When it comes to the media, sometimes I hate the messenger, and sometimes I hate the message.
Right now it's a little bit of both. Congressman and Navy Admiral Joe Sestak is behind in the polls in his bid for the PA Senate seat. Not as behind as he was a few weeks ago, and he's coming off a high-profile event where the President netted him a much-needed infusion of cash, but still, 7 points means we've got serious work to do.
Of course, all the news stories can talk about is how much indifference there is in the Democratic party or how disillusioned people are with the president.
The story is always so light on substantive information on the candidates - and is always about the spin itself.
Now is the time when you - me - all of us change the narrative, and reach that 30% of the electorate that's undecided. Follow me for the email I'm sending to family and friends today, and ways that you can help.
It's GO time, people. The Sestak campaign knows this, and is (from the emails I'm getting) planning to use the cash they've conserved in the face of the deep pockets of the opponent to kick things (finally!) into high gear.
Here's the email my Pennsylvanian peeps are getting today.
Please feel free to steal it and send a version to folks you know:
Subject: It's that time.
It's that time again. We're in an even-numbered year and the weather's just turned cooler.
It's time to fight to make sure that our country stays intact. If you think that sounds like hyperbole or that the stakes aren't that high, consider that the Democrat for U.S. Senate, Joe Sestak, a sitting Congressman and Navy Admiral who is very strong on the environment, labor, women's rights - a real progressive, is running against a Tea Party Republican, Pat Toomey, who has said that corporations should pay no taxes whatsoever and has a 0% rating from the League of Conservation Voters. (He gets like a 13% from the AARP, 0% from NARAL - the list of constituencies that disapprove goes on and on and on).
And yet, this extreme right-wing Republican is leading in the polls (thanks to LOTS of money to spend and a summer of misleading attack ads).
It's go time, people. Fight for the future of this state and the country, because if you think that you electing Sestak has no national consequence vs. electing Toomey, you are mistaken. The Democrats need a more progressive Senate.
To donate money (anything helps, but if you've got the $$, please consider donating more), you can visit my ActBlue page here.
If you've got more time than money, or you've got a bit of both, to volunteer to call or canvass, call 412-533-1200 or go to the Sestak website here.
The local office is located at 4326 Butler, Pittsburgh, PA 15201 ~~diarist's note: a complete list of offices can be found here.~~
And for goodness' sake, please please please talk to your neighbors, friends, and any other Pennsylvanians you know about this race.
The only way Toomey wins this is if good liberals do nothing on Nov. 2 --- help remind people why this is worth it. 30% of the electorate is undecided and a lot of Democrats might decide to skip it. We can't let that happen. Help now. (And if you want to come canvass with me - door-to-door - just let me know, it can actually be a lot of fun and is critically important.)
As Gandhi said: Be the change you wish to see in the world.
Feel free to forward a version of this email to other people you know as well. We need to get the word out about this race, NOW.
Hugs,
So get motivated - get active, and pass it on. The other diaries in this series can be found here:
#4 - Why is dKos advertising for a Tea Party Republican?!
#3 - Obama's other engagement today
#2 - Lies, Damn Lies, and Pat Toomeys ads
#1 - Let's do better than the teabaggers in DE. Seriously, people, fight for it
Here again, are the important links:
Donate (I set up a new ActBlue page, it seems to me this series ought to be able to get at least 50 contributors - Toomey's raised twice what Sestak has)
Canvass or Call --- getting out the vote is critical. You can also go to their contact us page --- they just opened four new offices!
Yesterday, we got 24 comments! That's a steady improvement. Let's keep it up - and if you can spare a rec, I'll take that too!