hat tip to metamars over at docudharma for pointing me to something brewing in my very own congressional backyard.
the Utah Citizens' Candidate is a progressive movement that has had it up to here with our blue dog Jim Matheson (D-UT02).
And so they posted a Help wanted ad on Craigslist to find a better candidate! Hah!
As discussed over at democracy now, Tim DeChristopher, legendary activist and the infamous Bidder 70, has started this movement.
Here's Amy's interview with Tim!
They received 16 applicants and narrowed it down to 5. and today, over at the salt lake city library, a panel of 7 activists, representing seven different progressive issues will be interviewing the candidates and then the district 2 voters present will vote for their candidate. I somehow was asleep at the wheel here and totally missed it. However, I think that I will be very much involved with this group in the future.
Grassroots activism at its best. Way to go Tim and the other folks over at Utah citizens' candidate
Courageous Congressperson (District 2)
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Date: 2009-12-18, 4:43PM MST
Reply to: job-db4vk-1516466529@craigslist.org [Errors when replying to ads?]
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Progressive Congressional Representative wanted to represent the people of Utah's 2nd district in the United States House of Representatives. Must have solid moral values and a resistance to selling out to corporate interests. Eligible candidate should have a strong commitment to defending fundamental human rights over corporate profits.
Responsibilities include:
-Stopping catastrophic climate change
-Giving all Americans access to healthcare
-Protecting and reinstating the rights of workers and unions
-Granting equal rights to LGBT people
-Defending the rights of immigrants to basic human dignity and a US foreign policy that allows them to make a living in their home country
-Ending imperialistic wars of aggression
Update: Thanks to Ballerina X, we now know the job has gone to Dr. John Weis, a colleague of mine at the University of Utah med school. story here.