DEERFIELD, IL – Following a daylong trip to Illinois’ Tenth District in support of Congressional Candidate Dan Seals, U.S. Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued the following statement:

“As a Member of Congress and a Jewish woman, I strongly support Dan Seals for Congress in the Tenth Congressional District of Illinois. There are many key issues, but I want to focus on just three: reproductive choice, the economy, and Israel.

Let me be as clear as possible: If you support a woman’s right to reproductive choice, you cannot support Robert Dold. Dold is not pro-choice, and his claim that he is pro-choice is exactly the kind of double-talk that anti-choice candidates have learned to use with moderate voters. Pro-choice voters should not be fooled.

If you oppose federal assistance for women who need abortions, you are not pro-choice. Period. The right to choose is meaningless without the means to choose. If you would put the government between a woman and her doctor by requiring parental notification—which in some cases will lead to beatings or worse—you are not pro-choice. Period. If you think the government should decide when during the course of a pregnancy an abortion is inappropriate instead of leaving that decision to a woman and her doctor, you are not pro-choice. Period. Robert Dold is not pro-choice. Period.

Dan Seals is the only candidate in this race who understands what is at stake and who we can count on to support the right to reproductive choice.

Dan Seals is a responsible fiscal conservative who understands that we can’t afford to return to the record deficits of the Bush administration.  Dan’s opponent thinks Rep. Paul Ryan’s radical plan to privatize Social Security, eliminate Medicare, and raise taxes on the middle class while slashing taxes for the rich is good economics.

Finally, as the first Jewish woman to represent Florida in Congress and a strong supporter of Israel representing a district with a substantial Jewish population, I find it deeply troubling that supporters of Bob Dold are attempting to turn what in fact is strong, bi-partisan support for Israel into an election issue. This is the last thing anyone who truly cares about Israel should want. Don’t let anyone fool you into believing that Israel should be an issue in the contest between Dan Seals and Bob Dold.

Dan Seals has been unwavering in his support for Israel. During the Lebanon War of 2006, Seals argued that Israel was “doing the right thing by defending herself against terrorism. She has the inherent right and responsibility to protect her borders and to defend against attacks by terrorists that threaten the security of Israeli citizens.”

When 164 Republicans voted against foreign aid to Israel in 2007, Seals condemned GOP leadership for urging the “no” vote.  Dan Seals strongly supports Israel’s right to self-defense in Gaza, and he has consistently backed tough action against Iran, urging the Administration to do more to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Dan stood with Israel during the Gaza flotilla incident, and I know he will be a strong voice for Israel in Congress.

Dan Seals shares ALL of our values, not just some of them. Don’t be fooled by Dold’s double-talk, and don’t let anyone manipulate our legitimate concerns about Israel for partisan gain.  That is dangerous for Israel and shows weakness to her opponents.  Dan Seals has the strength and character to be an outstanding member of Congress.

I hope I can count on you to send Dan Seals to Congress.”

Debbie Wasserman Schultz is the first Jewish Congresswoman ever elected from Florida. In March 2009, after she announced her own battle with breast cancer, Rep. Wasserman Schultz introduced the Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young Act, or EARLY Act (H.R. 1740), legislation that directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop and implement a national education campaign about the threat breast cancer poses to all young women, and the particular heightened risks of certain ethnic, cultural and racial groups. This bill became law as part of the Affordable Health Care For America Act in March, 2010.

Rep. Wasserman Schultz serves on the House Committee on Appropriations, which, in conjunction with its Senate counterpart, makes funding decisions on every discretionary program in the federal budget. She serves as a “Cardinal,” chairing the Legislative Branch subcommittee. She also recently stepped down from the Judiciary Committee to serve on the Select Intelligence Oversight Panel.

Dan Seals is a business consultant and Lecturer at Northwestern University. The Democratic nominee for Congress in Illinois’ Tenth District, Seals is a former Director at GE Capital and Group Manager at Sprint. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Wilmette with his wife, Mia, and their three daughters.  Seals is proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC-PAC), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, the Human Rights Campaign, and more.

“First and foremost, we must honor the sacrifice of those who have served and continue to serve our country around the world, and remember those who paid the ultimate price for our nation.  This day is a testament to their hard work, their dedication to freedom, and their willingness to risk their lives for our country.  To our troops — our appreciation for your service is beyond words.

After seven long years of war, it was gratifying to hear President Obama tonight declare the end of combat operations, but our work in Iraq is not yet done. We will continue to do what we can to encourage a self-sufficient, independent nation that supports democracy and contributes to stability in the Middle East.  These goals must be accomplished as we exit Iraq, and I will hold the President accountable to his commitment to withdraw all troops in 2011.

While we fight these battles overseas, we also combat serious struggles here at home. We must redouble our efforts to support small businesses and get people back to work, so that our troops and their families will have economic security on the home front.”

In a letter to Seals, NCPSSM President and CEO Barbara B. Kennelly expressed the national organization’s strong support:

“Our nation needs your leadership, vision and determination to fight for working families and older Americans. You earned the endorsement of the National Committee because you understand and support the critical roles that Social Security and Medicare play in the retirement and health security of our nation’s older citizens and their families. You are well-prepared to serve the needs of seniors and as your record clearly shows, you will make the preservation of Social Security and Medicare a priority in office.

You understand that Congressional efforts to privatize Social Security, which would undermine the most successful social insurance plan ever, continue.”

Seals is committed to preserving Social Security and Medicare and keeping the promises we’ve made to seniors.  Last week, he earned the endorsement of U.S. Representative Sandy Levin. Levin is Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means and as the Ranking Member of the Social Security Subcommittee in 2005, led the successful fight against the Bush plan to privatize the program.

“We need honest leaders like Dan Seals in Washington,” said Chairman Levin. “He understands the challenges facing our families at home and our friends overseas. I am proud to strongly endorse Dan, because he will fight to strengthen our economy, protect middle-class families and seniors, and stand firmly with our greatest ally, Israel.  On the other hand, Dan’s opponent’s plan for Social Security and Medicare is like a big hug to Congressman Paul Ryan.  Bob Dold is way outside the mainstream and doesn’t share our values.”

Despite its solvency for the next 27 years, Seals’ opponent wants to gut Social Security by raising the retirement age, cutting benefits, and privatizing the funds.  Dold’s Social Security plan is identical to the Bush plan Mr. Levin fought successfully against and would add more than $2.2 trillion to the national debt.

Ryan’s radical budget plan includes privatizing Social Security, eliminating Medicare, and raising taxes on middle class families in order to pay for tax cuts for the rich and special interests.  Dold indicated his support for Ryan’s plan before quickly removing the post from his Facebook page.

Ryan will be joined by local Republican candidates in Chicago tomorrow to promote his plan. Several organizations – including Citizen Action/Illinois, HCAN Illinois, Illinois Main Street Alliance, & Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans –  plan to protest his visit and oppose the Congressman’s extreme agenda. The protest is scheduled to take place at 12:00pm at the Four Seasons Hotel.

In addtion to the NCPSSM, Seals is endorsed by a wide array of organizations, including Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC-PAC), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, and more.

The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare is the nation’s leading advocacy group that fights to protect Social Security and Medicare, and its goal is “to protect, preserve, promote, and ensure the financial security, health, and the well being of current and future generations of maturing Americans.”

“I am proud to have the Asian American Action Fund of Greater Chicago as an ally in my efforts to work with the diverse communities who contribute to the 10th District and our nation’s cultural, economic, and political successes,” said Seals.

The 10th District boasts a richly multicultural constituency and is home to nearly 15,000 Asian-American voters, including nearly 5,000 Chinese Americans, 4,000 Korean Americans, 4,000 Indian Americans, and 1,500 Japanese Americans.

Seals’ first job out of college was as a high school teacher in Japan. He speaks fluent Japanese and holds a Master’s degree in International Economics & Japanese Studies from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS).

Seals has consistently sought out opportunities for collaboration across Asian American communities, most recently speaking with community leaders at the Korean American Resource and Cultural Center about immigration, education, and small business growth last week.

AAAFGC joins a broad coalition of organizations endorsing Seals’ candidacy, including Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC-PAC), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, the Human Rights Campaign, and more.

Yesterday, Seals was endorsed by Congressman Sandy Levin of Michigan. Levin is Chairman of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means.

AAAFGC is a progressive and multi-ethnic organization whose goal is “to increase the voice of the Asian Pacific American community in local, state and federal government.”

“We need honest leaders like Dan Seals in Washington,” said Chairman Levin. “He understands the challenges facing our families at home and our friends overseas. I am proud to strongly endorse Dan, because he will fight to strengthen our economy, protect middle-class families and seniors, and stand firmly with our greatest ally, Israel.  On the other hand, Dan’s opponent’s plan for Social Security and Medicare is like a big hug to Congressman Paul Ryan.  Bob Dold is way outside the mainstream and doesn’t share our values.”

Ryan’s radical budget plan includes privatizing Social Security, eliminating Medicare, and raising taxes on middle class families.  Dold indicated his support for Ryan’s plan before quickly removing the post from his Facebook page.

Despite its solvency for the next 27 years, Seals’ opponent also wants to gut Social Security by raising the retirement age, cutting benefits, and privatizing the funds. Dold’s Social Security plan is identical to the Bush plan Mr. Levin fought successfully against and would add more than $2.2 trillion to the national debt.

Congressman Sandy Levin has served Michigan’s 12^th District since 1982 and is currently the Chair of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means.  Rep. Levin has family in the 10^th District, and like Seals, attended the University of Chicago.  In 2005, Rep. Levin served as the Ranking Member of the Social Security Subcommittee and led the fight against Bush’s plan to privatize the program.

Dan Seals has been staunchly supportive of Israel and intolerant of a nuclear Iran. A synopsis of his positions on Israel can be found here. Seals’ full position paper and recent statements are located here.

Dan Seals is a business consultant and lecturer at Northwestern University.  The Democratic Nominee for Congress in Illinois’ Tenth District, Seals is a former Director at GE Capital and Group Manager at Sprint.  He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University.  He lives in Wilmette with his wife, Mia, and their three daughters.

Seals is proud to be endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC-PAC), NARAL Pro-Choice America, Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, the Human Rights Campaign, and more.

Dan Seals with Chairman Levin

DEERFIELD, IL – This Saturday, Democratic Congressional Candidate Dan Seals attended the 26th Annual Afrofest, a festival to celebrate the civic and cultural contributions of African Americans at the Greenbelt Forest Preserve in North Chicago, where he listened to voters’ concerns and emphasized his thoughts on how to help small businesses grow and renew our commitment to education.

“As I’ve said before, sure signs of economic recovery will read ‘Open for Business,’” said Seals. “We need to make sure that not only do small business owners have access to the resources they need to grow and hire, but that our kids have access to an affordable, quality education so they can compete for those jobs.  As a parent of three young daughters and as a Member of Congress, I will fight tirelessly on behalf of this community and our families.”

Organizers estimated that nearly 3,000 people attended Afrofest on Saturday. The event is the largest gathering of African Americans in Lake County and this year showcased drill teams, live music, a variety of food, a vintage car show, community outreach services, and other activities for kids before the school year begins.

Seals discusses the upcoming school year with a student

Seals shares a laugh with festival goers in North Chicago

“Embryonic stem cell research is the foundation of regenerative medicine and the key to unlocking tomorrow’s scientific breakthroughs.  I support the federal funding of this innovative work, which could yield effective treatment or cures for millions of Americans who are suffering from debilitating pain and terminal illnesses. Yesterday’s ruling is very disappointing, and we must work to move beyond this disruption so that scientists can restart their research and patients can regain their hope.”

Embryonic stem cell research has resulted in promising developments in the search for a cure for conditions such as Parkinson’s Disease, juvenile diabetes, and Tay-Sachs Disease.

Seals’ opponent, Bob Dold, sought out and received the support of the Illinois Federation for Right to Life (IFRL), the state’s largest anti-choice organization. The IFRL opposes embryonic stem cell research, and in a March 2009 news update, published an article which tied the research to the work of notorious Nazi doctor Josef Mengele.

Dan Seals is proud to be endorsed by Planned Parenthood, NARAL Pro-Choice America, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, the Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC-PAC), Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, the Human Rights Campaign, and more.

“History speaks louder than my opponent,” said Seals. “I have been staunchly supportive of Israel and consistently intolerant of a nuclear Iran for years, long before he even considered running for Congress. We need to use every measure at our disposal to keep nuclear arms out of hateful hands, and I will continue to advocate for tough action.”

Seals’ well-documented history is as follows:

FACT: In December, 2005, Seals posted the following to his website:
“Iran’s hostility to Israel and ties to terrorist networks like Hezbollah and Hamas are well-known. Between the Iranian president’s calls to “wipe Israel off the map” and outspoken support of terrorist groups, it is reasonable to assume that Israel would be Iran’s primary target. We must pursue every available option to prevent Iran from developing nuclear arms, including measures in Congress such as the Iran Freedom Support Act. We should continue to work the process through the International Atomic Energy Agency and United Nations, and get Russia and China to take a proactive role. The entire world must stand against Iran’s intentions. As a member of Congress, I will work tirelessly to ensure that we are taking every possible measure to prevent Iran from pursuing their agenda of destruction. The security of America, Israel, and the entire world depends on our success.”

FACT: On November 3, 2006, the Chicago Jewish Star endorsed Seals, stating that his views were strongly pro-Israel, “notwithstanding a whispering campaign against him.”

FACT: On March 5, 2008, Seals urged the U.S. House to pass H.R. 951, a bill condemning ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks from Gaza, and calling on Americans to stand with Israel to fight terrorism, stating:
“This is not a cycle of violence’ and there is no moral equivalence. The difference between Hamas attacks and the Israeli responses, is that Hamas deliberately targets civilians. The world must understand that Israel’s military and economic pressure on Hamas in Gaza is the result of, not the cause of, terrorism initiated by Hamas and that the fault for the current situation lies clearly with Hamas and its sponsors, Iran and Syria.”

FACT: On December 24, 2009, the Chicago Tribune reported:
“[Seals] sharply criticized Iran and said [he] would support taking military action, but only if diplomatic tactics fail to derail a move toward nuclear armament.”

FACT: On February 2, 2010, Seals reiterated the necessity of tough economic sanctions against Iran:
“We must do everything within our power to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons,” said Seals. “A nuclear-armed Iran threatens not only the vital interests of the United States and its allies, but the very existence of Israel. We have a moral and strategic obligation to stand firmly and unequivocally with Israel.”

FACT: On June 25, 2010, upon the passage of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment of 2010, Seals released the following statement:
“These sanctions mark Iran’s last, best opportunity to guarantee a peaceful end to their nuclear weapons program, and I urge President Obama to sign and fully implement its provisions. A nuclear-armed Iran is unacceptable and as I have previously stated, while a peaceful solution is optimal, no options can be taken off the table to keep these weapons out of dangerously hateful hands.”

FACT: Dold criticized Seals’ support for diplomatic talks with Iran in addition to other tactics. However, Dold states on his own website that “I support the United States in using all diplomatic, political, and economic measures available to remove the threat posed by Iran.”

Seals is endorsed by the bipartisan Joint Action Committee for Political Affairs (JAC-PAC).

“We’ve known Dan Seals for years, and we believe that Seals is the only candidate in this race who will stand up not only for Israel, but for women’s rights and separation of church and state,” said Marcia Balonick, Executive Director of JAC-PAC.

Seals yesterday refuted another Dold campaign news release which discussed Social Security but failed to mention Bob Dold’s radical plan to gut the program, despite its solvency for the next 27 years. Dold supports raising the retirement age, cutting benefits, and privatizing the funds, while adding over $2.2 trillion to the national debt.

Dan Seals is a business consultant and Lecturer at Northwestern University. The Democratic nominee for Congress in Illinois’ Tenth District, Seals is a former Director at GE Capital and Group Manager at Sprint. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and an MA in International Economics from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Wilmette with his wife, Mia, and their three daughters.

DEERFIELD, IL – Today, Tenth District Congressional candidate Dan Seals challenged his opponent to be honest about his positions on Social Security, immediately following the 75th Anniversary of the critical program. In a Saturday news release, Bob Dold demanded that we “keep our promises to today’s seniors,” while failing disclose his extreme ideas to unnecessarily overhaul the program which will be solvent for the next 27 years.

“It’s telling that Bob Dold failed to mention that his own plan includes raising the retirement age, cutting seniors’ benefits, and privatizing Social Security,” said Seals campaign Communications Director Aviva Gibbs. “Dan Seals is committed to protecting the benefits of seniors, while Dold is hoping that voters accept his empty rhetoric and never find out about his reckless plans for our future.”

DOLD RELEASE QUOTE: “We must keep our promises to today’s seniors and also to future generations who question whether they will receive benefits at all,” said [Dold spokeswoman Kelly] Klopp.

A surefire way to put the retirement savings of current and future beneficiaries at risk would be to privatize the funds. Dold does not provide any details on how to “keep our promises,” perhaps because:

FACT:
Dold supports raising the retirement age and privatizing Social Security. His plan is identical to the Bush plan and would add over $2.2 trillion to the national debt.

Privatizing Social Security will move money to risky Wall Street accounts, where seniors’ retirement savings would be directly tied to the performance of an unpredictable stock market. If Bush’s Social Security privatization proposal had passed in 2005, seniors would have lost billions when the economy melted down in 2008.

Dold’s privatization plan would add trillions to the debt because it would facilitate a system in which more money was going out than coming in.  Seniors would draw the same benefits from the public system, while employees would pay less into it; the remainder would be deposited into a private account.

According to the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, “If Social Security is privatized, taxes would have to be increased significantly, massive new government debt would be incurred, or guaranteed benefits dramatically scaled back.”

FACT:
Last month, Dold expressed support for Rep. Paul Ryan’s radical “Roadmap” budget plan, which would privatize social security, eliminate Medicare, and raise taxes on the middle class while slashing taxes for the rich. Dold encouraged his Facebook readers to learn more about the Ryan plan, but then quickly took down the post. The Ryan Roadmap includes more drastic cuts to Social Security than even the Bush plan did.

“With Social Security solvent for the next 27 years, slashing vital benefits to seniors while adding trillions to the debt is both dangerous and irresponsible,” added Gibbs. “Dan is focused on the challenges facing Illinois families today – creating jobs, helping small businesses, and putting our economy back on track.”

Dan Seals is proud to be endorsed by the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. NCPSSM is a non-partisan organization whose mission is “to protect, preserve, promote, and ensure the financial security, health, and the well being of current and future generations of Americans.”