Monday, September 26, 2011

Actual Socialists Substantially More Socialist Than Allegedly Socialist President

26 September 2011

By Paul Waldman
The American Prospect


"Via Kevin Drum, this poll from Winthrop University shows, among other things, that a full 74.7 percent of South Carolina Republicans think the term 'socialist' describes Barack Obama well or very well (in addition, almost 30 percent believe he's a Muslim, and 36 percent think he was probably or definitely born in another country). So just out of curiosity, I shuffled over to the website of the Socialist Party USA to see how Obama-esque they are these days. The answer? Not much...."

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Friday, September 23, 2011

Audio & Video of Charlottesville City Council candidate forum

September 23, 2011

Charlottesville Tomorrow

Socialist Party candidate Brandon Collins participated in a Charlottesville City Council candidates forum, jointly sponsored by the Charlottesville Tomorrow and Daily Progress newspapers on September 20, 2011.


Click Here to View/Listen to the Forum Recording
.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

SP City Council Candidate Interviewed on Charlottesville (106.1FM) Morning Show

22 September 2011

WCNR 106.1FM
(Charlottesville, VA)


SP City Council candidate Brandon Collins was jointly interviewed, together with Charlottesville VA Mayor Dave Norris, on 106.1FM - "The Corner's" Brad Savage Morning Show on Thursday September 22nd. Click here to listen to podcast.

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Independent Paul Long withdraws from race for City Council

22 September 2011

By: Brian Wheeler
Charlottesville Tomorrow


"Long was joined at his announcement by fellow independent candidates Collins and Williams, whom he endorsed.

'This current local election is just as important as the 2008 election for President,' said Long. 'All it takes us is 5 minutes to go into the voting booth to vote for a change in government and to get rid of the 'Democratic machine' here in Charlottesville.'

'[Collins] shares my passion for the homeless, on economic issues and also for public transit,' Long said. 'There are differences -- he goes a bit further than I would -- I mean he is active in the Socialist Party, but having said that, a lot of what he says I agree with and I think he would be good for Charlottesville....'"


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Long Endorses Collins - here's why

A statement by Brandon Collins, Socialist Party Candidate for Charlottesville City Council (Virgina)

22 September 2011


I am honored to gain the endorsement of Paul Long. Paul and I have consistently shared similar views on a variety of subjects. I admire Paul’s attention to the homeless, an end to the drug war, and the belief that public transportation can and should be greatly expanded. We have been somewhat complimentary to one another while campaigning, with his exit from the race I vow to keep up the fight for social justice and to vigorously include some of his proposals in my platform- namely the call for a regional transit authority, an end to Charlottesville’s participation in the drug war, and the immediate need for a homeless shelter to be built...

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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Six Candidates for Council Seats Square Off

21 September 2011

1070 WINA Newsradio


"Six of the City Council hopefuls squared off in a Tuesday night candidates debate. The participants were Democrats Satyendra Huja (pictured left), Kathy Galvin (pictured third from left) and DeDe Smith (pictured second from right), along with Independents Bob Fenwick (pictured third from right), Brandon Collins (pictured second from left) and Andrew Williams (pictured right). They sparred over roads, water, reconfiguration of the city schools, and the role of the City Police. The debate was sponsored by Charlottesville Tomorrow and the Daily Progress."


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Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Council candidate forum set for Tuesday night

20 September 2011

By: Sean Tubbs
Charlottesville Tomorrow


"The Daily Progress and Charlottesville Tomorrow are co-hosting a candidate forum tonight for the eight men and women running for three seats on the Charlottesville City Council.

The event will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Burley Middle School auditorium on Rose Hill Drive. Doors open at 6:00 pm.

Seven of the eight candidates on the ballot have agreed to appear at the forum. They are socialist Brandon Collins, dredging activist Bob Fenwick, homeless advocate Paul Long, city school board member Kathleen Galvin, incumbent councilor Satyendra Huja, former school board member Dede Smith, and State Farm employee Andrew Williams...."

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Lies, Money, Galvin, Huja, Nestle, Monticello Business Alliance and Our Water

A statement by Brandon Collins, Socialist Party Candidate for Charlottesville City Council (Virgina)

20 September 2011


This subject has taken up so much interest during the campaign that I feel compelled to address it once again. The decisions being made about the water supply suggest that big moneyed interests are more important to some of the candidates than the needs of people in our town....


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Sunday, September 11, 2011

A 'people's' candidate: First Socialist Party member runs for City Council

11 September 2011

By: Ana Mir
Cavalier Daily (University of Virginia)


"Brandon Collins wasn't afraid to touch a politically controversial subject Monday ? providing jobs to all City residents and working toward guaranteed employment. But the City Council candidate, whose push for more jobs struck a nerve with other City politicians, is used to being an outsider - he is the first Socialist Party member to run for this position...."


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Thursday, September 8, 2011

The Week in Review

08 September 2011

By: Hook Staff
The Hook (Charlottesville, VA weekly)


"Most socialistic: City Council candidate Brandon Collins calls for the city to provide jobs at a living wage to anyone who wants one. Collins is running as an independent and is a member of the Socialist Party...."

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Monday, September 5, 2011

Council candidate calls for jobs for all in city who want one

05 September 2011

By: Sharon C. Fitzgerald
The Daily Progress (Charlottesville, VA)


"A member of the Socialist Party, Collins said the city should be required to give a job to every resident who wants to work and pay them an hourly wage of at least $12.01 an hour....

'I am focused on labor and the needs of the many disadvantaged people in this town,' Collins said. 'I have lived in Charlottesville my entire life. I know what it is to work for less than a living wage, to rely on public transportation, to need assistance. I am the only candidate who demands the elimination, rather than the alleviation, of poverty, unemployment and ecological degradation....'"

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05 September 2011

By: Frankie Jupiter
Newsplex (Charlottesville, VA)


"Monday, Brandon Collins unveiled his plan to create more jobs in Charlottesville. The Charlottesville City Council candidate addressed a group of people outside of the Transit Center on the downtown mall in Charlottesville...."

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Labor Day Statement- We need Jobs and Better Wages!

A statement by Brandon Collins, Socialist Party Candidate for Charlottesville City Council (Virgina)

5 September 2011


Here are my prepared remarks for a press conference given Labor Day Sept. 5, 2011-

The spirit and meaning of Labor Day was lost a long time ago. Rather than having a day to relax, or a day to celebrate their victories, a great many workers in our city instead are told to go to work just like any other day. Only today we have to walk or take a cab because the buses aren’t running...

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