutenant Governor Spencer Cox (UT)
-House Minority Leader Joshua Boschee against Governor Doug Burgum (ND)
-State Auditor Nicole Galloway against Governor Mike Parson (MO)
-Woody Myers against Governor Eric Holcomb (IN)
-Governor Roy Cooper against Lieutenant Governor Dan Forest (NC)
-Commissioner Ben Salango against Governor Jim Justice (WV)
-Governor John Carney, no GOP candidates declared (DE)
-Lieutenant Governor David Zuckerman against Governor Phil Scott (VT)
-Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes against Governor Chris Sununu (NH)

[VirginiaAaron]

Gov. Roy Cooper (D-NC) endorses Stacey Abrams

Image from the Wikimedia Commons

Today the Governor of North Carolina, Roy Cooper, gave a resounding endorsement of Stacey Abrams in Charlotte, North Carolina. Ms. Abrams is beginning to try to rack up endorsements to get big wins in southern states that don't find Mr. Steyer or Ms. Gillibrand as candidates that can beat President Pence. Here are some of Mr. Cooper's remarks while endorsing Ms. Abrams:

When I was elected your governor, we were very divided because of one simple issue. A group of state lawmakers decided to write the most hateful, divisive, and bigoted bill that I have ever seen in my entire time in politics. My predecessor signed the bill, rubbing salt in the wounds of North Carolinians. I made sure that we would repeal that bill in my first term. We got that done, and we've been more united since.

Stacey knows unity. She knows how to bring people together the way we did in North Carolina. I know that when she wins the nomination of our party, she'll bring our party together. Conservative, moderate, progressive, whatever ideology you fall under of our party: you have a home in the Abrams campaign!

Whether it's expanding Obamacare, raising the minimum wage, eliminating cash bail, abolishing the death penalty, requiring paper ballots in all 50 states for all elections, breaking up big-banks, reducing income inequality, ensuring paid family leave, reducing the cost of college, increasing teacher pay, ending Citizens United, reducing carbon emissions, launching initiatives to make sure our youth are eating healthy, banning assault weapons, requiring universal background checks, reducing drug costs, protecting our Dreamers, decriminalizing marijuana, making sure we're not getting into any wasteful wars, raising taxes on the wealthy and lowering taxes on the poor and middle class, protecting our privacy online, or getting fairer trade agreements: Stacey will get it done. I'm happy to give her my full endorsement and I will fight like hell for her to be our next President!

[VirginiaAaron]

Stacey’s Plan for Real Corporate Profits Tax

Introduction:

Tax Day will be here sooner than you know it! Chances are, you’ll be paying some federal taxes. Maybe you’re giving a little, maybe a lot; but we’re all paying something for our military, for medical research, for highways and bridges-- the big investments our federal government should be making big investments in to protect our economy and keep us safe.

More than likely, you’ll be paying more for running the federal government than a bunch of big American corporations that made billions of dollars in profits in the last year.

Last year, Amazon reported more than $10 billion in profits and paid zero federal corporate income taxes. Occidental Petroleum reported $4.1 billion in profits and paid zero federal corporate income taxes.

Year after year, some of the biggest corporations in the country make huge profits but pay zero federal corporate income taxes on those profits.

Companies follow established financial accounting rules to calculate the value of the profits they report to shareholders and the public. But they follow a different set of tax accounting rules to calculate the profits they report to the IRS and pay corporate income taxes on. This is not sustainable. From 1988 to 2012, the effective tax rate for American corporations — the rate they actually pay relative to their profits — went down significantly.

This is why I’m proposing a big idea: the Real Corporate Profits Tax. The new tax applies to the profits very large American companies report to their investors — with no loopholes or exemptions. It’ll make our biggest and most profitable corporations pay more and ensure that none of them can ever make billions and pay zero taxes again.

How the Real Corporate Profits Tax Works

Our new tax only applies to companies that report more than $100 million in profits — about the 1200 most profitable firms in the country last year. That first $100 million is left alone, but for every dollar of profit above $100 million, the corporation will pay a 7% tax. Any company profitable enough to hit the Real Corporate Profits Tax will pay that tax in addition to whatever its liability might be under our current corporate tax rules.

That means Amazon would pay $698 million in taxes instead of paying zero. And Occidental Petroleum would pay $280 million in taxes instead of paying zero. This amount of money they’ll be giving in taxes under my plan will seem nothing to them.

It’s a small new tax — but because our richest, biggest corporations are so skilled at minimizing their taxes under our current system, that small new tax will generate big new revenue. According to an estimate from economists, the tax will bring in $1 trillion in revenue over the next ten years — just from the massive profits of the thousand or so richest companies in the country.

You might be wondering: why not just raise the corporate tax rate instead of creating this new tax?

The answer is that our corporate tax code is so littered with loopholes that simply raising the regular corporate tax rate alone is not enough.

We must try to fix our corporate tax code so that it generates more revenue and creates fewer economic distortions that simply reward powerful interests. I have fought to close loopholes that let big corporations pay less. And I strongly opposed the recent Republican tax bill, which has led to a huge drop in the amount of taxes we collect from corporations.

We need corporate tax reform, but we also need to recognize that enormous companies with armies of lawyers and accountants will always try to exploit any deductions and exemptions that remain. To raise the revenue we need — and ensure every corporation pays their fair share — we need a new kind of tax that big companies can’t get around.

That’s what the Real Corporate Profits Tax is. It’s a low rate, and it only applies to the very top of the biggest corporate profits that companies book every year — but there are no loopholes, no exceptions, and nothing to manipulate. If a company tells its investors it made more than $100 million this year,
it’s going to have to pay some taxes.

How the Real Corporate Profits Tax Fixes Some Big Problems

The Real Corporate Profits Tax takes advantage of market incentives to ensure that profitable companies continue to pay their fair share. Corporations will always want to report as low of a profit figure as possible to the IRS. But they want to report as high of a profit figure as possible to investors to drive up the company’s stock price, which in turn drives up bonuses and other compensation for executives. Companies will be hesitant to under-report their profits to investors — which means they won’t be able to game the tax system as much as they can now.

A First Step to a Better Corporate Tax Code

American companies are among the most successful in the world. That success comes from our drive, our ingenuity, and our creativity. It also comes from a broad American infrastructure — roads and bridges, public safety, telecommunications, education, our legal system — that relies on government investment. Too many of our wealthiest companies have lost sight of this, and instead seek to cash in on all the benefits of America while skipping out on the bill. It’s not right — and we cannot afford to let it continue.

The Real Corporate Profits Tax generates more than a trillion dollars in revenue, levels the playing field for small businesses, and is hard to evade. Let’s bring in the revenue we need to invest in opportunity for all Americans. And let’s make this year the last year any company with massive profits pays zero federal taxes.

[VirginiaAaron]

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) endorses Stacey Abrams

Fake Tweet from faketweeter.com

Transcript: Today, after much consideration, I have decided to endorse my good friend @StaceyAbrams for President. We have a lot of great candidates in the race, this was not an easy decision. We need someone who knows how to take on the President and win. Stacey will do that. We need someone who can win. Stacey will do that. We need a fighter. Stacey will fight. We need someone ready. Stacey is ready. Join me in #Richmond for my official endorsement!

[VirginiaAaron]

"Barack"

Ad aired in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, California, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia

The Ad begins with a voiceover of Stacey as pictures of her campaigning with President Obama during the 2018 elections appear on the screen with various headlines about her and Obama.

I believe that there are two really important things in this election: defeating President Pence and upholding President Obama's legacy and accomplishments. I think I have the character and qualities to not only beat Pence, but also to uphold Barack's legacy. Don't just take my word for it, here's what he said about me:

Image from Wikimedia Commons

An excerpt from a campaign speech of President Obama of him campaigning for Stacey in 2018 appears:

"I want a leader who stands up for other people’s healthcare even if they’ve got healthcare. I want a leader who will stand up for kids to end bullying. I want a leader who will stand up for somebody else’s right to worship as they please, even if I disagree with how they worship. This is America. That’s what everyone needs to stand up for with clarity and patriotism and with purpose. Those core values that bond us to our fellow citizens, no matter who we are because that’s what Americans are supposed to do. And that’s what Stacey Abrams believes!"

Image from Wikimedia Commons

I'm Stacey Abrams and I approve this message because we must Defeat Pence.

[VirginiaAaron]

Serving Those That Served

Stacey's Plan for Veterans

Image from the Department of Veterans Affairs

Introduction:

Our military represents the best of who we are as Americans. The men and women of our Armed Forces come from every corner of America and every walk of life. What units service members is a shared commitment to support and defend their nation. In this simple act, they set an example and a precedent for us and people around the world, about our American potential.

Every day we’re reminded of the sacrifice and dedication of our service members overseas. Less recognized, but no less important, are the contributions they continue to make outside of the service, in their life as private citizens. Even when they take off their uniform, veterans are eager to continue serving and tackle some of America’s largest challenges.

Over the last decade, the generation of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans has founded several hundreds of businesses and non-profits. Veterans who have served since 9/11 make up nearly half of the veterans in Congress, bringing a new generation of political leadership. Most inspiring is that they’ve taken care of not only their fellow vets, but also those in need in their community and around the world. They’ve demonstrated the power of service and set an example for the rest of us.

On Veterans’ Day, I met with hundreds of service members. They all had a pretty similar message-- serving in uniform can be the best experience in a lifetime but it can also lead to some of the biggest challenges in a lifetime. One story I heard was from John, a First Lieutenant. Right after 9/11, he was infuriated. He dropped everything, dropped out of college, and went to Iraq to serve and protect his country. When he came home, he felt disoriented. Right now, he can’t get healthcare from the VA to treat his post-traumatic stress (PTSD).

When we ask service members to put their lives on the line for our nation, we’ve got to be ready to provide them and their families with the care they need to recover from the wounds of war. This isn’t doing them a favor, it’s about the United States keeping a promise. When you put your right hand up and make a promise to give everything to your country, the promise America makes is to remember, respect, and care for you and your family. That promise doesn’t end when you hang up your uniform. It lasts forever.

HEAL THE WOUNDS OF WAR AND OTHER SERVICE-RELATED INJURIES:

-Streamline access to medical care by creating a more veteran-centric VA (including appointing a Secretary of the VA that served in the military).
-Guarantee access to mental health care, including suicide prevention.
-Improve aging-in-place options so that older vets can get the care they need and deserve.

SUPPORT THOSE CURRENTLY SERVING AND THEIR FAMILIES

-Provide additional resources for child care in military communities
-Overturn Trump’s transgender military ban
-Make it easier for military spouses to pause loan payments and transition to life as private citizens
-Honor and elevate the diversity of service members.

ENGAGE ALL AMERICANS TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES TO THRIVE

-Support transition from active-duty by increasing opportunities for loans.
-Close the loophole that leads for-profit colleges to target service members and veterans.
-Use veterans to spark civic-minded service nationwide.

[VirginiaAaron]

Carlson: That said, tonight we have a special guest, the current frontrunner for the Libertarian nomination for President, Stacey Abrams. Ms. Abrams, how are you tonight?

This says frontrunner for the Libertarian nomination, just so you know.

[VirginiaAaron]

Stacey's Twitter Profile Picture from Wikimedia Commons

Transcript: Thank you to @TuckerCarlson and @MarkLevin for having me on tonight to talk about the campaign and our success, downballot races, our supporters, our strategy to win, and our competition. Happy to have a very spirited discussion about one of the most consequential election in American history.

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams Final Schedule before Iowa Caucus

February 1:

-Go door-knocking with President Carter, Oprah, and Congressman Lewis in the Dubuque area
-Visit office in Dubuque to encourage staff, volunteers, interns and to thank them for their hard work*
-Participate in a phone bank in Dubuque to help get people out to vote
-Join some campaign volunteers in renting some vans to shuttle people to the caucus-sites, take photos with volunteers and other workers
-Visit Loras College and Clark University to discuss issues with the youth and to spike voter turnout among younger people


*Here’s an excerpt of some of Stacey’s remarks at the Dubuque office:

There is 2 really important words that I can not stress enough to you all. Thank you. Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for knocking on doors all over Dubuque, and all over the state. Thank you for calling voters, whether it was someone enthusiastically supporting us or someone yelling in your ear because they plan to vote for President Pence or one of our opponents. Thank you for meeting with voters all over the state, convincing people to come our way. Thank you for organizing debate watch parties. Thank you for your hard work. I appreciate it more than any of you all work. Whether we’re in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or farther down, for me it’s a win. You are the reason that a black woman from Georgia that ran for Governor is just a few steps away from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Thank you...thank you so much.

February 2:

-Barnstorm Cedar Rapids with Congressman O’Rourke and Oprah
-Host Town Halls at the University of Iowa and Kirkwood Community College
-Boast about plans for veterans, education, corporate taxes, disabled Americans, breaking up big-tech, for workers, and opioids
-Hold major rally in Cedar Rapids, focusing on turning out women and Millenials to bolster turnout and to increase our coalitions

Here is an excerpt of Congressman O’Rourke’s introduction of Ms. Abrams today:

Today is a really important day. There is one day before Iowa decides who should lead our party into the future. We’ve got 2 people at the top of the national polls that are bickering with one another, airing ads against each other, and buying each other’s ads against the other out. This is division at it’s finest. This is what the President wants. He wants us to be divided so that he can get 4 more years in office. We need a uniter who knows how to win. We need someone with non-Washington government experience. We need someone with bipartisan support that can win moderate Republicans, Independents, moderate Democrats, progressive Democrats, and conservative Democrats that unite us all. We need Stacey Abrams. Please help me welcome the next President of the United States of America, Stacey Abrams!

February 3:

-Barnstorm, doorknock, and phonebank all over Des Moines
-Help shuttle voters to various caucus-sites
-Have a huge conference call with my campaign manager, Iowa campaign chair, and most of our Precinct Captains to discuss our plan to win
-Major rally in Des Moines with all of our major surrogates (President Carter, Congressman O’Rourke, Oprah Winfrey, Congressman Lewis, Reverend Sharpton, the Iowa Chair of Moms Demand Action, and the Head of the American Federation of Teachers)
-Watch returns at local hotel, head to watch party in Des Moines after results are finalized to speak to our supporters

Graphic made by me

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams' Final Ad before the Iowa Caucus

(All Images from Wikimedia Commons)

Stacey Abrams appears, to have a heartfelt personal conversation with the viewer:

Very soon, Iowa, you’ll be the first to decide who should lead our party to the general election. We need someone who will win and win big. We need someone to unite, not divide. We’ve got a lot of candidates running. Rather than attacking each other, we ought to be talking about the issues. Who has the best plan for veterans, students and teachers, the middle class, disabled Americans, workers, and families affected by the opioid crisis? I’ve got a plan for each one of these issues.

But this election isn’t just about issues that affect all 50 states. Elections are local. I’ve talked to a lot of Iowans. Here are 5 big things that many of them have said we have to have in Iowa: real leaders who know how to bring us forward; clean air and water; fixing income inequality; making education affordable; and infrastructure.

Vote with your gut. Who is the best person to take on Mike Pence? Who is the best person to get things done? Who is the best person with the best plans?

A candidate and a president are only as good as the people they surround themselves with. We’ve got former President Jimmy Carter, the Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Congresswoman Karen Bass, Congressman and Civil Rights icon John Lewis, Reverend Al Sharpton, Moms Demand Action, Oprah Winfrey, Jaime Harrison, the American Federation of Teachers, Congressman Beto O’Rourke, Governor Roy Cooper, and Senator Mark Warner. We’ve got a broad coalition of Black, White, Latino, Asian, Native American, biracial Americans, men, women, students, teachers, and labor workers.

Unity, hope, and belonging. That's what we need in Washington and it's why I'm running for President and it's why I approve this message. I hope I can earn your support.

[VirginiaAaron]

Bill and Hillary Clinton endorse Stacey Abrams

Images from Wikimedia Commons, Tweets from simitator.com

In a last ditch effort to get a 2nd place finish in Iowa, Stacey Abrams has scored the endorsement of two very influential figures: President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Mr. and Mrs. Clinton endorsed Ms. Abrams on Twitter this morning, saying they plan to campaign for her in New York and all around the country:

[VirginiaAaron]

Tweet Profile Picture from Wikimedia Commons, Tweet from simitator.com

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams gives speech in Des Moines

Today, presidential candidate Stacey Abrams gave a brief speech in Des Moines, Iowa after her 2nd place finish behind Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Here are her remarks:

Hello Iowa!

Thank you so much for your help, your support, and your hard work. Tonight was not the result I had hoped for, but I still see tonight as a win. I just got off the phone with Senator Gillibrand and I congratulated her on her well-deserved victory. Senator Gillibrand and I may disagree on some very small issues, but what we do agree on is the importance of defeating Mike Pence.

Tonight was a great night for women! Never before has the top 2 performers in the Iowa caucus been women!

I also want to congratulate the 2 other great men in the race, Governor Steve Bullock and Tom Steyer. Governor Bullock has fought all of his careers for fair votes, equality, and a fair shot for all Americans. Mr. Steyer has used his personal wealth to fight for issues that are near and dear to him while in the private sector. All of these men and women would be much better Presidents than the guy in the White House right now.

I want to say a few thank you’s right now. First to our staff and our volunteers. What you did here in Iowa, and what you’ve done in New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, and beyond is making a difference. I’ve lost elections before. Whether it’s been as a candidate or as a volunteer or surrogate for someone. It hurts. It’s discouraging. But look, about 1% of the total delegates that will be awarded were given out tonight. Anything can happen.

I want to thank a few specific people on my staff. My campaign manager David Axelrod, my campaign chair and one of my best friends Symone Sanders, my communications director Brian Fallon, and my national field director Jen O’Malley-Dillon. I would be nowhere in this race if it were not for you, thank you so much.

Next, I want to thank our many surrogates. President Jimmy Carter, Congressman John Lewis, Reverend Al Sharpton, Oprah Winfrey, and Congressman Beto O’Rourke! Your support means the world to me.

This morning, I got an endorsement from a couple that I admired when I was a young girl. I wanted to be a politician the way Bill Clinton was a politician. I wanted to be a policy expert the way that Hillary Clinton was a policy expert. Hillary taught me that anything is possible. A young girl from Illinois that was raised as a Republican during the fight for civil rights can be the Democratic nominee for President. That same little girl can win the most votes in a presidential election. That little girl was about 80,000 votes away from being President of the United States of America. Hillary Clinton, you are one of my heroes and I appreciate your endorsement.

If you asked me 30 years ago, or 20 years ago, or 15 years ago, or 10 years ago, if a black woman from Atlanta, Georgia that was the former Minority Leader of the Georgia House of Representatives could get 2nd place in the Iowa caucus and be a frontrunner for President of the United States, I would call you crazy. I didn’t do this alone, though.

In the coming days, more diverse states like Nevada and South Carolina will get their say on who our nominee should be. I think our party and our ticket should reflect the United States. It pains me to be the sole person of color in the race. However, I do feel reassured that 50% of the remaining candidates are women!


Thank you, Iowa! On to New Hampshire and Nevada and South Carolina and then to Super Tuesday!

Graphic made by me

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams Schedule before NH

February 4-6 | Nevada

February 4:
-Barnstorm Reno with Congresswoman Karen Bass and Congressman Beto O’Rourke
-Hold town hall at the University of Nevada
-Attend the opening of a temporary office in Manchester via Skype
February 5:
-Meet with local leaders with the Chair of Moms Demand Action to discuss gun violence in Las Vegas
-Roundtable with women to discuss healthcare, reproductive rights, and child care
February 6:
-Major rally in Henderson, aiming for big turnout and courting Latino voters by emphasizing immigration and education issues
-Fly to South Carolina

February 7-8 | South Carolina

February 7:
-Major rally with Congressman John Lewis and Reverend Al Sharpton in Columbia
-Barnstorm Columbia with Congressman Lewis and Reverend Sharpton
February 8:
-Hold a “Women for Stacey” rally with Oprah Winfrey and Hillary Clinton
-Tour rural areas of the state, discuss how to boost infrastructure spending, increasing the minimum wage, and closing income inequality
-Fly to New Hampshire

February 9-11 | New Hampshire

February 9:
-Barnstorm Manchester with Hillary Clinton and Beto O’Rourke
-Hold major rally with Clinton and O’Rourke, focusing on turning out women (which were 57% of the voting population in the IRL 2020 primary)
-Hold town hall at the University of New Hampshire
February 10:
-Hold round table with Bill and Hillary Clinton with seniors (people over 45 being the highest voting bloc, 65% of voters in NH were over 45)
-Major rally in Nashua
February 11:
-Shuttle voters out to the primary
-Barnstorm, doorknock, and phonebank in Concord
-Major rally in Concord with Congressman O’Rourke, Secretary Clinton, the head of the American Federation of Teachers, the NH Chair of Moms Demand Action, and President Carter
-Watch returns at local hotel, give speech at watch party in Manchester

Graphic made by me

[VirginiaAaron]

"Hillary"

Ad Aired in New Hampshire

Hillary Clinton appears on camera, sitting in her living room:

Hi, I’m Hillary Clinton. Over the last year, we’ve started discussing who should be our nominee to defeat President Pence. And now, New Hampshire, you get to make your decision. So here are a few things I hope you’ll think about:

First, it’s not just about Stacey Abrams’s name or Tom Steyer’s name, Kirsten Gillibrand’s name, or Steve Bullock’s name on the ballot. It’s about the kind of country we want for our children and grandchildren. In November, we’ll need a nominee who can encourage people to think about what our country will be like if we have 4 more years of Mike Pence. We need someone that can ask the question, “Is America dark and divisive or hopeful and inclusive?” Our core values are being tested in this election but everywhere Stacey goes, people are refusing to be defined by fear and division.

Look, we all know we’ve come through some really tough economic times. We’ve seen some pretty big changes. Stacey believes in our people. Stacey loves this country and she’s convinced that our best days are still ahead of us if we reach for them together. Stacey wants to be President for ALL Americans, not just those who support her. For everyone, because we all have a role to play in building a stronger, fairer and more welcoming America.

The second thing I want you to know is this: Stacey will work her heart out as president to make your life better for you and your family. She won’t always get it right, but count on this: She’s never quit, and she never will. She gets up every day determined to keep our nation stronger and safer and to make our economy work for everyone, not just the top 1%. And finally, working for children and families has been the cause of her life but has never been more important than it is right now. This has to be our mission together to give our kids and every American the chance to live up to their God-given potential. Tonight, I’m asking you to vote and support Stacey Abrams for President of the United States. We need a uniter, not a divider and someone who can win. I am on Team Stacey!

Image from Wikimedia Commons

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams Campaign Strategy

Image from Wikimedia Commons

The Abrams campaign, after finishing as runner-up to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in Iowa as well as dismal numbers in New Hampshire, has decided to employ the Biden Strategy.

While former Vice President Joe Biden has endorsed Senator Gillibrand, the Abrams campaign is naming their strategy after him because of the way he’s performed and strategized in the real-life 2020 election.

As soon as all of the votes are counted in New Hampshire, Ms. Abrams will spend a couple of days in Nevada but immediately go back to South Carolina to ensure a sweeping victory.

Ms. Abrams hopes to get a 3rd place finish in Nevada, however, her performance in Nevada will not dictate the strategy going forward. A strong finish in South Carolina, and hoping that one or two candidates suspend their campaigns, will lead to a good finish in Super Tuesday.

Going on to Super Tuesday, Ms. Abrams will focus on Alabama, Arkansas, California, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. She hopes to have a strong base in the South, sweeping all of those primaries, as well as expanding her base to California, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Texas.

She sees Minnesota as good territory for her campaign because of President Obama’s sweeping victory in 2008, getting over 66% of the vote over then-Senator Hillary Clinton. She also is focusing on Texas because of their 228 delegates. She’s hoping to get a 2nd place finish in California, knowing that Mr. Steyer will do well there because he resides there. In Oklahoma, she’s hoping a strong performance in Texas will bleed over into Oklahoma, targeting white non-college educated voters.

After Nevada, South Carolina, and all of the Super Tuesday states vote, Ms. Abrams will reassess her campaign to see where to go next.

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams Tweet after NH Primary

Tweet Made by Simitator, Profile Picture from Wikimedia Commons

Transcript: Congratulations to @TomSteyer and @SteveBullock for their great performances in New Hampshire tonight. Now, it's on to see what more diverse states that better represent the Democratic Party have to say about the race. #Nevada #SouthCarolina #TeamStacey

[VirginiaAaron]

Abrams Schedule Through Nevada

February 12-14 | South Carolina

February 12: Barnstorm Columbia with Congressman John Lewis and Hillary Clinton, and hold major rally with Lewis and Clinton in Columbia
February 13: Barnstorm Greenville, hold town hall at Greenville Technical College
February 14: Appear on local news shows, hold town hall in Charleston at the College of Charleston, hold major rally in Charleston (hoping for a big youth turnout), fly to El Paso, TX

February 15-18 | Texas

February 15: Barnstorm El Paso with Beto O’Rourke, talk about plans for immigration and gun safety, hold a roundtable with families of victims of the Walmart shooting in El Paso
February 16: Hold town hall at the University of Houston, hold major rally in Houston, visit predominantly black churches
February 17: Barnstorm Dallas, hold town hall with Beto O’Rourke focusing on local issues that actually affect Texans
February 18: Tour the University of Texas-Austin, boast education plan to young voters, shake hands and take pictures with students and hold major rally afterward, fly to Las Vegas

February 19-22 | Nevada

February 19: Hold a Women for Stacey rally in Las Vegas (trying to win the female vote, as they’re 54% of voters in the 2020 IRL Caucuses), hold roundtable discussing women’s issues and gun safety
February 20: Barnstorm Reno with Beto O’Rourke and Oprah, attempt to win over Latino voters with immigration plans and other plans overall
February 21: Visit retirement centers in Henderson (voters over 65 making up 28% of the voting population), bolster turnout with a big rally in Henderson, launch 2-day bus tour across the state making a last-ditch effort to get in the top 2 or 3 in the state
February 22: Continue bus tour all over the state, taking people to caucus sites making sure they know how to caucus, turning out young and old, taking Oprah and Beto O’Rourke with Stacey on the bus tour, watch returns at hotel in Reno, give remarks in Reno whenever a projection is made.

Graphic made by me

[VirginiaAaron]

New Abrams Endorsements

Today, presidential candidate Stacey Abrams unveiled 3 new endorsements. Former Secretary of State John Kerry of Massachusetts, Arizona's Senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema, and Civil Rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson, Sr.

Secretary Kerry has been named the Chairman of the Massachusetts for Stacey campaign, as well as Senator Sinema being appointed the Chairwoman of the Arizona for Stacey campaign. Rev. Jackson will work closely with Ms. Abrams, serving as an adviser on Civil Rights to the Abrams campaign. Secretary Kerry and Senator Sinema both posted their endorsements on Twitter, while Rev. Jackson's office released a joint statement with the campaign: (All Images are from Wikimedia Commons)

Secretary Kerry's endorsement

Transcript:

I'm happy to say that I'm on #TeamStacey. Stacey's work in Georgia, in the fight for equal rights, and voting rights along with her extensive plans make it an easy choice for our nominee. We need a nominee who can #BeatPence. Stacey will. Join me in Massachusetts next week.

Senator Sinema's endorsement

Transcript:

A little under 2 years ago, I ran for Senate. At the same time, Stacey was running for Governor of Georgia. I got to know Stacey really well. She's a leader, a fighter, and a workhorse. Yes, I'm on #TeamStacey. I'm happy to join the team and make sure she wins #Arizona.

Reverend Jackson released a statement along with the Abrams campaign, here's an excerpt of Mr. Jackson's remarks:

I'm happy to join Stacey in this election. With the exception of Native Americans, African Americans are the people who are most behind socially and economically in the United States. Stacey has committed to me that as President, she will expand Pell Grants, nominate racially diverse individuals to the Supreme Court, and her cabinet. When Stacey is president, she will have the most diverse cabinet in American history. We need our government to reflect our country. Men, women, black, white, latino, asian, gay, straight, transgender. Inclusive is what we need. That is guaranteed under an Abrams administration.