118 Days
Until the November 3rd Election
Our Recommendations for November
What Voting Blue means to us: We Steering Committee members are pragmatic progressives with no “purity or litmus tests” for our key issues. Rather, we will support the candidate that comes closest to our positions, which means that moderate Joe Biden is much preferred to fascist Donald Trump. And, electability matters; one can’t govern from the sidelines. Sometimes that means backing someone who looks less blue than their opponent, someone who is in better position to be elected and actually help us. Finally, some candidates might want us to maintain our distance for political reasons specific to their constituencies. We respect that, so people we would otherwise recommend may be missing from this list.
Let’s flip a couple of state house seats Blue! New this week*
President: Joe Biden
U.S. Senate: Jeff Merkley
Secretary of State: Shemia Fagan
State Treasurer: Tobias Read
State Attorney General: Ellen Rosenblum
*State House District 5: Alberto Enriquez
*State House District 6: Mary Middleton
Jackson County Commissioner: Terrie Martin
Watch this space; more to come.
***Today’s Call To Action***
TRUST SCIENCE
JUST SAY NO TO TRUMP
A most important characteristic of leadership is truthfulness, particularly during an emergency like our C-19 public health crisis. Our fake POTUS lies. He lies to shape the views of his followers. They believe him. Recently, Trump has been telling them that:
- 99% of coronavirus infections are “totally harmless.”
- The spike in the numbers of C-19 cases results from more testing.
- The virus is going to “just disappear.”
Since those with eyes to see know this is pure fantasy, the White House is reportedly preparing to sell the line that:
“ . . . we need to live with it.”
Wrong. The fact that Trump delayed and then decided against an all-out fight against the virus, or to even wear a mask, is a monstrous failure of leadership.
China didn’t just live with it. They mounted a campaign of widespread testing, tracing and isolation. On Monday, China reported 8 cases.
Compared to the US, other countries are accomplishing what Trump isn’t even trying:
- United States (46,727 new cases Monday)
- Germany (219)
- France (0)
- Viet Nam (0)
- Spain (0)
“We are heading in the wrong direction, and we are heading there quickly.”
(Former CDC director Tom Frieden)
Ignore Trump, Trust Science
Wash your hands. Social distance. Wear a mask.
**ACTION ONE: CALL OUR U.S. SENATORS**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR SENATORS MERKLEY and WYDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
I am calling because it appears Trump won’t fight the coronavirus. We don’t have to live with it. On Monday, France, Spain and even Viet Nam had no new cases. Zero. We need a country-wide commitment to fight C-19. Please lead a national campaign against the pandemic. “Wear a mask” should be a patriotic pledge. Lead by example, and constantly call out Trump’s murder of 133,000 Americans.
SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY
Portland: (503) 326-3386, DC: (202) 224-3753
Salem: (503) 362-8102, Eugene: (541) 465-6750
Medford: (541) 608-9102, Bend: (541) 318-1298
Pendleton: (541) 278-1129
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/contact/
Portland: (503) 326-7525, DC: (202) 224-5244
Salem: (503) 589-4555, Eugene: (541) 431-0229
Medford: (541) 858-5122, Bend: (541) 330-9142
La Grande: (541) 960-7691
https://www.wyden.senate.gov/contact/
**ACTION TWO: CALL COMPLICIT GREG WALDEN**
SAMPLE SCRIPT FOR WALDEN:
“My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [town/city], Oregon [zip code].
The House is tasked with oversight to check and balance this or any administration.
I demand that Greg Walden put partisan politics aside and help us fight the coronavirus because Trump won’t. We don’t have to live with it. On Monday, France, Spain and even Viet Nam had no new cases. Zero. We need a country-wide commitment to fight C-19. “Wear a mask” should be a patriotic pledge. Greg should lead by example, and constantly call out Trump’s murder of 133,000 Americans. Or, is Greg fine with enabling Trump’s ever-growing atrocities?
To remain silent on all of this is a moral outrage. If that’s Greg’s decision, I call on him to resign his office effective immediately.
Where’s Walden? History is watching; Greg’s legacy is at stake.
Thank you.”
DC (202) 225-6730, Medford: (541) 776-4646
Bend (541) 389-4408, La Grande (541) 624-2400
https://walden.house.gov/contact-greg/email-me
**ACTION THREE: BE AN ACTIVIST**
July 8, 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Ongoing every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
#MyORHealth Support is available for Oregon’s “helpers”
Lines for Life has created a Virtual Wellness Room to offer support to helpers, mental health professionals, first responders, social workers and anyone considered an essential worker during the COVID-19 pandemic in Oregon. Each check-in call will have a facilitator to guide the conversation.
“We at Lines for Life want to thank you for all the work you do to keep our communities safe,” the organization said. “We are offering a place for helpers to exchange stories of hope and areas of need. We especially want to hear what things are coming up for you personally and explore how we can cheer one another on to continue the good work you are already doing. We ultimately want to create space to breathe out stress and breathe in hope.”
The meetings are held using Zoom conference calls from 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at this link: https://zoom.us/j/4848426773. Please share this invite with anyone in your network of Oregon helpers.
ORD2 Indivisible Virtual General Meeting
“Policing in the Valley: Re-Imaging Police Work During a Time of Black Lives Matter.”
July 13 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm
To register for this important meeting, please click here.
https://ord2indivisible.org/event/ord2-indivisible-virtual-general-meeting-2/
Ongoing Action: ORD2 Indivisible Virtual Postcard and Letter Writing Parties
Postcards to Voters:
Our postcard team is temporarily suspending the delivery of postcards to your door. However, the good news is that you will find everything you need to continue writing from home (including templates to print your own or purchase pre-printed cards) here: https://postcardstovoters.org
You can sign up through https://postcardstovoters.org/volunteer/
To avoid unnecessary trips to the post office, order stamps directly from the USPS:
https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/coral-reefs-postcard-stamp-S_745104
…and voila, you’re ready to go! Send an e-mail to with any questions.
Letters to Voters
We encourage our team of volunteers to sign up with Swing Left to start writing letters to voters in 12 swing states. It is super easy to join. Check out their website, sign up, and let’s start writing! https://swingleft.org/
Send an e-mail to if you would like more information about how to get involved.
Virtual Letter-writing Parties
We encourage you to join virtual letter-writing parties hosted by Oregon Indivisible / Swing Left. The parties are held at noon every Saturday and on the last Tuesday of every month. Here are the links for the next two parties:
https://www.mobilize.us/swingleft/event/267146/
**Visit the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar on a regular basis to keep updated on local activities. Participate with us as often as you can. We also encourage you to submit events to be added to the ORD2 Indivisible Event Calendar and help us keep current with our event postings. https://ord2indivisible.org/submit-your-event/
SOURCES:
Despite Rising Coronavirus Cases, Trump’s Focus Is Elsewhere : NPR
CDC: Coronavirus spreading too fast in U.S. – Axios
The Tragedy of the New Coronavirus Spikes | The New Yorker
White House looks to make ‘we need to live with it’ the new tone on coronavirus: report | TheHill
Coronavirus on track to overwhelm Houston hospitals in two weeks, mayor says
No, more testing doesn’t explain the rise of covid-19 cases in the U.S. – The Washington Post
White House rejects national mandate on masks to prevent spread of coronavirus | TheHill
How did masks morph from protection into divisive symbols? | Miami Herald
Why the U.S. still hasn’t solved its testing crisis – POLITICO