Occupy Wall Street Protester Runs for Mayor

Portland, Ore.-- On January 18th, Cameron Whitten, 20, an Occupy Wall Street activist entered his name into the race for Mayor of Portland. Whitten gathered the papers to register on November 14th, the day after he was arrested during the Occupy Portland eviction.

Whitten says he is running because City Council is on uneasy terms with many Portland residents, "Portland has a history of economic and racial oppression which is still apparent in its highly segregated neighborhoods. Although the city flaunts its liberal, progressive politics, it is lagging behind in employment and education in comparison to the rest of the country."

Whitten's vision is to help Portland address its crisis, ranging from economic equality, police accountability, political transparency, and foreclosure reform. He requests that all person and non-person entities contribute no more than $200 dollars to his campaign, giving all income levels proper access to their public officials.

While Portland politicians voice support with concerns raised by the Occupy Movement, they have done little in action, with behaviors that include promoting unlimited campaign contributions despite state laws which prohibit corporate fundraising and enforces individual fundraising caps, calling for massive budget cuts to vital programs while spending millions in pet projects, and blaming poor policy decisions on unarmed civilians, resulting in over $1.76 million wasted on the overtime of a federally investigated police force.

The Occupy Movement has confirmed a lot about the global narrative. Politics on all levels, whether local, state, or federal, have for too long been subject to interference from private interests. Occupy has brought light of that to the public, and now that people are aware, they need to act.

Voting participation and civil engagement in the nation has suffered over the years. However, the federal electoral system has been guilty of perpetuating a bipartisan regime of watered down, bickering candidates who fail to adequately represent a majority of the American population. Occupy has given America the opportunity to practice its democratic roots, and promote people who honor the Constitution written by our founding fathers. Social Media has become a powerful asset in grassroots outreach, and nonpartisan efforts no longer have to challenge corporate media for fair representation.

Whitten states, "This is a call to the disenfranchised masses. You have lost faith in a broken system. You have been abused by excessive police violence and kept afraid in your homes, trying to exercise your unalienable rights against these corrupt institutions that put profits over people. They do not deserve that power. This action will not repair the system so many people are frustrated with, but it will disrupt the  power of those willing to use that system to continually oppress us. Do  not support the private agenda of professional politicians. No matter  where you are, demonstrate the power of direct democracy, and its  ability to influence the  culture of government. Recall your misguided  politicians. Occupy the White House. Occupy Congress. Occupy City Hall.  Occupy the Ballot."

Occupy Wall Street continues to be a nonpolitical, leaderless movement, encouraging the creative actions of autonomous individuals to nonviolently advocate for change.

Press Conference: January 20th, 10:00 AM on the steps of the Multnomah County Justice Center. 1120 SW 3rd Ave Portland, OR 97204

For more information, visit: www.cameronwhittenforunity.com

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Mike Smiddy (38), candidate for State Representative in Illinois' 71st District received an enormous boost in his bid to become the democratic nominee when on Thursday he received the endorsements of the Northwest Illinois Building Trades and the Illinois AFL-CIO.  The Northwest Illinois Building Trades represents unions in Whiteside County the northern part of the 71st District while the Illinois AFL-CIO represents 1,500 local unions and nearly one million union members throughout the State of Illinois.

"Growing up in a middle class family and being the son of a UAW retiree I am extremely proud to have received these organizations support.  It is the hard work of organized labor that created the middle class in America and I plan to be a voice in the Illinois Legislature for those values and Ideals."

Smiddy, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Local #46 at the East Moline Correctional Center believes that each generation is suppose to do better than the previous one.  If Illinois continues down its current path, our children and grandchildren may not be able to reach their potential because of our failures.

"We must demand more from our elected officials.  Being able to believe in the American Dream that we can achieve our goals by hard work and dedication is what our communities were built on. Illinoisans need to be able to trust those that they elect and send to Springfield.  Citizens need to have the confidence that the decisions that are being made by our leaders are done for the right reasons."

Since announcing his candidacy back in September, Smiddy has also received endorsements from the following organizations:

 

Laborers Local #309 (Rock Island)

The Quad City Federation of Labor

The Tri-City Building Trades

The Great Plains Laborer's District Council (Iowa, Illinois, Indiana)

Rock Island Firefighters Association Local #26

Illinois AFL-CIO

Northwest Illinois Building Trades

Quad City - Illinois UAW CAP Council Endorsement Recommendation

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley has meetings scheduled with Iowans in 16 counties next week.

Beginning on Monday, Grassley will be in Centerville, Albia, Chariton, Corydon, Garden Grove, Mt. Ayr, Creston, Osceola, Winterset, Greenfield, Panora, Grimes, Grand Junction, Boone, Ames, and Le Grand.

Already this month, he has traveled to 20 counties for dialogue with Iowans.  Grassley has held at least one meeting in each of Iowa's 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1980.

"I look forward to these meetings to hear directly from Iowans and to have the dialogue that's so important to the process of representative government.  This process is a two-way street.  I go to people to answer questions and listen to comments, and they come out and participate in the discussion," Grassley said.

Grassley encourages Iowans to communicate with him on a regular basis.  In turn, he plans regular, face-to-face meetings in Iowa and with Iowans in Washington, and he responds to every letter, email and phone call from Iowans.  Grassley also communicates via Facebook, Twitter and at http://grassley.senate.gov.

Below is more information about this month's meetings.  The town meetings are open to the public.  Local hosts should be contacted regarding other meetings.  Grassley will be available for interviews with local reporters for 15 minutes after every meeting.

Earlier this month, Grassley held meetings in Riceville, Charles City, New Hampton, Waverly, Waterloo, Clarion, Dakota City, Algona, Forest City, Garner, Hampton, Mason City, Manly, Osage, Calmar, West Union, Independence, Manchester, Vinton, and Gladbrook.

 

Monday, January 16

5-6 p.m.

Appanoose County Weekly Meal at Faith United Methodist Church, Q&A with Attendees

23851 Highway 5 South in Centerville 

 

Tuesday, January 17

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Monroe County Town Meeting

Albia Area Chamber of Commerce

18 South Main Street in Albia

 

10:15-11:15 a.m.

Lucas County Town Meeting

Carpenter Hall

1215 Court Street in Chariton

 

12-1 p.m.

Wayne County Town Meeting

Wayne County Courthouse

100 North Lafayette in Corydon

 

2-3 p.m.

Speak to Government Class

Mormon Trail Jr./Sr. High School

502 East Main Street in Garden Grove

 

4:30-5:30 p.m.

Ringgold County Town Meeting

Jamie's Coffee Mill & Deli

118 West Adams Street in Mt. Ayr

 

Wednesday, January 18

7:30-8:30 a.m.

Union County Town Meeting

City Hall/Restored Depot, City Council Chambers

116 West Adams Street in Creston

 

9:45-10:45 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Clarke County High School

800 North Jackson in Osceola

 

12-1 p.m.

Madison County Town Meeting

Winterset Public Library, Meeting Room

123 North 2^nd Street in Winterset

 

2-3 p.m.

Adair County Town Meeting

Andrews Memorial Adair County Health & Fitness Center, Meeting Room

202 North Townline Road in Greenfield

 

4:15-5:15 p.m.

Guthrie County Town Meeting

Panora Community Center

115 West Main Street in Panora

 

Thursday, January 19

8-9 a.m.

Q&A with Students

Dallas Center-Grimes Middle School

1400 Vine Street in Grimes

 

10:30-11:30 a.m.

Greene County Town Meeting

Grand Junction Community Center

212 Main Street in Grand Junction

 

12:30-1:30 p.m.

Boone County Town Meeting

Boone County Historical Center

602 Story Street in Boone

 

2:30-3:30 p.m.

Tour Facility and Q&A with Employees

Becker Underwood

801 Dayton Avenue in Ames

 

5-6 p.m.

Marshall County Town Meeting

Le Grand Area Community Center

206 North Vine Street in Le Grand

 

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(New York) On Fox News' "Hannity" television show Wednesday night, Herman Cain told the world he intends to start something?a revolution. He has launched "Cain's Solutions Revolution."

Due in part to its incredible popularity, the first focus of "Cain's Solutions Revolution" will be "9-9-9 The Revolution". This movement will promote real solutions to the serious problems that have, for far too long, kept government power out of the hands of the American people, out of the very hands where government power truly belongs.

Mr. Cain assures this revolution is not simply slogans or empty promises, "This movement is not about bombs and bullets. It's about brains and ballots," Cain said. "With the simple key solutions we have outlined at www.cainconnections.com, we the people, can - and will - take back our government."

In addition to '9-9-9 The Revolution', 'Cain's  Solutions Revolution' includes several other very important solution areas:

• Regulatory Reform
• Energy Independence: "Made in America"
• Monetary Reform: (Make the dollar as good as gold)
• Peace through Strength and Clarity
• Candidate Commitments

"Cain's Solutions Revolution" will also provide the strategy and tactics for our citizens to make these solutions come to life - across the nation, in our states and in our local communities.

Through bus tours, town hall meetings, rallies and many other outreach efforts, the "Cain Solutions Revolution" will energize and empower not only those who want to 'keep 9-9-9 alive' but who are inspired to have a major, positive impact on the future of our country in this critical 2012 election season and beyond.

For more information, please visit www.cainconnections.com