Hundreds of people showed up Wednesday to bid farewell to Frank LaMere, a member of the Winnebago Nation of Nebraska and first associate chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, who left this earth Sunday, June 16 after a brief fight with cancer.
The day was marked by a touching blend of Catholic and Winnebago traditions.
National and state leaders reflected on Frank’s legacy of service, you can read those words on our blog.
John Maisch, who created the documentary “Sober Indian Dangerous Indian” featuring LaMere, told the Omaha World-Herald that Nebraska has “lost a true civil rights leader.”
“Frank worked to give a voice to the voiceless,” Maisch said. “His work to elevate the discussion on issues such as Whiteclay, Native child welfare and the environment will carry on through all of us.”
NDP Chair Jane Kleeb and other party leaders are working with the LaMere family to establish a fitting memorial to Frank. We’ll announce details as soon as they’re available.
***
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon has been named to a list of most vulnerable House Republican incumbents, a signal that Nebraska’s 2nd District will once again be a political battleground.
The special Republican effort, called the “Patriot Program,” asks party donors to direct funds to incumbent campaigns. The congressmen also get additional staff and support for more extensive advertising campaigns from the National Republican Congressional Committee, the GOP’s House campaign arm. Bacon is one of 10 people named to the list.
Meanwhile, Bacon endorsed President Trump’s re-election bid, saying “it’s an easy choice.”
It will be an easy choice for voters, too — who want to send him packing in 2020.
Help us make sure that happens by donating to the NDP!
***
Congratulations again to Democrat Christa Yoakum, who was appointed this week to the Lancaster County Board by a special committee of the county attorney, clerk and treasurer.
Yoakum, coordinator of the “Nebraska is Home” program at Nebraska Appleseed, said she had planned to run for this seat before Jennifer Brinkman declared her candidacy for it. Yoakum lost a narrow race in November for a seat on the Nebraska Public Service Commission.
Brinkman resigned to become chief of staff for Lincoln’s newly elected Democratic mayor, Leirion Gaylor Baird.
***
Esquire’s Charles Pierce mused at the abrupt withdrawal of acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan from the confirmation process, only to be replaced by Mark Esper, the secretary of the Army.
“As the gang at Camp Runamuck lurches blindly toward some kind of military confrontation with Iran, proving once again that letting the folks from C-Plus Augustus’s White House off the hook was an open invitation to the country to wrap itself in perilous historical amnesia, we are now told by the president* that we are not getting a full-time, fully confirmed, actual Secretary of Defense any time soon.
And, once again, an acting Cabinet secretary will be replaced by another acting Cabinet secretary, and I wouldn’t stand on one leg waiting for the administration* to put Esper’s confirmation before the Senate, either. The president* already has said that he ‘likes acting.’ “
***
The first Democratic Presidential Debates are next week (June 26 and 27). The NDP and other groups are hosting TV watch parties. Get details here.
The debates will be televised by NBC and begin at 8 p.m. (CT) each night.
You can also sign up to host a watch party!
***
A reminder that the NDP’s State Central Committee Meeting and Trainings are June 28-30 in Scottsbluff.
More information can be found here.
***
We leave this week with a rendering from the Washington Post’s Tom Toles concerning leaked internal poll data from the Trump campaign showing that he’s sinking in several key battleground states.
–By Kevin O’Hanlon/NDP Communications Director
###
IMPORTANT DATES
June 26-27: Democratic Presidential Debates
June 28-30: SCC Meeting and Trainings in Scottsbluff
Aug. 22-24: DNC Summer Meeting in San Francisco
