 |
The
Patrick
Henry Democratic Club
2008 Annual Awards Press Release |
|
The
Patrick
Henry Democratic Club
2008 Annual Awards Press Release |
The Patrick Henry Democratic Club of
America announces its Annual Awards
December 16,
2008
Following a brilliant presentation by Blase Bonpane,
co-founder of the Office of the Americas, regarding his new book,
"Civilization is Possible," the members of the Patrick
Henry Democratic Club of America announced the winners of their
annual awards at its December 16, 2008, meeting, Members felt it
was very appropriate for one of the most renowned humanitarians in
America to speak on the same night that the awards were
announced.
During the fall, members of this national
Democratic club are given an opportunity to nominate their favorite
leaders and also their most hated villains. Sometimes there is a
fierce competition over which leaders will get the various awards. The
goal is to have a maximum of one winner in any particular
category. Pluralities go into runoffs.
This year, two popular
nominees tied in one category with members of families splitting
their votes down the middle in that category. But even nominees for
special awards don't always make the cut. For example, this year one
prominent national Democratic leader was soundly defeated for Grass
Roots Organizer of the Year.
Voting on the awards takes place
over a one month period, during which time current members are
hounded as often as needed to get their votes. The voting
consistently has been between 95% and 100% participation from current
members. Club members keep the names of the nominees and winners
confidential until the night of the announcement.
The winners
of this year's awards are as follows:
Dennis Kucinich:
Congressman of the Year
Maxine Waters: Congresswoman of the
Year
Russ Feingold: Senator of the Year
Lou Correa:
State Legislator of the Year
Hugo Chavez, Evo Morales (tie):
World Leader of the Year
ABC, CNN, NBC and the Des Moines
Register, jointly: Villain of the Year
Cynthia McKinney:
Courage Under Fire Award
Ron Paul: Grass Roots Motivator of
the Year
Black Agenda Report: Online News Journal of the
Year
Citizens For Legitimate Government: Online News Service
of the Year
Natasha Hull-Richter: Political Writer of the
Year
Chuck Anderson: Peace Activist of the Year
Thu-Trang
Tran: Peace Organizer of the Year
Thu-Trang Tran, the Peace
Organizer of the Year, and Natasha Hull-Richter, the Political Writer
of the Year, were present to receive their trophies and make
speeches.
The Patrick Henry Democratic Club routinely invites
the winners to their meetings to receive their trophies. This year,
the Villain of the Year Award winners, because they were nominated
and won jointly,
will each get certificates and will have to fight
over the Villain Trophy.
About the Patrick Henry Democratic
Club of America
Founded in 2003, the Patrick Henry Democratic
Club was formed to give true progressives and liberals a place within
the Democratic Party of Orange County. Following local success, the
club expanded to include remote memberships from across the nation
while still maintaining a local chapter in Orange County, California.
The club usually meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month in Santa
Ana, California, with exceptions to accomodate special speakers and
Christmas. The club can be reached at P. O. Box 10517, Santa Ana, CA
92711, (714)953-0187 or through their web site at
http://PatrickHenryThinkTank.org
(email admin (at) patrickhenrythinktank.org).