We've had quite a run over the past week -- 372 Kossacks have made 5,174 individual contributions to the twenty most vulnerable Democrats who voted both for health care reform and against the anti-choice Stupak-Pitts amendment, raising over $29,000 to help these candidates secure reelection in 2010.
What we've been demonstrating to Democrats in vulnerable districts that when they stand with our party and for progressive causes, the netroots will have their backs. And they have noticed what you are doing. Both Reps. Alan Grayson and Mary Jo Kilroy have called me to thank me for what we're all doing here, with staffers from other Members emailing me as well to thank you for your efforts.
These are the Democrats who cast the toughest votes over a week ago -- the ones whose districts are most likely to oppose them for what they have done to move health care reform forwards. But in contributions averaging just under $6, you have demonstrated to these often-moderate candidates that when they stand up for progressive causes, progressives will stand behind them.
I believe it's especially important for those of us who've decided to turn the spigot off when it comes to Democratic party institutions based on their failure to move gay rights forward to take this opportunity to demonstrate what we're capable of doing for those candidates who are taking risks to make progress happen.
It's time to push this campaign to the next level. My goal is to reach at least 500 overall contributors to this appeal, raising $40,000 for these candidates -- elevating each candidate to at least 400 individual contributors and $2000 raised through your efforts.
Here's who we're supporting -- these Democrats (listed by District, Name, PVI), elected in Republican and swing districts (and mostly in the past three years), for whom every close vote for reproductive freedom and health care reform can become the next opposition campaign ad:
AZ-01 Kirkpatrick, Ann R+6
AZ-05 Mitchell, Harry R+5
AZ-08 Giffords, Gabrielle R+4
KS-03 Moore, Dennis R+3
NY-19 Hall, John R+3
FL-08 Grayson, Alan R+2
MI-07 Schauer, Mark R+2
NY-24 Arcuri, Mike R+2
WI-08 Kagen, Steve R+2
CA-11 McNerney, Jerry R+1
IL-08 Bean, Melissa R+1
IL-11 Halvorson, Debbie R+1
IL-14 Foster, Bill R+1
MN-01 Walz, Tim R+1
NY-23 Owens, Bill R+1
NH-01 Shea-Porter, Carol R+0
NY-01 Bishop, Timothy R+0
OH-15 Kilroy, Mary Jo D+1
OR-05 Schrader, Kurt D+1
NV-03 Titus, Dina D+2
The overwhelming majority of these twenty Members were elected in 2006, 2008 or, in the case of Bill Owens, just this month. As the most recent additions to Congress, almost every one of them is on the NRCC's primary target list for 2010.
We need to protect them for having done the right thing. We need to show that when Democrats act courageously, progressives will have their backs and support them.
So please, visit the WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK ActBlue page and spread some sugar around today -- $3 each? $5? $10, $20 or more? That's up to you. And then promote it on your Facebook page, your Twitter feed and your own diaries.
If politicians in tough districts see that national support exists when they do the right thing on a big vote -- and there may be no bigger ones than the health care votes between now and November 2010 -- they will feel more comfortable doing it again the next time. They won't have to worry about losing some donors over these pro-choice and pro-health care votes if they've gained our loyal support instead. And when the NRCC targets them in 2010, they will be able to fight back.
If you haven't given yet, give now. If you have given to some of these candidates already, give to the rest today. Show them, right now: WE'VE GOT YOUR BACK.