VP Harris brings vaccination push to Greenville
As they say in the South: "She's not from around here." Yet it felt a bit like a homecoming to have Kamala - excuse me, Vice President Harris - back in Greenville.
As a candidate, then-Senator Harris visited Greenville at least twice and had a large presence here. Additionally, our own county chair, Elias "Eli" Valentin, was her state political director.
Under extremely tight security, she spoke to a group of South Carolina leaders at the Phillis Wheatley Center. They included the DNC Chair Jaime Harrison, state chair Trav Robertson, former governor and US Secretary of Education Richard Riley, among other elected officials, notables and friends.
Republicans welcomed the vice president with a repetitive round of "go to the border," flooding social media with messages and memes suggesting, in the words of Rep. Nancy Mace, that "we can vaccinate our citizens just fine without you stopping by."
All evidence to the contrary, Nancy. Let's try some facts on for size.
1. South Carolina ranks 46th in the country in percentage of vaccines administered. That's a 76 percent distribution rate that leaves 1,221 million doses on the shelf, compared to the national average of 83 percent.
2. South Carolina ranks 41st in the country in the percentage of residents fully vaccinated. That's a whopping 36 percent. The national average is 44 percent.
3. South Carolina ranks 42nd in the country in the percentage of residents with at least one dose. That's 41 percent, compared to the national average of 51 percent.
Note: Beckers updates these rankings every Monday.
Add to those disturbing statistics, the fact that surveys show almost a third of South Carolinians "definitely will not get a vaccine." That makes South Carolina a high value target for dangerous variants. In fact, this spring, the CDC reported that 40 percent of the dangerous South African variant were concentrated in South Carolina. Just last week, it also reported that the highly transmissible and dangerous "Delta" variant, which originated in India, has been found in four cases in South Carolina. While that's not a huge number, we are fertile ground for community spread with more than 60 percent of the population unvaccinated. The CDC says Delta is expected to become the dominant strain in the US.
In keeping with his abysmal leadership throughout the pandemic, Gov. Henry McMaster has banned vaccine passports in the state, making it all but impossible for businesses, restaurants, bars, entertainment venues, etc., to protect employees, customers, or clients. And he and his administration have deemed it a "waste of money" to do anything to incentivize or encourage residents to get vaccinated.
But, sure, let's go with "we can vaccinate our citizens just fine without you stopping by."
For the rest of us - those who don't have our heads in the sand and care about the health of our communities - thank you, Madam Vice President for visiting Greenville and pushing us to find new ways to get shots in needy arms. (For the grammatically inclined, check out this discussion of whether we should use Madam or Madame in this instance.)
As a reminder: the GCDP will help anyone who has trouble scheduling their vaccine. Just call our office at 864-232-5531 and we will have a volunteer call you back and get an appointment made. We'll even find you a ride to the shot, if you need one.
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Inside the Hall: 1. Vice President Harris greets Eli Valentin, now our county chair but formerly her SC political director. 2. VP Harris tells the audience of state and county leaders that getting the vaccine is a form of community service, "a projection of love thy neighbor." 3. Susan Riordan, a founder of Emerge SC, with former governor Richard Riley, Marguerite Willis, and Eli Valentin. 4. Marguerite Willis and Greenville City Councillor Dorothy Dowe put their heads together. 5. Jaime Harrison, chairman of the national Democratic Party greets Peggy Baxter.
Photos Courtesy of Ruth Todd Photography; Air Force Two courtesy of the Post and Courier
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Should we end the filibuster?
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For all the talk we hear about killing the filibuster, the issue is less cut-and-dried among Greenville's Democrats.
Our 2-second poll on the issue did have a clear preference, see graphic above, for killing the filibuster now; but another 30 percent had slightly different views.
On to this week's question: South Carolina has choosen not to distribute federal unemployment enhancement funds to those who are out of work. Some states are redeploying these funds to other public programs. What do you think South Carolina will do with theirs?
Because of the somewhat tongue-in-cheek nature of this week's question, we've given you a write-in option. That may add a second or two ...
Click to answer
Check our next issue on July 5 for the results and a new question.
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19
That's the number of emergency road and bridge projects that have not even been started by the state's Department of Transportation. But wait, there's more. The state received what it described as its first "increased and sustainable revenue stream.. in 30 years" under a Roads Bill that went into effect four years ago.
The state boasts on its website that as part of its 10-year-plan it has replaced 465 bridges, improved 140 miles of interstate (most of that was likely federally funded), and added "safety features" to 1000 miles of roads. All well and good. Although the boasts are unchanged since the last time we checked this page - more than a year ago.
The issue though is emergencies. You can see the project status of all SCDOT projects and when you dig into the emergency projects you see them languishing somewhere between contract awarding and design development. Our state is made up of many miles of bad road - in both the literal and figurative sense. Four years into a 10-year plan maybe the SCDOT just doesn't understand what an emergency is. Here's a hint from Miriam Webster:
1: an unforeseen combination of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for immediate action
2 : an urgent need for assistance or relief
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Get fired up for politics
Hope you've got our BBQ Cookoff on your calendar. It's July 26 starting at 11 a.m. at the baseball field in Cleveland Park.
We're putting together a great lineup of chefs, games, and activities for the whole family. Come dunk your favorite Democrat in the big tank, get in on a raffle for a Smoker (Democratic blue, of course!), or just hang out with us and listen to local bands. And a whole lot more!
A number of sponsorship levels will be available – a great opportunity to advertise your Greenville business! Sign up today to get notified as soon as tickets go on sale.
An event like this takes a lot of hands to put together and to pull off. Yes, we're looking at you! Please consider volunteering with our BBQ committee. We really need you. Email 1st Vice Chair Ruth Todd to get involved in the hottest event this summer!
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Make a difference in Greenville
Looking for a way to make a tangible difference in Greenville County? Consider serving on a countywide board or commission. The county accepts applications twice a year - and applications are open now through the end of July.
Commissions with vacancies include the Airport Commission, historic preservation, human relations, zoming board and more. Find a full list and download an application here. Applications must be submitted by July 30.
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Another class of leaders Emerges
Congratulations to the 30 new graduates of Emerge SC's signature leadership training program, especially Greenville's five class members.
👏👏👏 for Greenville's own Amber Galea, Stacey Mars, Tricia Paul, Kirsten Pruitt, and Ebony Sullivan.
Congratulations, ladies! Now let's go change the world - or at least our little corner of it.
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Bring your PRIDE to our June breakfast
Join the GCDP as we celebrate PRIDE with our guest speakers from the Alliance for Full Acceptance and Upstate Pride. Register on Mobilize.
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Young Dems turn it up to turn SC blue
Young Democrats of Greenville County had their first in-person meeting since COVID recently and started making plans for the busy 2-year cycle ahead. Working closely to register voters with the Register 46 project is high on the list, as is building relationships and growing the number of active YDs in the county. It's a busy time for the group which will participate in the Young Democrats of South Carolina annual meeting this weekend.
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Help find Greenville's missing voters
The South Carolina Democratic Party and the GCDP are focusing resources, volunteers, and efforts on finding 28,000 presumed-to-be Democratic voters who are not registered.
This is an all-hands-on-deck effort and there are lots of ways to volunteer, including virtual phone banking, canvassing. Sign up for a shift or two, bring a friend, and help turn the red tide in South Carolina!
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Get in on the ground floor of our podcast
The GCDP is starting a podcast. And if you have audio editing, writing or other creative talents, we'd love to have you on the team. Previous podcasting experience is a big help and a knowledge of and tools for technical audio editing are strongly needed. Writing and all communications skills are needed to.
We are looking for volunteers who will make a minimum four-month commitment to give us a consistent team in place as we test the waters with this new communications method. If you're interested, please let us know.
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"The era of bipartisanship is over'
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We kick the word 'bipartisan' around a lot, but we seem to have a lot of trouble pinning a definition to it. And that's a real problem. The only way we can accomplish anything together is through communication. And that demands that we agree on a lexicon, a dictionary, a set of defined terms.
On June 8, Mitch McConnell declared bipartisanship to be over apparently because he didn't like Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's plan for getting the For the People Act passed in June. It seems that bipartisanship means Democrats accept everything Republicans demand - and even then they may not (remember McCarthy reneging on the Insurrection Commission?).
Six days later, McConnell vowed not to approve a Biden Supreme Court nominee no matter when in his term an opening could occur. That's certainly a shining example of bipartisanship.
In reality, the era of bipartisanship may be over if it means nothing gets done - again - in Congress. Current polling analyzed by FiveThirtyEight seems to back this up. While the vast majority of all Americans agree that it is at least somewhat important to have bipartisan support, a full 79 percent of Democrats and 41 percent of Republicans are willing to scrap the idea if it means passing legislation.
It may be, however, that bringing the country together is more important than bringing the Congress together. And the country as a whole likes the ideas the Biden Administration is putting forward, and is benefiting dramatically from the American Rescue Plan Democrats passed without a single Republican vote.
The same is true of the For The People Act that must be passed in order to blunt the regressive voting laws many states, including South Carolina, have passed or are considering. Again, Republicans are out of step even with their own voters as this compelling audio illustrates.
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25 billionaires vs. the rest of us
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On Tuesday, June 8, the GOP in the Senate blocked legislation to address pay inequality by limiting the thing employers can use to justify pay differentials. The bill would also prohibit retaliation against workers who compared salaries.
On the same day that Mitch McConnell justified blocking this bill as a "partisan bill" and a "giveaway to lawyers," we also got some bracing news from a Pro Publica investigation. Not like we didn't already know this, but the scope of the news about the taxes paid by the wealthiest Americas was staggering. The 25 richest Americans paid a tax rate of 3.4 percent between 2014 and 2018, as their net worth grew by (not to) $400 billion in the same period.
We paid an average income tax rate of 14.6 percent in 2017, but $29.8 percent when you add in taxes deducted from paychecks for Social Security and Medicare.
Jeff Bezos, the worlds richest man (shown above with his rocket he and his bro will take a joy ride on soon), in 2011 paid zero income tax and received a $4000 child tax credit!
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Shareables
Let's spread important news around. Spurred by the Pro Publica report, we're going to add Shareables to our Briefings on a regular basis.
Copy the attached graphic and spread it to email friends, text buddies, and social followers.
We are tired of labels like "socialist", "partisans", and far worse. But we'll take the label "Democrat" any day.
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Good news stories of the week
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A new national holiday
The celebration of America's Black slaves learning of their freedom in 1865 (two years after the Emancipation Proclamation) has been known by many names. This year, to Freedom Day and Emancipation Day, we the people added national holiday. (Yes, I'm stealing this nearly verbatim from VP Harris!).
Let's hope our country is strong enough not just to put a date on the calendar but to ensure all Americans learn the full and accurate history so we can truly appreciate what we are celebrating.
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Pulitizer recognizes a citizen journalist
Thousands of journalists have died in the line of duty. They've been killed in war zones, murdered by mob bosses, kidnapped and killed by terrorists. Their courage often goes unknown and unrecognized.
But Darnella Frazier is not a journalist and when she committed the remarkable and courageous act of journalism – by recording the murder of George Floyd by Officer Derek Chauvin – she was just a 17-year-old bystander. Still she risked her own safety to make sure the truth would be seen.
For that the Pulitzer Prize Committee last week honored her with special citation.
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June's 2nd Thursday Conversation
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We celebrated Pride Month with a panel representing South Carolina’s growing LGBTQ+ population. Jarrod Wiggins, Greenville activist, advocate, political organizer and founder of the Podmetto Politics podcast; Pat Patterson, theater professor, and LGBTQ activists known for raising awareness through his drag queen alter eo – Patti O’Furniture, and Regina Duggins, founder of Charleston Black Pride among many other activities, discussed the journey and the challenges it’s been necessary to overcome. For them, there are few footsteps to follow. They are breaking new ground.
 
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Democratic Women June Virtual Meeting
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Identifying and registering voters is key to Democratic outcomes in upcoming elections, and that was the topic of the Democratic Women of Greenville County's monthly meeting. Brandon Upson, the founder of Amplify Action, and Timicia Grant, the SCDP's lead organizer for its Register 46 effort, were the key presenters, with a lot of information you have not seen before.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
The final session of the League of Women Voters series on Good Governance is tonight - June 21. Tonight's a topic near and dear to our hearts: Dark Money. You can register online. And also get the link to view all the previous sessions in case you missed them. More Info.
Also tonight, the Climate Reality Project, Upstate Chapter has its first in-person meeting. Frank Holleman, an attorney and environmental advocate as well as a former US Deputy Secretary of Education, will be the guest speaker. Get details.
An in-person public "drop in" meeting, sponsored by the city and Urban Design Associates, will share information about the West End Small Area Plan. Tuesday, June 22, at 8 p.m. More info.
Democrats Care will be collecting clothing donations to help provide a business wardrobe to new workers in need. We'll be collecting for the Foothills Family Resource center and The Center for Working Families through June 30. They will distribute the donations to their clients to help them put their best foot forward for job interviews. More details. In July, we'll be collecting a variety of personal care needs and food items for the Greer Relief and Resources Agency. See what we need and where to drop off.
Young Democrats of South Carolina have their 2021 State Convention June 25-27. Details and a link to purchase tickets for the online convention are available here.
Black Pride Festival, sponsored by Upstate Pride and Pride Link, takes place Saturday in Falls Park. Contact the organizers for more info.
The GCDP celebrates PRIDE at our monthly breakfast on Saturday, June 26. Join us at https://bit.ly/gcdp-breakfast at 9 a.m. on Saturday.
As part of the Register 46 program to find, register and mobilize Democrats in all 46 counties, the Greenville Chapter of the National Council of Negro Women will be having a Day of Action canvass on Saturday June 26. Register on Mobilize.
The Greenville City Council meets Monday, June 28 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall. There is a remote viewing location at the Greenville Convention Center, 1 Exposition Dr. and a livestream available. Speakers must register by 3 p.m. the day of the meeting. Details and online links.
Moms Demand Action, Golden Strip chapter, is having its monthly meeting on June 28 at 6:30 p.m.. On the docket: the legislative session, 2021 focus, and more. This is intended to be an in-person meeting, but if you are registered you'll get a zoom link in the event of uncooperative weather. Sign up online to get the in-person location.
Jay Parmley, executive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, livestreams his "Parmley Report" on the party's activities every Monday at 6 p.m. on Facebook. You can register on Mobilize or just drop into the SCDP's Facebook page.
Are you a GCDP volunteer? Do you want to be? Join us for our monthly huddle to discuss current and future opportunities. More info and link to register.
More information about all these events and more is in our calendar. Does your group have an event you'd like to share, submit it to our calendar!
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