Kyrsten Sinema in Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema
On Civil Rights:
Focus on legal recognition of domestic partnerships
[In fighting the 2006 same-sex marriage ban], we focused on the impact that the initiative would have on unmarried couples in the state, rather than fighting with the proponents about the merits of same-sex marriage. [The proponents' focus on gay
marriage] was intended to appeal emotionally to voters. But a major part of the initiative would prohibit any legal recognition of domestic partnerships in Arizona. This initiative would take health-care benefits away from the employees' domestic
partners, and would prohibit unmarried seniors from visiting each other in the hospital. Lots of people were surprised when they learned this. After all, this initiative was called a "same-sex marriage ban." The proponents knew that they needed to
focus on the marriage part of the proposition because Arizona voters are pretty firmly set in their support for domestic partnership recognition, though, so ignoring this part of the proposition was important to its proponents.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 59-60
Jul 1, 2009
On Crime:
No civilized society should use the death penalty
A bill in 2006 expanded the aggravating factors to be considered when juries decide whether or not to give the death penalty as a punishment for a person convicted of 1st degree murder. This is not a popular topic, and I'm on the least popular side of
the question. I'm opposed to the death penalty because I think no civilized society should use it as a punishment. But since we have the death penalty in Arizona, I want to ensure that it's being implemented as fairly and judiciously as possible.
When this bill came forward, adding a number of new reasons to put a person to death, I should have gone to the sponsor of the bill and the chair of the House Judiciary Committee to make my case that 2 of these reasons were written with such broad
language that they could, and likely would, be used in cases where they weren't really intended to be used. But instead, I just gave a fiery speech on the floor of the house. The bill passed and was signed into law.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p.142-143
Jul 1, 2009
On Education:
Encourage women to study science, math, and engineering
Ward Connerly is a California businessman who once served on the board of regents for that state's university system. While on the board, Connerly began speaking out against college and university programs that provided specific assistance to female
students and student of color. In 2007, Connerly was announcing his intention to launch a ballot initiative in Arizona to prohibit our colleges and universities from offering programs for women and students of color to ensure their success.
Now I don't like it when a rich guy from CA swoops into my state and says he's going to change our laws. He can change his own state's laws all he wants, but only Arizonans should change Arizona's laws. And frankly, I think our laws concerning college
programs are just fine. We like to encourage women to study science, math, and engineering, and we like providing programs to help Native American students stay in college and graduate.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 46-47
Jul 1, 2009
On Families & Children:
Exempt breast-feeding from indecent exposure laws
In 2005, I read about a young mother who had been kicked out of a community pool in Chandler (a suburb of Phoenix) for committing the heinous act of breast-feeding her baby at a table near the pool, under a blanket, while fully clothed.Why is it
shocking that any mother would consider putting a large blanket over her body, tucking her baby underneath, and discreetly feeding him? This young mother had more fabric covering her and her baby's bodies than the rest of the pool-goers' clothing
combined that day. Yet someone thought it was indecent for her to be seen feeding her child.
I volunteered to help her get a bill passed to protect all Arizona mothers who breast-feed their babies.
I met regularly with "lactivists," crafting
legislation that would exempt breast-feeding mothers from indecent exposure statutes (laws that make it a crime to get naked on the street, etc.) and give them the legal right to breast-feed in public places without harassment. [The bill passed in 2006.]
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 17-18
Jul 1, 2009
On Foreign Policy:
2007: Divest state pension fund from Sudan to fight genocide
During the spring of 2007, I decided that I was going to do something about Darfur. I was horrified when I learned about the genocide in Darfur. I wondered what influence I could have. I found the Sudan Divestment Task Force. Its entire purpose is to
help governments in the US take action to divest their government funds from companies that help perpetuate the genocide in Darfur. What a great idea! As a state legislator, I could draft legislation to divest our state pension funds from those companies
that provide weapons, oil, and power to the government of Sudan and thereby make it harder for Sudan to carry out its genocide on the people of Darfur. By talking to both conservatives and progressives about the bill and earning support from all
sides early on, I was able to get every other member of the legislature to sign on to the bill. The bill passed easily, receiving unanimous support from both the House and the Senate, and became the 1st bill signed by Gov. Napolitano in 2008.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p.134-140
Jul 1, 2009
On Health Care:
"Universal" sounds socialist, so say "affordable healthcare"
I've become a huge fan of research. It's helped me as a candidate learn to talk in ways that voters can understand. For example, I used to say that I wanted universal health-care coverage in Arizona, which went over like a ton of bricks.
Turns out, Arizonans hear the word "universal" and think "socialism"--or "pinko commie."
But when I say that I want all Arizonans to have access to affordable, quality health care, Arizonans agree wholeheartedly.
Same basic idea, different language. Research is what teaches us these differences so that we can relate to voters in ways that are authentic and meaningful for them.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p.166-167
Jul 1, 2009
On Immigration:
Don't reclassify undocumented immigrants as criminals
Back in March 2006, a group of activists organized a march in Phoenix to protest a bill in Congress (the Sensenbrenner bill) that would have reclassified undocumented immigrants
as criminals and denied most of them an eventual path to citizenship, regardless of their length of residence in the US, their work history or their contribution to the country overall.
The gathering was much larger than anyone had anticipated--over 25,000 people marched that day.
The day after the march, national news outlets reported that leaders in the immigration reform movement had declared April 10, 2006, a national day of action for sensible comprehensive immigration reform.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 40
Jul 1, 2009
On Principles & Values:
Past Congresses worked together on bipartisan legislation
It's easy to see why so many people hate politics.Over the past 40 years, cooperation and collaboration are rare, especially when the issue is very important. Partisanship is valued as being true to the ideals of one political party. People do not
reach across the aisle to work together, much less create friendships together. Back in the super old days Congress was different. Members worked together more frequently on bipartisan legislation. And party registration was not a prerequisite to
friendships or invitations to after-work gatherings. [One 1960s Congressman] wrote that he watched Hubert Humphrey and Barry Goldwater duke it out on the floor of the Senate, then leave after work to have a drink together. Today, such relationships are
rare. In fact, those elected officials who do manage to maintain close friendships with members from the opposite party are often viewed as sellouts or are not trusted within their caucus because of their cozy relationship with "the other side".
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 10-11
Jul 1, 2009
On Principles & Values:
Let go of the bear and pick up the Buddha
As progressives, we too often function from a gut-level reaction that is based on fear and anger, which limits our ability to truly engage in the kind of political activity that will lead us to the progressive world we want to live in.I don't think
it's an easy task to alter the way we behave in politics, but I do believe that it can be done if we mindfully choose to make that alteration & then practice at it. I call this "letting go of the bear and picking up the Buddha." The bear is the internal
fight-or-flight reflex that we as humans are blessed to have. "Putting down the bear" in your political practice occurs when you consciously choose not to act, react, or interact with others from a place of fear and uncertainly. "Picking up the Buddha"
is code for being calm, cool, and collected--another ability that we humans have, although we often don't polish this political skill. To be your most fabulous political self, you'll need to recognize the bear and learn to let go of it in your work.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 23
Jul 1, 2009
On Principles & Values:
Recipe for coalition: Think big;think sharp;think organized
Recipe for a CoalitionThese 3 vital ingredients are needed for building a successful, productive coalition.- Think big.
Include people who aren't already at the table. Who are unlikely allies or potential partners in your project? Whom can you bring to the table that will surprise you and those around you?
- Think sharp.
Clearly articulate your purpose and your focus. What is your coalition's raison d'etre? If you don't know, then your coalition isn't likely to be effective.
- Think organized.
Choose a leader (stable or rotating) who will keep the coalition organized and productive. Don't leave anything to chance because chance is not your friend.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 51
Jul 1, 2009
On Principles & Values:
Find common ground & throw out politics of division
I had a hard time making friends my 1st year in the legislature. No one wanted to actually work with me. At first, I blamed my situation on the politics of division that my Republican colleagues had been taught. But I soon realized that the blame was
largely mine. I also had been taught the politics of division--namely, that my role as a minority member was to stand and loudly speak out against the horrible, evil, injustices committed daily by my Republican peers. I was wrong. I learned that dividing
myself from others just because we don't agree on everything is not the way to win friends and influence people. I threw out what I'd been taught and started over--this time remembering what my kindergarten teacher told me: make friends with the other
kids. Here are the tips that I've found helpful when making friends:- talk to people whom you want to make friends with
- listen to them
- find common ground
- find humanity in others
- loosen up a bit
- don't take anything personally.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 68-69
Jul 1, 2009
On Principles & Values:
Arizona Together: defeated same-sex marriage ban
From January 2005 through November 2006, I had served as the chair of Arizona Together, a statewide coalition formed to defeat a same-sex marriage ban initiative in Arizona.
As chair, my job was to guide the campaign every day toward victory, make strategic decisions about messaging, raise money, decide how to spend the money, direct community outreach efforts, and more.
We won. And by "won," I mean that we actually got more votes than the other guys.
Activists battled 30 of these initiatives around the country, and we won only once. Lucky for me, it happened in Arizona.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. xiii-xiv
Jul 1, 2009
On Principles & Values:
Talk about values instead of pushing outcomes
It's easy to say "I will start using values-based language instead of outcome-based language. " Something along the lines of "We need a good, strong, public education system that teaches kids to read and gets them prepared for college." I would happen to
agree with your statement, but that statement is not a value, it's a position (read: OUTCOME). Not everyone agrees with your statement, but everyone can agree on a core value underneath our support for education: opportunity.
We all believe that children should be afforded the OPPORTUNITY to learn. Barack Obama is the master at speaking the language of values rather than outcomes, which is why he was so successful not only as a state legislator and US Senator but as a
presidential candidate. He can speak to people with widely divergent views and, by using values-laden language rather than outcome-laden language, have these divergent groups all nodding their heads and stepping to the table to work together.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p.103-105
Jul 1, 2009
On War & Peace:
2002: Bush's movement to wage war in Iraq was unjustified
Like all Americans, September 11th was a day I will never forget.Within a few days, President Bush had made statements that I felt polarized our world and pushed away those who sought to join us in grieving.
As he began to talk about war, a small group of Phoenicians began to organize. The group started meeting regularly, and we eventually formed a coalition called Arizona Alliance for Peaceful Justice.
Our reason for existence was simple: to advocate for a diplomatic solution to the problems facing us and prevent, as much as possible, any war that would hurt civilians and the innocent.
While we very strongly supported efforts to find and root out terrorism, we were worried that President Bush's movement to wage war in Iraq was unjustified, based on false information, and bad for our country and our world.
Source: Unite and Conquer, by Kyrsten Sinema, p. 43-44
Jul 1, 2009
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