More Quack Talk from SOS

Why would Herrera risk her credibility on King's quack talk?

SOS stands firm in face of nonprofits' lawsuit, by Heath Haussamen

“Attorney General (Gary) King said it best: ‘If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck,’” Secretary of State Mary Herrera said this evening in a news release.

...Herrera failed to state exactly why she believes mailers sent out by SouthWest Organizing Project (SWOP) and the Center for Civic Policy’s New Mexico Youth Organized (NMYO) two to three months before the June primary targeting several lawmakers, including some who had primary opponents, fit the definition of “political activity” in the state’s Campaign Reporting Act. All they have done is use the “duck” quote. (emphasis added by SWOPblogger)

“We cannot allow organizations with political agendas to manipulate the campaign reporting laws of New Mexico for the sole purpose of benefiting any political party, Democrat, Republican or independent.” Continue Reading.

"Our free speech," published on SWOPblogger...

Invariably, in the course of trying to achieve our mission, we face tremendous opposition from those maintaining the status quo – a status quo that has left New Mexicans ranked at the bottom of practically every social indicator from education to healthcare.

For us, it is not enough that the nonprofit sector simply work to alleviate the symptoms of poverty and racism. In addition to organizing, it is our duty to question the actions of decision makers that perpetuate relentless poverty and growing inequality.

Our theory of action is that we create opportunity for disenfranchised communities to insert our own voices into the crucial public debates that profoundly affect our lives. These opportunities derive from direct campaigns developed with communities of people to affect change. Making our voices heard, for us, has happened in a number of ways over our 30-year history. Sometimes it’s with a bullhorn in the street, other times it's sitting at the table with policy makers, and at other times it’s through direct communication via mail, telephone or radio to decision makers.

Along the way, we have consistently communicated to our constituents the voting records and campaign contributors of elected officials, urging them to communicate with their elected officials directly. We call this accountability and speaking truth to power.

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